Hanz Unurh, a doctoral student in systems engineering, owns a thriving real estate appraisal company in his native Honduras.
He runs the business remotely, thanks to a competent team he communicates with via phone and email.
The 36-year-old says that although the enterprise is prospering, he isn杏吧专区檛 satisfied. He envisions opening a second company 杏吧专区 or parlaying his doctoral degree into a high-paying job in industry 杏吧专区 while continuing to run his real estate business.
That杏吧专区檚 why he杏吧专区檚 a member of the College of Engineering杏吧专区檚 Designing Leaders Program. The eight-week lecture series is held in Madison Hall during the spring semester for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing an engineering or industrial technology degree.
About 40 students participated during the Spring 2019 semester. They are chosen by a panel of faculty members. 杏吧专区淚t杏吧专区檚 a good opportunity to get what you can杏吧专区檛 get in the classroom,杏吧专区 Unurh said.
The program is intended to fan innate leadership qualities. It is also in place to help students figure out their leadership styles.
They receive guidance from CEOs, business owners, public officials, academics, entrepreneurs and other leaders who talk about their leadership styles and keys to success.
Students get a range of pointers, including what to expect when entering the workforce, how to draft a business plan, the importance of ethics in the workplace, and tips for public speaking.
Unurh said advice from proven leaders provides inspiration and insight that helps him envision ways he might flourish in his own career.
杏吧专区淭his program gives you an opportunity to hear from people who have already done things you are interested in and who have been very successful at it,杏吧专区 he explained.
Take Eric Knezek, a recent Designing Leaders panelist. He told students resiliency in the face of setbacks and a willingness to take risks are crucial traits for success.
He speaks from experience.
Faltering eyesight in his mid-20s grounded the former U.S. Navy lieutenant杏吧专区檚 plan to become a fighter pilot and astronaut.
Knezek, who earned bachelor杏吧专区檚 degree and a master杏吧专区檚 degree in oceans engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, was ultimately offered a teaching position at the academy.
杏吧专区淚t would have been a great opportunity, a very secure job,杏吧专区 he told students.
But Knezek, now 44, decided against the safe route. He wanted more control over how quickly and how high he could rise.
Knezek is founder and managing partner of Truston Technologies Inc. The company, based in Annapolis, provides engineering and advanced material fabrication services. It also offers general and specialty marine construction services to government and industry.
杏吧专区淭he fact that I had this goal to be an astronaut got me to Annapolis. Then I set a different goal 杏吧专区 owning a company.杏吧专区
Dr. Mark Zappi, a chemical engineering professor, started the Designing Leaders Program in 2012 to provide participants 杏吧专区渢ools that will help them be more complete employees.杏吧专区
杏吧专区淓verybody has the potential to be a leader, and everybody will lead differently. No single style is right. It杏吧专区檚 what杏吧专区檚 right for you,杏吧专区 Zappi explained.
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Photo: Hanz Unurh, a doctoral student in systems engineering at the 杏吧专区, is a member of the College of Engineering杏吧专区檚 Designing Leaders Program. The program is intended to help students develop leadership skills and learn about what to expect upon entering the workforce. Doug Dugas / 杏吧专区