New Online MA in Organizational Leadership Prepares Graduates to Lead in Our Complex, Globalized World
Many believe that great leaders are born, not made.
“That’s not true,” says Dr. Cassandra Caldwell, program director of the Middlebury Institute’s new MA in Organizational Leadership. “For a lot of people, leadership may not come naturally, but with the right training and support, they can become excellent leaders. That’s why organizations are investing more and more in leadership development each year.”
The Middlebury Institute’s new fully online MA in Organizational Leadership is designed to give students the knowledge and skills they need to move up into leadership roles within their current organization or build a career in leadership development.
The fully asynchronous online program is comprised of 10 courses that are seven weeks long. The curriculum combines theoretical foundations with real-world applications, encouraging students to reflect on their personal leadership styles and decision-making processes. Students complete a practicum that allows for immediate application of skills—either in their current workplace or arranged through the Institute’s professional network.
Rising Demand for Both Leaders and Leadership Training
As organizations face increasingly complex challenges in a globalized world, the demand for skilled leaders continues to grow across both the public and private sectors.
“With this degree, we wanted to meet this need, ensuring that our degree was flexible for working professionals who are juggling family and work responsibilities,” said Dr. Patricia Szasz, dean of Middlebury Institute Online.
The multibillion-dollar leadership development industry is projected to grow. The need for training and development managers is projected to grow by 7 percent between 2023 and 2033, resulting in 3,200 new jobs.
Learning from Experienced Practitioners
Students will learn from instructors with extensive real-world experience in leadership roles across various sectors.
“We have some wonderful practitioners who bring decades of experience to this program,” says Caldwell. “They represent a mix of sectors—government as well as the corporate sector, even including a dean at a university.”
One course that Caldwell is particularly excited about is Psychology of Leadership, which will be taught by a clinical psychologist.
“Every leader needs to have a few courses in psychology,” said Caldwell. “All humans have their quirks, but there’s a reason that they’re acting the way they are, and psychology helps you navigate that as a leader.”
Leadership in Our Complex, Interconnected World
The Middlebury Institute is known for its international and intercultural focus, and the new MA program continues this tradition.
“Several of the competencies for this degree focus on global leadership, and that was intentional,” says Caldwell. “The world keeps getting smaller and smaller. Whether you’re working for global organizations and companies or smaller local organizations, you will be navigating intercultural communication, so we wanted to make sure that our curriculum reflected that.”
Preparing Students to Inspire Shared Vision
A key challenge for leaders, according to Caldwell, is inspiring a shared vision. This was one of the primary challenges she navigated herself through leadership roles at Visa, General Electric, Sodexo, GlaxoSmithKline, 4-H Youth Development, and North Carolina State University.
She recommends “The Leadership Challenge” by Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner, which she’s used in leadership classes she’s taught at multiple institutions.
“You need people to buy into your vision,” she said. “I think that is one of the challenges that I’ve experienced throughout my career—helping people understand why we should be going in a certain direction and have them follow.”
Through the program’s curriculum, students will develop this crucial skill along with many others needed to become effective leaders.
Another go-to resource for Caldwell? The film Remember the Titans, based on the true story of the football team through the integration of an all-Black school with an all-White one in 1971.
“It’s an excellent depiction of leadership principles in action,” said Caldwell.
The MA in Organizational Leadership is enrolling now and launches in fall 2025.