Business Leader Development (BLD) Program
The Business Leader Development (BLD) Program prepares students to advance their career readiness and community connections by challenging them to become forward-thinking and inclusive business leaders. This sequence of courses is designed to enhance your education and preparation for your career by supporting your personal and professional development and building a lasting community within GWSB.
BLD Program Learning Pillars
- Community Connections
- Pursuit of Academic Excellence
- Personal & Professional Identity
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
- Career Readiness
Course Information
BADM 1001 & 1002: Business Leader Foundations 1 & 2
First-year students are required to complete the BADM 1001 & 1002 sequence as the first step in the GWSB Business Leader Development Program.
- Learn About BADM 1001 & 1002
The first semester, BADM 1001: Business Leader Foundations 1, focuses on self-assessment and vision-setting. In this semester, students explore their strengths, values, and begin to set goals for their development at GW and beyond. Students will also begin to familiarize themselves with the contemporary business landscape and conduct research on potential industries of interest. By developing a greater understanding of themselves, their interests, and the options available to them, students will lay the groundwork for deeper exploration and professional development.
The second semester, BADM 1002: Business Leader Foundations 2, builds on the self-assessment and vision-setting activities from BADM 1001 and focuses specifically on advancing a student's personal brand through business communication and inclusive leadership. Students will begin to explore the concepts of their personal brand as it relates to their future business career, leadership identity in the workplace, and the critical importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Additionally, students will review the differences between community, network, and networking and will practice using informational interviewing and other networking practices to deepen and broaden their connections. The semester will conclude with a unique capstone experience in the format of a case competition. The case competition will allow students to exercise critical thinking skills while applying what they have learned about communication, leadership, and teamwork into practice while analyzing a real-world business case.
The first semester, BADM 1001, focuses on self-assessment and vision-setting. In this semester, students explore their strengths, values, and begin to set goals for their development at GW and beyond. Students will also begin to familiarize themselves with the contemporary business landscape and conduct research on potential industries of interest. By developing a greater understanding of themselves, their interests, and the options available to them, students will lay the groundwork for deeper exploration and professional development.
The second semester, BADM 1002, builds on the self-assessment and vision-setting activities from BADM 1001 and focuses specifically on advancing a student's personal brand through business communication and inclusive leadership. Students will begin to explore the concepts of their personal brand as it relates to their future business career, leadership identity in the workplace, and the critical importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Additionally, students will review the differences between community, network, and networking and will practice using informational interviewing and other networking practices to deepen and broaden their connections. The semester will conclude with a unique capstone experience in the format of a case competition. The case competition will allow students to exercise critical thinking skills while applying what they have learned about communication, leadership, and teamwork into practice while analyzing a real-world business case.
BADM 1003: Business Leader Foundations for Transfer Students
The Business Leader Foundations for Transfer Students course helps students transition into the School of Business and succeed in- and out-of-the-classroom.
- Learn About BADM 1003 for Transfer Students
In BADM 1003: Business Leader Foundations for Transfer Students, students learn about resources at GW and GWSB and work to better understand their strengths, values, passions and create academic and career goals. Students also develop career-based knowledge, begin preparation for business careers, learn about the critical importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and develop as leaders. BADM 1003 is required for all internal/external transfer students in GWSB.
Students learn about resources at GW and GWSB and work to better understand their strengths, values, passions and create academic and career goals. Students also develop career-based knowledge, begin preparation for business careers, learn about the importance of civility and integrity in business discourse, and develop as leaders. BADM 1003 is required for all internal/external transfer GWSB students.
BADM 3001: Business Leader Career Strategy
BADM 3001 builds on the self-assessment and vision-setting that students explored in the Business Leader Foundations (BADM 1001/2/3) courses.
- Learn About BADM 3001
In BADM 3001: Business Leader Career Strategy, students will develop an individual Career Action Plan, which includes researching business-related industries as related to their own interests, skills, motivators, values, and career goals. Additionally, students will expand their network to include GWSB alumni and industry professionals. They will also learn how to enhance their personal brand as well as develop knowledge and skills that will increase their competitive advantage in the job search process. Lastly, students will learn about the benefits of lifelong learning.
BADM 3001 is required for GWSB students in the Bachelor of Science degree program. Completion of BADM 1001 & 1002: Business Leader Foundations 1 & 2 or BADM 1003: Business Leader Foundations for Transfer Students is required as a prerequisite in order to enroll in this course.
In the Business Leader Career Strategy course, students will develop an individual Career Action Plan, which includes researching business-related industries as related to their own interests, skills, motivators, values, and career goals. Additionally, students will expand their network to include GWSB alumni and industry professionals. They will also learn how to enhance their personal brand as well as develop knowledge and skills that will increase their competitive advantage in the job search process. Lastly, students will learn about the benefits of graduate school and the potential opportunities that continued education provides for various career paths.
BADM 3001 is required for GWSB students in the Bachelor of Science degree program. Completion of BADM 1001 & 1002: Business Leader Foundations 1 & 2 or BADM 1003: Business Leader Foundations for Transfer Students is required in order to enroll in this course.
BADM 4001: Business Leader Launch
BADM 4001 Business Leader Launch is an experiential learning course that is designed to enhance your education and preparation for your career.
- Learn More About BADM 4001
BADM 4001: Business Leader Launch is an experiential course focuses on synthesizing the knowledge you gained in the previous courses in the Business Leader Development (BLD) Program and in your other courses at GW into one culminating experience: whether it is an approved internship, undergraduate research, community engaged scholarship, or selected student leadership positions at GWSB.
BADM 1001 and 1002 (or BADM 1003 for transfer students) are required as prerequisites for this course. BADM 3001 is not a prerequisite, but students are highly encouraged to complete it prior to BADM 4001 in order to maximize their experience in the course and the overall BLD Program.
Registration into this course is facilitated by GWSB Undergraduate Programs (not through GWeb). Students must obtain departmental approval via GWSB Undergraduate Programs through the BADM 4001 Registration Request Form to be registered for the course - permission varies across sections; detailed information for each section is below. Please review the permission requirements on the BADM 4001 website.