Leadership Project

Kathleen Phan- Leadership Lab Participant

"For my leadership project, our team collaborated with Gopher Athletics to develop strategies that increase awareness and educate a broad audience with diverse perceptions, keeping them engaged and supportive in this new era of Gopher Athletics. We conducted research on NIL/Revenue and Dinkytown Athletics to identify ways to better engage the Gopher Athletics audience, and we designed survey questions to gather insights on people perceptions of Gopher Athletics, NIL, and revenue sharing. Based on the survey results, our team created a new campaign and proposed updates to the Gopher Athletics website.

Throughout this project, I learned that each teammate operates differently and brings unique ideas, so effective collaboration requires recognizing each other’s strengths and dividing work accordingly. Overall, this project taught me patience with ambiguity, teamwork, and valuable skills in research, survey design, and public speaking."

Greta Liner- Leadership Lab Participant

"For my Leadership Lab project, my team partnered with the YMCA of the North to support Camp Northern Lights in strengthening its year-round presence and celebrating the unique experiences it offers beyond the summer season. We focused on exploring ways to highlight the camp’s winter programming, connect with families in meaningful ways, and enhance overall engagement throughout the year. Throughout the semester, we worked closely with Camp Northern Lights leadership and board members to better understand their mission and vision. Our collaboration combined research, creative strategy, and community input to help elevate the camp’s story and showcase the restorative experiences it provides for families year-round.

This project was one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had at Carlson. It challenged me to think critically, adapt to uncertainty, and collaborate in new ways. I learned a lot about communication and problem-solving, but also about how fulfilling it can be to work on something that has a real impact."

Niko Vasilopoulos - Leadership Lab participant

"For my Leadership Lab project, I was a member of a select four student group working with the Executive Team of Gopher Athletics to analyze the economic impact of sports on campus. We know that Gopher Athletics spends money, but through our work we are looking to dive deeper into how sports programming is impacting campus, surrounding neighborhoods, and local communities & businesses. This project has been defined by strategic partnerships engaging both internal and external stakeholders. Our student team meets frequently with the CFO of Gopher Athletics, Senior Athletic Directors, their marketing team, and have consulted a Senior Economic Analyst at the University to guide our work. We also utilize knowledge of our team advisors, a Carlson Alumni who works at a local Fortune 500 firm, as well as a tenured professor with incredible research experience. 

This work has been an incredible learning opportunity for me and my peers, all while it perfectly exemplifies Carlson’s dedication to experiential learning. Student’s are being trusted to conduct high-level research that examines the intersection of University resources and programming with the broader Metropolitan community. Through my Leadership Lab project, I have been able to combine my interest in sports with my passion for business, all while expanding my network and getting once in a lifetime opportunities." 

Mia Ashenfeler- Leadership Lab participant

"Elizabeth Doman, Jasmine Nguyen, and I (Mia Ashenfelter) were partnered with a small outside organization called Software for Good. Software for Good is a software development company that has a unique apprenticeship program that aims to help underrepresented populations of software engineers branch into professional careers... Being an MIS major and someone with a strong passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion, I could not have asked for a better project assignment. I learned a tremendous amount from the Leadership Lab program. Even though Carlson does its best to prepare us for a career after graduation, I believe this program has given me a better insight into what a professional career as a consultant could look like and how I should conduct myself in a professional setting. I learned that many projects come with ambiguity and continually asking questions and following up on something is just part of the process. The Leadership Lab is one of the best opportunities Carlson has to offer. I not only got to apply what I learned in my leadership class to such an applicable, real-world project, but I also got to work closely on something that I’m passionate about.