Leadership Skills Clinics and Digital Badging

Engineering Leadership Skills Clinics are action-oriented, short-term classes that build your confidence and capabilities in engineering teamwork and leadership. Each clinic comprises two or three interactive workshops separated by action intervals in which you will experiment with new skills and analyze the results.

Engineering Leadership Skills Clinics offered Spring ’25 semester:

ENGRG 4800 – Listening Skills

Listening Skills for Leaders is your opportunity to master one of the most powerful skills in transformational leadership—effective communication through listening. In this course, you’ll uncover a simple yet highly effective approach to gathering better information, building empathy, and strengthening relationships. Through hands-on, real-world practice, you’ll apply these techniques in dynamic situations, reflecting on your personal growth and leadership journey. The final workshop focuses on sharing your insights, reflecting on your progress, and creating a personalized plan to continue developing your listening abilities as a leader. Whether you’re already leading teams or preparing to step into leadership roles, this course will help you refine a crucial skill that distinguishes exceptional leaders.

Tuesday, April 8, 2025

Tuesday, April 15, 2025

Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Time 8:00 am – 9:55 am

ENGRG 4810 – Inclusive Teams

Leading Inclusive Teams equips you with the skills to build stronger, more unified teams by embracing different perspectives and experiences. In this course, you’ll learn how to create an environment where every team member—regardless of background or identity—feels valued and motivated. You’ll explore how welcoming a variety of viewpoints drives team performance, creativity, and collaboration. Through hands-on application in real-world settings, you’ll practice these strategies and reflect on your experiences as both a leader and a team member. The final workshop is a chance to share your insights, set goals for your ongoing development, and leave with a concrete plan for fostering a culture of respect and connection wherever you lead. Whether you’re leading a group project or preparing for future leadership roles, this course will help you harness the full potential of a team with varied strengths and perspectives.

Thursday, March 13, 2025

Thursday, March 20, 2025

Thursday, March 27, 2025

Time 2:30 pm – 4:25 pm

ENGRG 4830 – Giving Feedback

Giving Feedback develops the tools and language needed to offer feedback that drives growth and success—without the discomfort. In this course, you’ll learn a proven framework for giving constructive feedback that’s clear, supportive, and motivating, helping both you and your peers perform at your best. Whether it’s offering praise or addressing areas for improvement, you’ll gain the confidence to provide feedback that fuels team progress and individual development. Through real-world practice and reflection, you’ll refine your approach, and in the final workshop, you’ll share insights, discuss challenges, and create a personalized plan to continue honing this essential leadership skill. This course will equip you with a key tool for fostering trust, collaboration, and high performance—skills that will set you apart in any future leadership role.

Wednesday, April 9, 2025

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Time 2:30 pm – 4:25 pm

ENGRG 4840 – Effective Followership

Effective Followership or Leading without Title will redefine how you think about leadership—and your role in it. In this course, you’ll discover that great leaders are also exceptional followers. You’ll learn the mindset and behaviors that allow you to add value to a team, influence outcomes, and contribute meaningfully—whether or not you hold the title. By mastering the art of active followership, you’ll understand how to support your leaders, shape team dynamics, and drive success from any position. Through real-world application and reflection, you’ll develop these skills in practical situations. The final workshop is your opportunity to share your key takeaways, reflect on your growth, and create a plan to continue cultivating this essential skill. This course will help you become a more effective, impactful team member—preparing you to excel in any future leadership role.

Monday, April 7, 2025

Monday, April 21 2025

Time 1:25 pm – 4:25 pm

 

 

In addition to learning a new skill, each clinic will carry a 0.5 credit and a digital microcredential; complete six of them and earn a digital Mastery Badge in Engineering Leadership Fundamentals to display on your resume, LinkedIn, and social media pages.  Total time commitment is 10-12 hours over 3-4 weeks. Each semester, clinics on several topics will be offered. These clinics are in-person only.

Earn Engineering Leadership Fundamentals Badges

Our mission is to prepare all Cornell Engineers with the professional skills they need to succeed in their careers and in the world. Potential employers already know you will be ready with your technical prowess. What makes the difference is how well you manage relationships, collaborate, communicate, and lead.

Leadership Foundations Mastery Badge
Digital badges are an established way to show the world that you have mastered these skills. You will earn a digital credential for each Skills Clinic you complete to a high standard of excellence. Upon earning six credentials, you will be awarded the Mastery Badge in Engineering Leadership Fundamentals. Display your badges on your resume, on LinkedIn, in your portfolios, and on your social media platforms. Get an edge. Show your potential employers that you are prepared to lead.

Clinic Expectations

Before you register, please take a moment to familiarize yourself with our expectations:

Commit to attending class

These clinics are fast-paced, skills-based experiences—missing just one class is like missing half a semester in a typical course. To earn credit, you must attend every session.

Be fully present

Sure, we know you have a million things on your plate. You’re probably already thinking about dinner, the next assignment, or wondering, “Why did I sign up for this again?” But here’s the thing: if you’re serious about getting the most out of these clinics, you’ll need to show up—not just physically, but mentally.

It’s tempting to sit back and coast, but trust us: active participation is your best bet. You’ll not only learn faster, but you’ll also make the whole experience a lot more engaging. And just so you know, we’re not fans of being the “sage on the stage” either, so your involvement keeps the class dynamic.

Engage – leave the tech in your bag.

We’re all for tech—who isn’t? But while we might ask you to use your devices for quick pre-class activities (think surveys or interactive prep), we ask that you leave them aside during the clinic itself. Focus and presence matter here.

Practice for mastery.

Attending class is just the beginning. To truly master these skills, you’ll need to put in the work outside the classroom. Think of it like a challenge—one that’s far more rewarding than your usual TikTok scroll. We promise, the effort you put in will pay off.

Ready to get started?

The Engineering Leadership Skills Clinics are open to ALL students in the College of Engineering. Register through Student Center to enroll in the Engineering Leadership Skills Clinics offered. For students that may go over the 20 credit limit, you will need to fill out the appropriate petition and submit it to the Engineering Registrar’s Office.

Got questions? Review our frequently asked questions 

For more information, email us at engineering_leaders@cornell.edu.