Elon's Isabella Cannon Professor of Leadership teaches MBA students theories and practices related to leadership development
Isabella Cannon Professor of Leadership Chris Leupold recently returned from a visiting professorship at the University of Iceland’s School of Business in the nation’s capital of Reykjavik.
Invited by Associate Professor Árelía Eydís Guðmundsdóttir, Leupold taught MBA students about leadership development at the individual, team, and organizational levels. In addition to discussing relevant key theories and sharing examples from his consulting work, he guided students through a series of hands-on activities and real-time applications designed to enhance their own leadership development as well as that of their organizations.
During his visit, Leupold also met with Guðmundsdóttir and two of her colleagues, Svala Guðmundsdóttir and Inga Minelgaité, to discuss future collaborative research endeavors in the areas of leadership and human resources. This Elon-Iceland connection began in the spring of 2018 when the group, along with Olga Stangej from ISM University of Management and Economics in Vilnius, Lithuania; asked Leupold to review their forthcoming book, Demystifying Leadership in Iceland: An Inquiry into Cultural, Societal, and Entrepreneurial Uniqueness. Published by Springer, the book is due for release in November of this year.
“The book is a unique compilation of empirical research studies and historical commentaries that introduce the reader to the phenomenon of leadership in the small island nation that is growing exponentially in global visibility today,” Leupold said. “From the leaders in Europe’s earliest parliament to the popular comedian and former mayor of Reykjavik Jon Gnarr, and from the leadership behind the thrilling success of the Icelandic men’s soccer team in their Euro 2016 quarterfinal run to the leadership of Icelandic women board members today; the book provides a rich glimpse into the evolution of leadership over the centuries within the context of this unique culture.”
As part of their promotional efforts, the team will be travelling to the United States to present their work at the Icelandic embassy in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 14.
Leupold is also an associate professor in Elon’s Department of Psychology, and the director of leadership studies and executive coach in residence at Elon’s School of Law.