Personal & Professional Development

In EGL, development isn’t a requirement — it’s a mindset.

Every TiL session, workshop, and professional experience helps you grow into a more capable engineer, teammate, and leader.

EGL is designed to grow leaders. These are engineers who communicate effectively, think strategically, and navigate complex global environments with confidence. Our Topics in Leadership (TiL) curriculum and professional development experiences are central to that mission.

Topics in Leadership (TiL)

Topics in Leadership (TiL) is a program created by students for students. Through interactive, engaging, and community-driven sessions, TiL is designed to:

Ensure the preparedness of all students for the Tauber Institute for Global Operations
Set you up for long-term success, both in terms of your career and your personal aspirations
Promote proactive growth and reflection as leaders and professionals
Build lasting bonds between EGL students

TiL follows a “learn, do, teach” model, where newer students learn directly from more experienced peers. This structure creates a culture of mentorship, continuity, and shared leadership across cohorts.

TiL is what you make of it; it’s an incredible opportunity to become head and shoulders above your peers in soft skills and professional development. Applying to EGL was ambitious; taking advantage of TiL is how you unlock the full value of that ambition.

A Three-Part Leadership Journey

TiL progresses across three stages as students advance through EGL:

TiL 1 – Foundations of Professional Success

Students build fundamental skills needed to excel in academic and professional environments: resume-building, networking, public speaking, case studies, and interview practice.

TiL 2 – Interpersonal and Intercultural Leadership

Students translate technical strengths into interpersonal and intercultural abilities. Topics include situational leadership, embracing ambiguity, power & privilege, presentation skills, and volunteering.

TiL 3 – Leadership Beyond the University of Michigan

Students prepare for life after graduation, focusing on recruiting, company culture and fit, long-term leadership, and mentoring younger EGLs through TiL 1 and 2 facilitation.

EGL Leadership Challenge

As part of their TiL experience, students participate in the EGL Leadership Challenge, a multi-week, high-ambiguity business simulation inspired by the Sanger Leadership Crisis Challenge. Working in executive teams, students:

Navigate complex and evolving decisions
Create operational, communication, and media strategies
Adapt to shifting information
Collaborate under pressure

This experience strengthens their ability to lead through uncertainty, make strategic decisions, and work effectively in fast-paced environments.

Chicago Professional Development Trip

Each year, EGL students embark on the Chicago Professional Development Trip, one of the most memorable and transformative experiences in the program.

During the trip, students typically:

Visit 2–3 companies across diverse industries for info sessions and networking
Participate in an alumni networking dinner with EGL graduates living and working in Chicago
Gain insight into potential career paths, company cultures, and recruiting strategies
Build stronger relationships with their EGL peers

Many students cite this trip as the moment when their career aspirations became clearer and their connection to the EGL community deepened.

EGL typically covers the full cost of travel, lodging, and the alumni dinner, ensuring the experience is accessible to all students.

2025 Alumni Dinner at Ranalli’s Lincoln Park attended by 14 EGL Alumni and 50 current students!

Chicago Trip 2023.MP4

Industry and Corporate Partnerships

Each semester, EGL will host a variety of exclusive corporate info and networking sessions from name companies and prepare a Resume Book to be sent out to the employers. EGL also hosts many Career Fair Coat Checks throughout the year, which allows for a further opportunity to gain exposure to employers. If you are interested in partnering with EGL for corporate events, please reach out to egl.industry.chair@umich.edu.

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