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Executive Education | Jones College of Business

The Leadership Challenge

Empowering Leaders for Transformative Impact

Have you ever wondered how the most effective leaders inspire, influence, and drive meaningful change within their teams? Do you want to enhance your ability to lead others, build trust, and foster collaboration across your organization? Exceptional leadership is a skill that transcends titles and positions, and in today’s dynamic workplace, strong leaders are essential to success.

This Leadership Excellence Masterclass, based on The Leadership Challenge® by Kouzes and Posner, is designed to help professionals at all levels unlock their leadership potential and create a culture of excellence.

For individuals seeking to inspire and empower others, this course offers actionable tools and strategies to master exceptional leadership:

  • Explore the Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership® to understand what the best leaders do to motivate and influence.
  • Discover your personal leadership style and identify ways to amplify your strengths.
  • Build trust-based relationships to inspire collaboration and commitment across teams.
  • Learn to model the way and lead by example, fostering integrity and credibility in your leadership approach.
  • Develop the ability to recognize, celebrate, and encourage progress, creating a positive environment for growth.
  • Practice effective communication and feedback strategies to empower others and drive results.

Whether you’re an emerging leader or a seasoned executive, this course will help you refine your leadership behaviors, drive transformation, and leave a lasting impact on your organization.

Upcoming Dates
February 26-28, 2025

Price: $2700
Delivery: Full-day, in-person sessions

Click here to register.

Showcase Your New Skills

Upon completion of this program, you’ll receive a Certificate of Leadership Excellence from MTSU’s Jones College of Business. This certificate will highlight your leadership development and demonstrate your commitment to driving organizational success. Share your credentials on LinkedIn and other professional platforms to showcase your leadership growth.

Upcoming Class

Dates: February 26-28

Times: 8:00AM – 5:00PM CST

Price: $2700

Delivery: Full-day, in-person sessions

Location: Miller Education Center

Address: 503 E Bell Street | Murfreesboro, TN | 37130

Register

Key Takeaways

This leadership program provides essential skills and knowledge to help you lead with purpose, confidence, and impact. You’ll learn how to:

  • Adopt the Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership® to motivate and guide your teams.
  • Model integrity, authenticity, and accountability in your leadership approach.
  • Foster trust, collaboration, and engagement across diverse groups.
  • Give effective feedback and empower others to achieve their best.
  • Celebrate wins and encourage progress to drive sustainable success.
Dr. Raffo explains: Leadership development is personal development.

Is This Course Right for You?

This program is designed for professionals looking to elevate their leadership capabilities and make a lasting impact:

  • Emerging Leaders: Build foundational leadership skills to grow your influence.
  • Managers and Supervisors: Strengthen your ability to inspire teams and foster collaboration.
  • Executives: Refine your leadership approach to drive transformative change.
  • Team Members: Discover how to lead effectively, regardless of your title or position.

Whether you are stepping into a leadership role for the first time or are a seasoned professional looking to grow, this program will equip you with actionable strategies and insights to become an exceptional leader.

Meet your instructors

Deana Raffo

Expert in Leadership Development, Authentic Leadership, and Generational Dynamics

Deana Raffo is a recognized authority in organizational behavior and leadership development, with a specialized focus on authentic leadership, leader credibility, strengths-based leadership, and The Leadership Challenge®. Her work explores the introspective dimensions of leadership, emphasizing the critical connection between personal development and leadership competencies.

Dr. Raffo’s expertise shines through her ability to help professionals and students alike develop self-awareness, cultivate credibility, and inspire teams to perform at their best.

Academic and Professional Background
Dr. Raffo holds an Ed.D. from Tennessee State University and an M.A. from Middle Tennessee State University. With a strong background in student leadership development and leadership education, she has taught and influenced countless professionals at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Dr. Raffo has played a pivotal role in leadership education at MTSU, serving as:

  • Director of MTSU’s Institute of Leadership Excellence
  • Coordinator for the Leadership Studies Program

Her impactful contributions to leadership education have earned her numerous distinctions, including:

  • Outstanding Program Award from the Association of Leadership Educators
  • Bill and Kathy Jones Outstanding Faculty Award from the Jones College of Business

Research and Publications
A prolific scholar, Dr. Raffo has presented at over 25 national conferences and published research in leading journals, including:

  • Journal of Managerial Issues
  • Journal of Leadership Education
  • Gender in Management

Her research significantly shapes the field of leadership and organizational behavior, offering valuable insights into generational dynamics, leadership authenticity, and personal development in professional settings.

Teaching and Training Focus

  • Authentic Leadership and Leader Credibility
  • Generational Dynamics in the Workplace
  • Strengths-Based Leadership Development
  • The Leadership Challenge® Framework

Dr. Raffo’s engaging and reflective approach empowers leaders to embrace their unique strengths, develop credibility, and lead with authenticity in today’s evolving work environments.

Education:

  • Ed.D., Tennessee State University
  • M.A., Middle Tennessee State University

Key Distinctions:

  • Association of Leadership Educators’ Outstanding Program Award
  • Jones College Bill and Kathy Jones Outstanding Faculty Award

Leigh Anne Clark

Expert in Leadership, Ethics, and Organizational Behavior

Leigh Anne Clark brings a unique blend of psychology, law, and management expertise to her research, teaching, and executive training. With a deep passion for helping individuals and organizations reach their leadership potential, she has designed and delivered impactful training sessions on leadership, ethics, and innovation across diverse sectors.

Most recently, Dr. Clark partnered with Deana Raffo to introduce The Leadership Challenge® to MTSU students—an acclaimed program grounded in Kouzes and Posner’s Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership®. She now brings this transformative leadership program to MTSU Executive Education participants, empowering professionals to inspire, influence, and drive meaningful change.

Academic and Professional Background
Dr. Clark teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in leadership, organizational behavior, ethics, and nonprofit management at MTSU. Her research explores critical issues such as:

  • Leadership credibility and trust
  • The ethics of technology and privacy
  • Organizational behavior and culture

With a law degree from Emory University (1992), Dr. Clark practiced law in private firms and served with the Georgia Attorney General’s Office, Atlanta Legal Aid Society, AARP, and the Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities. She later became a consultant for government and nonprofit organizations in Georgia, eventually founding and serving as Executive Director of a legal nonprofit.

In 2007, she earned her doctorate in Organization Studies from Southern Illinois University, where she shifted her focus to leadership development and organizational effectiveness.

Key Accomplishments

  • Creator and facilitator of numerous leadership and ethics training programs
  • Researcher in leadership credibility, ethics, and organizational behavior
  • Experienced consultant for government and nonprofit organizations

Teaching and Training Focus

  • Leadership Development and Influence
  • Ethical Decision-Making in Organizations
  • Innovation and Organizational Behavior

Dr. Clark’s expertise and dynamic teaching style make her a sought-after trainer for executives and professionals looking to elevate their leadership skills and drive transformational results within their teams and organizations.

Education:

  • J.D., Emory University School of Law (1992)
  • Ph.D., Organization Studies, Southern Illinois University (2007)

Take the Next Step Toward Leadership Excellence

Register today to invest in your leadership journey and transform your ability to inspire, influence, and drive results in your organization.

Questions? Contact us.

To learn more about this course, contact us at JonesExecEd@mtsu.edu.

Jones College of Business Executive Education courses are non-credit, non-transferable professional courses, and are not eligible for credit in an academic program at Middle Tennessee State University.