About the Leadership Minor
The minor in leadership is the perfect addition to any degree, regardless of your
ideal career path. It’s a unique program that prepares students to be principle-based
leaders in every facet of their lives. Students develop their own personal leadership
style and graduate with real-world leadership experience.
Fun Fact:
Early leadership experience is valuable. Selective colleges screen for demonstrated
leadership experience, and studies have found that people with high school leadership
experience are paid up to 33% more than those without it. This wage premium is similar
to the one associated with a college degree. (Anderson & Lu, 2017, Harvard Business
Review)
UW’s minor in leadership is led by dedicated and highly experienced faculty members, including:
- Dr. Chase Thiel: Dr. Thiel is the Rile Chair of Leadership, Department Chair of Management & Marketing, and a Professor of Management at UW. Dr. Thiel’s primary research examines unethical behavior in the workplace and his research has appeared in leading management journals. He is a six-time recipient of the College of Business research awards and in 2021, he received the prestigious McMurry Fellowship for excellence in research.
- Kent Noble: Kent Noble is the Bill Daniel Chair of Business Ethics. In 2018, Kent received the Professor of the Year distinction from UW’s College of Business. In 2019 and 2020, UW’s Mortar Board Honor Society recognized him as a "Top Prof”. Kent currently serves on the board of directors for the John P. Ellbogen Foundation, the NASBA Center for the Public Trust, the Board of Advisors for Millennium Bridge Capital, the Better Business Bureau Foundation of Northern Colorado and Wyoming, and the UW Alumni Association.
- Chris Haller: Chris Haller is the Director of the Center for Principle-Based Leadership & Ethics. In this role, he oversees the development of strategic objectives, annual budget, networking events, marketing & branding, co-curricular programs, executive education, and community & business outreach for all stakeholders of the Center. He received the Campus Being a Difference Award by the NASBA Center for the Public Trust in 2024. He teaches the leadership minor’s capstone course and the UW Leadership Academy.
What can you do with a minor in leadership?
A leadership minor prepares you to take on leadership roles across a wide range of industries by strengthening your communication, team-building, problem-solving and decision-making skills. You can apply these skills in careers in business, education, nonprofit management, healthcare, government, agriculture, engineering and more. It’s a versatile minor that complements almost any major and helps set you apart as someone ready to lead, manage and make an impact in your chosen field.
Here is just a small sampling of jobs and careers that put an emphasis on candidates having strong leadership skills:
- Chief Executive Officer
- President
- Vice President
- Executive Director
- Business Development Manager
- Sales Supervisor
- Sales Representative
- Medical and Health Services Manager
- Teacher
- Lawyer
- Business Consultant
- Project Manager
- Department Supervisor
- Strategist Planner
- Human Resources
Many of our graduates go on to work in marketing, the nonprofit sector, finance, sports and more — depending on their major and unique skillset.
Here's a list of notable UW College of Business alumni employers:
- Amazon
- Vail Resorts
- Kroenke Sports & Entertainment
- Hyatt Vacation Ownership
- US Radiology Specialists
- Northwestern Mutual
- Starwood Hotels & Resorts
- Danone
- AllTrails
A leadership minor is all about helping you build the skills to lead, inspire and make an impact—no matter what you major in. You’ll take courses that focus on communication, teamwork, ethical decision-making and real-world problem solving, all designed to help you grow as a confident and effective leader. It’s a great way to boost your resume, prepare for leadership roles and stand out to future employers.
Yes, leadership degrees and minors are worth it—especially if you want to stand out in the job market and take on roles where you guide teams, make decisions or manage projects. Employers in every industry value strong leadership skills, and a leadership program helps you build confidence, communicate effectively and solve problems in real-world settings. Whether you want to lead in business, education, nonprofits or another field, this kind of training can give you a competitive edge and help you grow your career.
UW SparkTank
The Ethics Club hosts UW SparkTank, a philanthropic movement that connects students with local nonprofits in our community. SparkTank raises money for local nonprofits and connects them with the resources they need. Whether it's financial support, assistance in obtaining certifications or a powerful platform to amplify their causes, SparkTank provides unwavering support to the community.
"The Leadership Minor is an amazing hands-on experience with incredibly knowledgeable and experienced faculty that took my undergraduate education to a higher level. It's an interesting, complex and expansive topic that has applications in any career field even outside of leadership roles. I had the opportunity to build relationships with my peers, faculty and business leaders from around the State of Wyoming. The Leadership Minor provided me with practical lessons in leadership and ethics that can be applied in any context or discipline. The Leadership Minor includes topics that I think everyone could stand to learn a little more about, and learning how to apply concepts of leadership in your everyday life is an integral skill for young professionals entering the workforce."
- Colter Anderson | Leadership Minor Alum
