Lead & Follow

How Universities Teach Leadership Through Real Team Experience - Dan Jenkins

Sharna Fabiano Season 2 Episode 9

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Full transcript and show notes: https://www.sharnafabiano.com/2026/07/29/how-universities-teach-leadership-through-real-team-experience-dan-jenkins/

Leadership programs often teach people how to take charge — but fewer teach what happens when those same people are part of a team where someone else is leading. Dan Jenkins explores how changing the way leadership education is designed can help students develop a deeper understanding of teamwork, communication, and the responsibilities that come with every role on a team.

Dan Jenkins is Professor of Leadership & Organizational Studies at the University of Southern Maine and an expert in leadership education, curriculum design, and learning assessment. He is co-author of The Role of Leadership Educators: Transforming Learning and has published more than 40 articles and book chapters on leadership education. He is also a co-founder of the International Leadership Association’s Leadership Education Academy, Vice-Chair of the Collegiate Leadership Competition, Associate Editor of the Journal of Leadership Studies, and co-host of The Leadership Educator Podcast.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • Why leadership programs benefit from teaching students multiple team roles
  • How experiencing different roles changes the way students understand teamwork
  • How educators can design leadership courses that build stronger team awareness
  • What research reveals about students who learn to contribute beyond a leadership position


Episode References

Global Followership Conference
www.followershipconference.com 

The Leadership Educator Podcast
theleadershipeducator.podbean.com

Collegiate Leadership Competition
www.collegiateleader.org

 New Directions in Student Leadership, Volume 2020, Issue 167
Special Issue: Followership Education 

Leadership is Half the Story by Marc Hurwitz and Samantha Hurwitz

Kolb’s Experiential Learning Model

The Role of Leadership Educators: Transforming Learning

Leadership and Followership Tango Video 

The Courageous Follower by Ira Chaleff 

ILA Leadership Education Academy

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Sharna Fabiano is the author of Lead & Follow: The Dance of Inspired Teamwork and host of the Lead & Follow Podcast. She helps founders, solopreneurs, and new leaders build strong collaborative relationships and successful teams. 

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