University at Buffalo School of Management

Autumn 2021 Buffalo Business 25 and successful leadership, including team leadership, problem-solving, decision-making, self-management and adaptability. The 2020 class was the first to receive the new MBA LeaderCORE micro-credential (see story, page 3)—a digital badge that houses information validating their newly acquired skills that can be shared on social media, digital résumés and e-portfolios. And building on the program's success, the school is now sharing its expertise in leadership development with other graduate students across UB through the new Foundations of LeaderCORE micro-credential. For Alex McLeod, MBA '17, LeaderCORE was a stepping- stone out of the startup life and into a career at Deloitte, where she serves as an advisory manager. She began her career at two technology startups that worked to give people job opportunities in the tech sector. At Deloitte, she's leading another social impact project. Called Close as You Go, the tool is the firm's first blockchain product and will help communities better prepare for and recover from disasters by enabling them to quickly recoup costs through federal grant programs. McLeod says that LeaderCORE equipped her with the skills to become the social impact entrepreneur she is today. "Startup life is fun, but it's also very stressful and there oen isn't much space for you to do more than your day-to-day," she says. "You also don't know what tools you need to become a great leader. "The LeaderCORE competency model gave me that— focused me on the areas I needed to work in, on how to be mind- ful through experiences and step back to reflect." Ryan McGraw, MBA '13, is a human resources business partner in technology for M&T Bank. He graduated from the second LeaderCORE class and, like Fiebelkorn and McLeod, gives back to the program by serving as a coach for current students. As coaches, they meet with students throughout the semester to guide them through the process—reflecting on the students' logs, providing feedback on how they're viewing themselves and what they're getting out of the program. "We're there to help students grow, learn and navigate their LeaderCORE journey," he says. When hiring, McGraw says LeaderCORE grads stand out in the crowded field of job candidates. "It shows that a person has self-awareness and that puts them above and beyond," he says. "There's always going to be the technical skill sets you require for a role, but LeaderCORE shows you'll be more likely to succeed because you have extra initiative, emotional intelligence and an awareness of how you're perceived by others." To learn more about the LeaderCORE certification and micro-credential, visit management.buffalo.edu/leadercore. McGraw McLeod Dean Paul Tesluk takes a selfie with the LeaderCORE Class of 2021 at their graduation ceremony in May. Photo: Tom Wolf

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