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PBLE QUARTERLY UPDATE: FEBRUARY 2024

UWYO PBLE Ethics Center logo

Get ready for an exciting preview of upcoming activities in this quarter's newsletter from the UW Center for Principle-Based Leadership and Ethics. We continue a journey of leadership development and anticipate inspiring stories, educational highlights, and a roster full of meaningful events. This spring will be filled with growth, learning, and impactful experiences as we continue to help shape the next generation of business and community leaders. Your engagement is key to the success of our efforts, and our Center is eager to share these enriching moments with you. Thank you for being an integral part of our commitment to principle-based leadership and ethics excellence.

Cowboy Leadership Executive Education Sessions

This spring, the Center for Principle-Based Leadership and Ethics is set to host more Cowboy Leadership Executive Education Sessions catering to diverse industry partners. Among the participants are Trihydro, a prominent engineering and environmental consulting firm, and True Companies, a privately-owned entity with interests spanning energy, banking, and ranching.

The Center’s executive education sessions are designed to offer a comprehensive program model, focusing on various key aspects, such as:

  1. Self-Exploration:

Encouraging participants to delve into self-awareness and personal growth, fostering leadership development on an individual level.

  1. Team Influence:

Highlighting the significance of effective team dynamics, communication, and collaboration to enhance overall organizational performance.

  1. Organization Dynamics:

Exploring the intricate workings of organizations, understanding structures, processes, and their impact on leadership and ethical practices.

Program Benefits:

  1. Cultivate Vibrant Workplaces: By fostering individual growth and team collaboration, the program aims to create dynamic and positive work environments.
  2. Navigate and Adapt to Dynamic Market Changes Effectively: Equipping participants with the skills to navigate and respond effectively to the ever-evolving dynamics of their respective markets.
  3. Attract Top Talent: A focus on leadership development and ethical practices designed to help participating organizations appeal to top-tier talent.
  4. Formulate Strategic Plans Aligned with Organizational Goals: Providing tools and insights to assist in the formulation of strategic plans that align with the overarching goals of the organization.
  5. Foster Ethical Cultures that Drive Sustainable Innovation: Emphasizing the importance of ethical leadership, not only to drive innovation, but to ensure its sustainability and positive impact.

By addressing these key elements, the executive education sessions aim to empower organizations with the knowledge and skills necessary to create ethical, innovative, and high-performing workplaces. For more information on Executive Education or the Cowboy Leadership Experience, visit this link or contact the Center at 307-766-6271 or PBLE@uwyo.edu.

 

 

UW Leadership Academy

Exciting developments are underway as we prepare to accept nominations for The UW Leadership Academy—a collaboration between the College of Business and Leadership Wyoming, an immersive co-curricular experience for University of Wyoming students that helps prepare them to be economic and civic leaders. This transformative program is specifically tailored for high-achieving students with a proven leadership background and a commitment to innovation and collaboration.

Throughout this transformative journey, students will explore Wyoming's key industries, interact with influential civic and business leaders, and gain insights into leveraging systems leadership for the enhancement and transformation of Wyoming's economy.

Upcoming Leadership Academy Dates:

  • Aug. 23, 2024: 23, 2024: Welcome & Orientation (Laramie, WY)
  • Sept. 5-6, 2024: Energy 5-6, 2024: Energy Focus (Casper, WY)
  • Oct. 3-5, 2024: 3-5, 2024: Manufacturing Focus (Sheridan, WY)
  • Nov. 7-9, 2024: 7-9, 2024: Tourism Focus (Lander, WY)
  • Dec. 6, 2024: 6, 2024: Final Presentations & Graduation (Laramie, WY)

Your awareness and support are crucial as we shape this impactful initiative. Prospective students seeking to apply and faculty or staff members aiming to nominate students for this competitive application process can utilize this link.

 

 

John P. Ellbogen $50k Entrepreneurship Competition

The John P. Ellbogen $50k Entrepreneurship Competition is gearing up for its 24th edition, continuing its legacy of nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship among college students across the state. This longstanding competition is a testament to UW's commitment to encouraging students to leverage their talents, ideas, and energy to shape the future of business.

Set to take place at the UW College of Business on Wednesday, April 24th, this year’s competition maintains its tradition of awarding cash prizes to outstanding teams of student entrepreneurs. These teams, drawn from diverse disciplines at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, are invited to submit business plans for new ventures demonstrating significant growth potential.

In addition to the financial incentives, the $50k Competition provides a comprehensive support system for participating teams. This includes access to business consulting expertise, C-level mentorship, financial guidance, and a robust entrepreneurial network comprising investors and potential partners. The competition remains inclusive, welcoming students from all community colleges and disciplines, and particularly encourages the formation of multi-disciplinary teams. The recognition that success in entrepreneurship often requires a blend of skills from various fields underscores the competition's commitment to fostering well-rounded ventures.

As the 24th edition unfolds, the UW College of Business stands as the backdrop for this dynamic event, reinforcing its role as a hub for innovation and the cultivation of tomorrow's business leaders. For more information about the $50k Competition or to learn about last year’s competition visit this link.

 

 

SparkTank 2024

SparkTank 2024, an annual event put on by UW's Ethics Club and Sales Seminar Students, under the guidance of the Center for Principle-Based Leadership and Ethics, is poised to make a profound impact in its 7th edition on Thursday, April 25th, at the Marion H. Rochelle Gateway Center. This year's finalists, Laramie Interfaith, Safe Project, Stork Support, and Tele-Hope, represent a diverse range of impactful organizations vying for support.

Over the past six years, SparkTank has raised an impressive $400,000, providing vital support to 20 nonprofit organizations in Albany County. The competition, reminiscent of Shark Tank, sees UW's Ethics Club students acting as jurors to decide funding allocation. The process involves nonprofit nominations, elevator pitch submissions, finalist selection, due diligence site visits, and guidance for presentations, empowering students to contribute significantly to the community while fostering a deeper understanding of ethics in business.

Past beneficiaries, such as Unaccompanied Students Initiative, Climb Wyoming, My Front Door, Downtown Clinic, and Cathedral Home, attest to SparkTank's positive impact. The event has garnered support from individual donors and organizations, including John P. Ellbogen Foundation, University of Wyoming Foundation, Scarlett Family Foundation, Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative, ATBS, Powder Horn Realty, Scott and Heather Neu, OtterBox, Walmart, the Martin Family Foundation, and many more.

For the UW Sales Seminar program, SparkTank provides students with a hands-on, real-world sales experience. In the impressive 2023 showcase, sales students demonstrated their exceptional skills by securing nearly $90,000. Their achievements underscore their excellence in effectively managing the sales pipeline, generating leads, and successfully closing deals.

A notable economic impact study by Dr. David Aadland revealed the far-reaching effects of SparkTank funds, contributing approximately $1,624,000 of economic output, $709,000 of value added, $618,000 of labor income, and 17.5 new jobs to the Albany County economy.

Tucker Norman, Ethics Club President AY 22-23, expressed the profound impact of SparkTank, describing it as the most rewarding experience of his college career. As the event approaches, the UW community is invited to witness the culmination of efforts that go beyond financial support, creating a lasting legacy of ethical entrepreneurship and community betterment. Explore a two-minute video about SparkTank here.

 

 

Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative Case Competition

In anticipation of the upcoming 2024 Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative Case Competition, the Center for Principle-Based Leadership and Ethics is gearing up for another round of ethical excellence. Looking back at the previous two years’ success, where the undergraduate student team from UW clinched back-to-back championships, the 2024 competition promises to be a showcase of ethical reasoning and decision-making ability.

Stay tuned as new teams of undergraduate and graduate students prepare to take on the challenge, aiming to display exceptional ethical acumen in this prestigious event. The competition, integral to the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative Collegiate Program, will bring together student teams from business schools across Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.

This year's competition will present another compelling business ethics case. Student teams will step into the role of a consulting firm, tasked with analyzing ethical issues. Their recommendations will be scrutinized by a panel of business and community leaders.

As the UW teams prepare to present their recommendations, the judging criteria will uphold the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative principles, including integrity, trust, accountability, transparency, fairness, respect, the rule of law, and viability. The stage is set for another impactful and ethically charged competition in 2024. For more information about the upcoming Case Competition visit this link.

 

 

Wyoming Business Ethics Case Competition

Excitement is building as we look forward to the upcoming 4th annual Wyoming Business Ethics Case Competition (WYBECC) hosted by the Center for Principle-Based Leadership and Ethics on April 4-5. This experiential learning opportunity will showcase the ethical acumen of student teams from Wyoming community colleges, fostering a dynamic platform for them to practice and refine their business ethics skills.

In the previous two competitions, stellar teams from Eastern Wyoming College (EWC) emerged victorious, impressing judges with their ethical reasoning and innovative solutions. The winning EWC teams demonstrated exceptional dedication and creativity throughout the competition.

Reflecting on the experience, one participant expressed, "This was the best academic experience I have had. It was an amazing experience." Another stated, "It gave me a better idea of how to work ethically and with integrity. My presentation skills also improved." A third emphasized the importance of guiding principles, saying, "My biggest takeaway from this competition was how important it is to be guided by a set of principles and values throughout life."

Looking ahead to the spring of 2024, the WYBECC promises to be even more competitive, providing a valuable opportunity for community college teams to engage with real-world business ethics cases.

As we gear up for the 2024 WYBECC, we anticipate another year of intense competition, ethical exploration, and innovative solutions that will shape the future of business ethics in Wyoming. Stay tuned for updates on this exciting event! For more information about WYBECC or to learn about last year’s competition visit this link.

 

COB Speaker Series: Kelly Richmond Pope

Kelly Pope

Dr. Robin Hill (M.S. University of Arizona) is a lecturer in Computer Science and affiliate faculty member in both the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies and the Wyoming Institute for Humanities Research, all at the University of Wyoming.  Her research interest is the philosophy of computing, broadly construed, and she writes blog on that subject for the online Communications of the ACM, the newsletter of a leading international professional group (see https://cacm.acm.org/blogs/blog-cacm/ for the whole lineup). Her teaching experience includes over 30 years of logic, computer science, and information systems courses for the University of Wyoming, University of Maryland University College (European Division), State University of New York at Binghamton, Metropolitan State College, and others. As part of her Daniels Fund Faculty Fellowship, Dr. hill intends to examine the efficacy of case-based teaching in her “Ethics for the Computing Professional” course using the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative Principles as a framework to develop her evaluation rubrics.

For more information about the COB Speaker Series, visit this link.

For more information about the COB Speaker Series, visit this link.​

Faculty Spotlight - Dr. Robin Hill

Robin Hill

Dr. Robin Hill (M.S. University of Arizona) is a lecturer in Computer Science and affiliate faculty member in both the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies and the Wyoming Institute for Humanities Research, all at the University of Wyoming.  Her research interest is the philosophy of computing, broadly construed, and she writes blog on that subject for the online Communications of the ACM, the newsletter of a leading international professional group (see https://cacm.acm.org/blogs/blog-cacm/ for the whole lineup). Her teaching experience includes over 30 years of logic, computer science, and information systems courses for the University of Wyoming, University of Maryland University College (European Division), State University of New York at Binghamton, Metropolitan State College, and others. As part of her Daniels Fund Faculty Fellowship, Dr. hill intends to examine the efficacy of case-based teaching in her “Ethics for the Computing Professional” course using the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative Principles as a framework to develop her evaluation rubrics.

Student Spotlight - Shane Dawson

Shane Dawson

Shane Dawson, a recent graduate from the University of Wyoming, achieved a Bachelor's in Agriculture Business with a minor in Economics in December 2023. Starting at Central Wyoming College, she earned an Associate's in Agricultural Business and served as the Wyoming FFA State Officer, holding the position of State FFA Sentinel from April 2021 to April 2022. Upon transferring to the University of Wyoming in August 2022, Shane actively engaged in campus life, becoming Vice President of the UW Ethics Club. Actively participating in debate, community service, and events like SparkTank, she is dedicated to advancing her Business Ethics expertise through a semester-long Business Ethics Case Competition. Acknowledging the profound influence of UW’s Ethical Leadership program on her personal and academic growth, Shane expresses gratitude for the invaluable opportunities it provided. Looking forward, she plans to specialize in Water/Rural Law at the University of Wyoming Law School in Fall 2024. Confident that her ethical foundation will prove instrumental in both professional and personal endeavors, Shane is poised for success in the legal realm.