Hildebrand Leadership Fellows

Enhanced offerings will customize MBA leadership development journey

The McCombs School of Business announces Hildebrand Leadership Fellows, an expansion of leadership development activities through the Hildebrand MBA Excellence Fund, available to all MBA students this fall.

Hildebrand Leadership Fellows builds upon McCombs’ proven leadership development approach and introduces personalized, targeted opportunities across the MBA portfolio — for students of the Full-Time, Working Professional, and Executive MBA formats. The program is made possible by a recent $20 million naming gift from civic leader and philanthropist Mindy Hildebrand, BBA ’86.

“The Hildebrand Leadership Fellows program offers students an intentional leadership journey designed to develop tomorrow’s high-impact business leaders,” says Joe Hahn, McCombs associate dean for graduate programs.

Students wishing to become Hildebrand Leadership Fellows may access a curated list of programs and services through McCombs+ that satisfy core leadership competencies and skills.

These development opportunities include industry-focused training workshops, one-on-one communication and leadership coaching, real-world consulting experience, and global experiences. Each activity is followed by a reflective practice — a key component of leadership growth, Hahn says.

“Self-reflection is critical. By analyzing their experience, students become more credible, self-aware, and authentic leaders and build a foundation for lifelong leadership development,” he says.

Students can earn incremental rewards and formal credentials as they progress through a series of immersive activities and thoughtful reflections, required to achieve Hildebrand Leadership Fellow designation. Fellows must complete this required path and further demonstrate their strategic vision by crafting a comprehensive personal leadership plan — a road map to guide their leadership journey.

Hahn says Hildebrand Leadership Fellows is part of a multifaceted approach that complements the school’s rigorous curriculum, student organization involvement, McCombs+ Global & Experiential Learning, and the Center for Leadership and Ethics. “It’s designed to cultivate our students’ inner compass and their external effectiveness in their careers,” he says.

“Our MBA program has a rich history of cultivating world-changing leaders, and this new opportunity for our students builds on that legacy of excellence,” says McCombs Dean Lillian Mills. “I’m excited to see how our Hildebrand Leadership Fellows tackle tomorrow’s complex business challenges with purpose and authenticity.”