Business Leadership Center

You won't learn theory on the job and you won't learn to be a great business leader just sitting in the classroom.

That's why we created the Edwin L. Cox Business Leadership Center (BLC). We were hearing from the corporate world that students graduating from traditional MBA programs weren't ready to take charge. Today at SMU Cox, you'll find more than academic rigor. Beyond the classroom, the BLC's innovative offerings paired with our various experiential learning programs will prepare you to move forward with a confidence that's rooted in skills.

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The Edwin L. Cox Business Leadership Center enhances classroom experiences by developing MBA students’ leadership skills through seminars, executive speaker series, experiential learning programs, and coaching. Watch to hear SMU Cox students describe their BLC experiences.

Check Out Our Skill-Building, Experiential Learning Seminars

You'll want to sign up early for the BLC seminars, as they often reach capacity early. SMU Cox's MBA students know how vital they are. A key BLC objective is to duplicate the “real world” dynamic in the classroom learning experience. We provide this experiential learning through our executive speakers who come from world-class organizations to develop the seminars and facilitate them. You'll learn from leaders representing Amazon, Microsoft, Keurig Dr Pepper, the Walt Disney Company, Yum! Brands and other global corporations.

Choose among more than 80 seminars on real-world topics that enhance the MBA curriculum and build your strengths in strategic communication, conflict resolution and leadership. When you graduate, you can list the seminars you've taken on your resume and highlight them during interviews — many Cox MBAs do. Hiring managers understand that these graduates have had training that sets them far above other candidates.

See the skills that BLC seminars build

Attend The Executive Speaker Series

The Executive Speaker Series gives you an unparalleled chance to sit down in a boardroom with C-level executives from around the world. After you've heard them speak, you'll have a chance to get answers to your burning questions during an informal Q&A session. The Business Leadership Center offers around 10 sessions per year, and in them you’ll find out not only about these seasoned executives’ backgrounds and work ventures, you’ll also have an invaluable opportunity to network with them.

Get more information on the Executive Speaker Series

Explore Experiential Learning Programs

Find out firsthand how Disney develops leaders. Consult with a nonprofit on thorny issues. Take on the challenge of changing a company’s culture.Learn to adopt a strategic mindset for any challenge and develop a lasting habit of focused productivity. At SMU Cox, our interdisciplinary programs let you apply practical leadership skills in a real-world setting. As you attend the Disney Institute, an annual five-day living laboratory in Orlando, or work in teams with local nonprofits to solve their business problems, you will have the opportunity to leave campus, overcome challenges, and put what you’ve learned into practice. Through our half-day and full-day on-campus programs, you will be able to take advantage of hands-on learning experiences that corporations spend thousands of dollars on to bring to their employees. These experiential learning programs provide you an opportunity to view leadership development through a mirror, as practice and as a reinforcement, while you network with other students and corporate guests to gain knowledge and skills that will follow you into your future careers.

See All Programs

Take Advantage Of Coaching Sessions

Fine-tune your individual and team skills through our exclusive coaching opportunities. You’ll work with our highly trained coaches to:

  • Take advantage of executive coaching
  • Enhance your delivery techniques
  • Rehearse presentations
  • Improve your team’s collaborative skills
  • You’ll get this personalized training, which professionals in the outside world would pay thousands of dollars to access, as an integral part of the BLC's services.
Learn more about the BLC's coaching services 
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Next Steps

Questions? Not sure which course will fit your professional development needs?

Reach out to our team