The Leadership Challenge
Are leaders born or made? While research suggests that innate ability can be helpful, the most effective leaders are forged through the fires of experience.
The Leadership Challenge is a one of a kind, fast-paced, multi-round simulation where teams face off in an immersive leadership development experience. Student participants have the unique opportunity to place themselves in the shoes of a C-level executive and solve complex real-world business problems to test their leadership in front of experienced leaders who act as a board of directors.
Key Dates
Spring 2025 Applications
Opens:
Closes:
Event Date & Time
TBD
Format
- Teams are comprised of 4 individuals
- The competition has two rounds
- Every team competes in the first round, and the top four teams move-on to the second/final round
- The final round will take place immediately after the first round
- Finalist teams will receive a twist in the case and have 55 minutes to prepare a new presentation for the final round
- Teams receive the case one week before competition day
- Teams prepare a 10 minute oral presentation (no slides or handouts) based on given questions
- Presentations are delivered to their company's board of directors (executive judge panel)
- Following their presentations, teams will receive developmental feedback and questions
- A scoring rubric will be sent to teams along with the case one week before the event
- Prize money is awarded to the top three finishers:
- 1st place team - $4,000
- 2nd place team - $1,700
- 3rd place team - $400
- 4th place team - $100
2024 Leadership Challenge
On February 15th, 2024 the Stephen R. Covey Leadership Center hosted the fourth annual Leadership Challenge. This year’s case was focused on the recent events between the Boeing company and their clients, United and Alaska Airlines. United Airlines CEO expressed frustration and concern with the quality of their recent orders from the manufacturer.
Students were tasked with uncovering and identifying the root causes of Boeing’s issues and were asked to present solutions to address the critical issues. They were to consider the influence of leadership, culture, rewards, processes, and even structure.
Judges included executives from Meridium, Malouf, Utah State University, Alta Bank, Fox Pest Control, the Shingo Institute, General Mills, Infuze Hydration, Fight the New Drug, Senior Sign, Brex, and Rent Dynamics.
