RIT launches Napier Leadership Experience for students in the School of Individualized Study

Rochester Institute of Technology’s School of Individualized Study is offering a unique program to help its students hone their leadership skills. SOIS launched the inaugural Napier Leadership Experience with a day-long leadership retreat on Oct. 11.

“The Napier Leadership Experience is transformational for a group of aspirational, ambitious and capable School of Individualized Study students,” said James Hall, dean of University Studies and executive director of SOIS. “The retreat created structured and substantial space in the midst of a busy school semester for meaningful and guided reflection assisted by top professionals in the field. We are deeply grateful for the opportunity provided by Partners + Napier — and the personal charisma and creativity of Sharon Napier, in particular.”

Sharon D. Napier ’04 MS (service leadership and innovation), chair and founder of Partners + Napier, delivered an interactive presentation to the students to show them how to own their personal brands. Other leaders from the Rochester community shared insight about leadership styles and best practices, cultivating networks and building their professional profile. Additional presenters included Karen Magnuson, executive-in-residence at RIT’s Saunders College of Business; Pamela Sherman, president of ShermanEDGE; Doug Parton, head of talent and director of human resources at Partners + Napier; Mike Johansson, principal lecturer in RIT’s School of Communication; and Valarie Upson, adjunct professor at RIT’s Saunders College of Business.

The Napier Leadership Experience also featured multiple networking opportunities and will have follow-up programming throughout the year to help students bring their leadership to the next level.