I believe the most meaningful feedback comes from the students themselves. Below are quotes from course reflections that speak to the impact of our time together. Whether they entered the class with leadership experience or were just starting to explore their potential, the majority of my students engage deeply with the material, and with themselves. Their words offer a glimpse into the kind of learning environment I strive to create: thoughtful, practical, inclusive, and transformative.

1. Leadership Is Deeply Personal and Relational

Many students arrived expecting leadership to be about authority, decision-making, or task delegation—but left understanding that it's more about people: self-awareness, trust, and emotional connection.

“I used to think leadership was mostly about giving directions and making sure things got done. Now, I see that good leadership is way more about building trust, understanding people, and making sure everyone feels like they matter.”

“I came in expecting to learn how to manage teams or run meetings, but what I didn’t expect was how much I’d learn about myself.”

“Leadership is not about control or authority but about service, humility, and the willingness to learn from others.”

2. Emotional Intelligence and Psychological Safety Are Game-Changers

Across nearly all reflections, students mentioned the transformative impact of understanding how emotions—both theirs and others’—affect leadership. Psychological safety, in particular, was a concept they hadn’t considered before.

“The idea of psychological safety had a big impact on me. I realized that if people don’t feel safe to speak up, they won’t do their best work.”

“Before this course, I saw leadership mostly as a position or title. Now, I understand that true leadership is about service, trust-building, and understanding others deeply.”

“Emotional intelligence completely reshaped how I approach challenges. It’s not about being right—it’s about connecting.”

3. Self-Awareness as a Foundation for Growth

Self-awareness was consistently cited as a revelation. Students realized that being a better leader starts with understanding their reactions, blind spots, and the impact they have on others.

“I always thought being a good leader was mostly about managing others, but now I see how much it starts with understanding yourself.”

“Learning about self-awareness was probably the best thing for me to take away from this class. I have already applied the lessons in my personal relationships, especially during the harder conversations.”

“Self-awareness made the biggest impact on me because it deals with understanding your emotions, thoughts, actions, and behaviors which I feel are some of the most crucial aspects of being a leader.”

4. Real-Life Application Made the Lessons Stick

Students frequently mentioned how applicable the content was. From jobs at Ulta Beauty to band rehearsals, leadership tools were being used in real time.

“I applied NVC to resolve a band dispute over song choices by focusing on shared needs.”

“I’ve already used emotional intelligence every day with my team. When I take the time to really listen and care, I see how much better my team works together.”

“The project with my client was a direct look into potential professional projects I could work on in a freelance or career-driven manner.”

5. Advice for Future Students: Lean In and Reflect

The most common piece of advice was for future students to take the reflection prompts seriously and to be honest and vulnerable. Students said this is where the real learning and growth happened.

“The more honest and open you are with yourself, the more powerful your growth will be.”

“Take the reflection prompts seriously, even when they feel repetitive or uncomfortable. That’s where the real growth happens.”

“This class is what you make of it. So make it something great and super beneficial to you by leaning in and diving deep into the content.”