My Favorite Class at Tufts
I still vividly remember my first Entrepreneurial Leadership class at Tufts. In the very first class we were told to think of our “why story” and why we do something and what drives us every single day. Professor McCarthy has such an engaging, welcoming and amazing learning environment that she fosters in the class that it is so waking up early in the morning and sitting through 3 hours for.
The class was full of individuals from every major and minor combination you could possibly imagine, and everyone brought such an interesting perspective to the table. Professor McCarthy’s own stories and experiences taught us so much about what being a leader means and how it is tailored to your own personality. I think what has resonated with me the most from the class has been the story-telling aspect and how you can only learn and grow from all your experiences but
also learn from the people around you and the mistakes you make.
The class employs diverse strategies, including class discussions, real-world applications, projects, and guest lectures, ensuring a dynamic and engaging learning experience. Additionally, taking assessments like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument contribute to self-discovery and personal growth through the journey of this class. The weekly written reflections we did encouraged thoughtful consideration of class discussions, which reinforced the course's meaningful impact on personal and professional development. Additionally, the final assignment of the class, a leadership playbook was also instrumental in helping us synthesize our learning and create a valuable resource for future leadership roles.
The numerous Ted Talks we saw for class and in class and the speakers that Professor McCarthy brought in were very helpful and insightful and all of this left you thinking and connecting back to your own personal experiences. I think a big thing from this class was also the knowledge, confidence, skills and self-understanding and self-image necessary to pursue entrepreneurial leadership roles it left you with across different businesses and organizations. I was also able to
practice and develop a strong elevator pitch in this class and present it in front of everyone; it created a lot of self-confidence for me.
Professor McCarthy is so helpful and always happy to help you and connect you with people in her network who she thinks can give you advice or help you in any capacity. Her extensive knowledge is something I have always looked to when making decisions or just seeking any general advice or interview/ networking tips. She has been able to connect me to some great people in her network and I am excited to TA for her class and continue learning in this class through a new lens.
If you’re interested in truly understanding your leadership style, are curious about the entrepreneurship minor at Tufts, I would highly recommend taking this class - it is offered every Fall and Spring semester.