From Theory to Practice: Leadership, Public Speaking & Startups
From June 16 to 18, the Mandoulides Schools hosted the Harvard Model Congress Young Leadership Program, an innovative educational program designed to cultivate leadership skills. 15 students, aged 12–16, took part in the program.
Ms. Awa Jasseh, an honors student at Harvard University, helped participants to engage in a dynamic series of experiential activities aimed at enhancing leadership thinking, creativity, critical thinking, and effective communication.
The program focused on developing core leadership qualities such as responsibility, teamwork, decision-making, and adaptability. Students honed their public speaking and rhetorical skills through exercises in expressiveness, clear articulation, body language, and persuasive techniques based on the rhetorical tools ethos, pathos, and logos. They analyzed inspiring speeches by influential leaders such as Barack Obama and Steve Jobs.
Through role-playing, collaborative workshops, and presentations, students worked in small groups to design and implement innovative Action Plans that addressed real-world social and environmental challenges. They developed startup ideas, presented their proposals, argued for their effectiveness, and received constructive feedback from their mentor.
In addition, they were trained in negotiation strategies, introduced to the basics of game theory, and explored concepts such as group cohesion and different leadership styles. They also took part in practical sessions on professional behavior and networking, learning how to write professional emails and introduce themselves in formal settings.
The program concluded with a Mentorship Panel, which offered insights into studying at Harvard and other Ivy League universities, equipping students with valuable knowledge about their academic futures.
Over the course of three inspiring days filled with creativity, collaboration, and growth, students had the opportunity to develop meaningful skills and discover their potential as the leaders of tomorrow.
