About the Center

Vision

Translating the scholarly and practical expertise of the Smith faculty into leadership insights for business, government and nonprofit executives and offering the chance for collaboration with the Smith School.

Mission

The Center for Leadership, Innovation & Change (CLIC) is focused on producing vanguard research and programs and related activities that are instrumental in fostering effective leadership, building organizational capabilities that support and promote effective innovation and change, and promoting social stewardship in organizations. Through its exceptional research capabilities and related programs, activities, and events that advance leadership practice and strategy of connecting research and practice on leadership, the Center serves a broad audience of executives, managers, scholars, instructors, students, and alumni, while also seeking their input.

For scholars, CLIC will engage in high-quality innovative research (as shown through publications in top journals) that will provide new theoretical and empirical findings, as well as emerging methodological developments in the leadership, innovation and change research arenas through supporting research projects, hosting academic conferences, and running speaker series.

For senior executives, CLIC will offer advanced thinking about top management leadership roles, navigating change, and emerging issues of importance to organizational leaders through mechanisms such as: (1) translations of cutting-edge research (HBR style/type articles, podcasts, etc), (2) events such as briefings and mini-conferences (e.g., a CEO conference or roundtable), (3) research projects that address key senior level leadership, innovation and change objectives (e.g., leading radical change)

For developing managers at all levels, CLIC will provide access to forward thinking about leadership behaviors, roles, and processes, and the process of leadership development through: (1) leadership development programs (e.g., including executive/leadership coaching), (2) variations on conferences like some of those noted above, and (3) skills building (leadership development) workshops.

For instructors, CLIC will make available new ideas and suggestions in the areas of leadership, innovation and change that build students’ knowledge and understanding in ways that help them become more effective leaders. Ideas on what “we offer” could mean: (1) cases, articles, interviews with senior executives that translate Center research findings into classroom knowledge, (2) access to guest speakers for courses, (3) access to action-learning opportunities (e.g., student projects, internships)

For students, CLIC will provide guidance on how best to develop leadership skills and prepare for roles as the leaders and shapers of the future through such mechanisms as: (1) translations of cutting-edge research that are accessible to students (see instructor mechanisms above), (2) opportunities to interact with leaders through attending Center events, participating in research, classroom speakers, (3) opportunities to develop research skills by working with faculty/PhD students on leadership, innovation and change research projects and activities.

For alumni, CLIC will engage alumni through a life-long learning process by exposing them to forward-thinking ideas that help them to develop their leadership skills and innovate in organizations by: 1) leadership development programs (e.g., skills building workshops), (2) opportunities to develop and expand professional networks (e.g., attending conferences), (3) connecting alumni to students and faculty (e.g., Smith networking events).