Ying Yang, associate professor of sociology, will be leading a session on leadership development this July for participants of the Hersheypark Leadership Development Internship program, a partnership program between Hersheypark and Shippensburg University. The two-day program will focus on building leadership skills and promoting the university’s Organizational Development and Leadership (ODL) program to an audience from all over the nation.
Yang’s session, titled “Leadership is NOT a title,” will cover a variety of skills needed to become a strong leader. Her goal is for participants to leave her session with a clear understanding of different leadership styles, self-awareness and strategies for leading without a formal title. The program will address several learning outcomes, such as identifying and analyzing different leadership styles and their effectiveness in the workplace, recognizing what it takes to be a leader and understanding how to apply leadership qualities to a professional setting.
“Participants will also develop a self-awareness of their personal leadership strengths and areas for growth,” Yang explained. “The goal is to show them how to lead and influence others even if they don’t hold a formal leadership title.”
Yang’s approach to leadership development has been shaped by her experience working in sociology, specifically relating to her research on globalization, race, ethnicity and wealth inequality. She believes that leaders must understand different cultural backgrounds, especially in the “globalized and multicultural world”. Yang plans to integrate her unique research experiences into her session.
“The research I’ve conducted allows me to approach leadership development from a broader perspective,” Yang said. “To practice effective leadership, an individual must understand how to work with people from different cultural backgrounds. One model I’ll cover is the Culturally Endorsed Leadership Theory, which examines effective leadership styles across 62 societies.”
Yang hopes that her global approach to teaching will resonate with the program’s audience and that the ODL program will leave a lasting impact. She anticipates that the hands-on learning will appeal to a wide range of interns participating in the session.
“The ODL program offers engaging lectures, activity-assisted learning, real-life case studies, and personable faculty that will make a difference for the participants,” Yang said.
Yang recognizes that many interns are just starting their professional journeys and believes that interactive learning is the best approach toward helping them succeed. Small-group discussions and case study exercises will be the main focus of her learning style.
“I plan to prepare activities that will help them learn the concepts in a more interactive way,” Yang said. “Breaking them into small groups for discussions and case studies will help reinforce the lessons. It’s a method that encourages participation and practical application of leadership skills.”
With Yang’s expertise in sociology and leadership development, she is dedicated to providing the Hershey internship program participants with the tools they need to succeed as they enter the workforce.
