Build your leadership skills. Make an impact.
The Leadership Discovery Series consists of five 90-minute workshops—offered both in-person and online—that help McGill students grow as leaders on campus and in the community. Each session is led by trained student facilitators from the Leadership Facilitation Team.
Workshop Topics
This suite of workshops will support developing your leadership capacities now as a McGill student! By attending five (5) workshops you can complete the requirements for completing a Path over a semester or an academic year. Great to add to your CV and so achievable if you have a little time to spare over an academic year - each workshop is 90 minutes long.
Find our Leadership Discovery Series offered below or go directly to myFuture. If you want to be notified when we open registration, sign up here!
The Leadership Discovery Series has been around awhile and has had different names! Here is a 5 minute video created by a student that will give you more info about us!
Our video gives lots more info about our workshops from a student's perspective!
Finding Your Way: Exploring Styles and Strengths for Emerging Leaders
Focus: Self-discovery and reflection as the foundation for authentic leadership.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Challenge conventional understandings of leadership
- Recognize essential elements of leadership
- Differentiate between well-known theories and models of leadership
- Develop their personal philosophy and approach to leadership
Description: In this session, students explore the definition of leadership and consider important aspects of leadership. Different models and theories are also considered, and students begin to develop their personal philosophy of leadership.
Fall 2026 Workshop date: Friday, Oct 16 (12 to 1:30pm) in-person
Leading with Impact: Citizenship and Culture for Emerging Leaders
Focus: How cultural awareness and civic engagement shape inclusive leadership.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Distinguish between leadership and citizenship, and explore how they intersect
- Reflect on how cultural identity and context influence leadership approaches
- Identify ways to engage meaningfully in leadership during your university experience
Description: What does it mean to lead in a diverse, global community? This workshop explores how your cultural background and sense of citizenship shape your leadership identity. Through discussion and reflection, you’ll examine how leadership and civic engagement intersect, and how you can lead with awareness, responsibility, and impact—both on campus and beyond.
Fall 2026 Workshop dates: Friday, Nov 20 (12 to 1:30pm) in-person
Lead Out Loud: Communication and Listening for Emerging Leaders
Focus: Developing effective communication and active listening as core leadership tools.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Define effective communication and its role in leadership
- Apply communication models to real-world leadership scenarios
- Practice active listening as a tool for inclusive and empathetic leadership
Description: Leadership starts with connection—and connection starts with communication. In this interactive session, you’ll explore what makes communication effective, especially in diverse teams. You’ll learn how to listen actively, speak with clarity, and navigate cultural differences to build trust and lead with confidence.
Fall 2026 Workshop dates: Friday, Oct 23 (12 to 1:30pm) in-person
From Tension to Transformation: Navigating Conflict as an Emerging Leader
Focus: Building skills to manage conflict constructively and lead through challenges.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Identify and reflect on different conflict management styles
- Practice conflict resolution strategies through interactive scenarios
- Apply conflict management skills to real-life leadership situations
Description: Conflict is a natural part of leadership—but it doesn’t have to be destructive. This hands-on workshop gives you tools to approach conflict with confidence and empathy. You’ll explore your personal conflict style, practice negotiation skills, and learn how to turn tension into opportunities for growth and collaboration.
Fall 2026 Workshop dates: Friday, Nov 6 (12 to 1:30pm) in-person
Fuel the Fire: Motivation and Purpose in Leadership
Focus: Understanding personal and team motivation to lead with energy and intention.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Define motivation and explore its personal and social dimensions
- Apply motivational theories to leadership and team dynamics
- Identify strategies to sustain motivation and inspire others
Description: What drives you to lead—and how can you inspire others as well as yourself? This energizing workshop helps you explore your personal sources of motivation and how they connect to your leadership goals. You’ll learn practical strategies to stay motivated, support others, and lead with purpose in both individual and team settings.
Fall 2026 Workshop dates: Friday, Nov 13 (12 to 1:30pm) in-person
When & Where
- Offered twice a year: Fall and Winter semester
- Formats: Online via Zoom or in-person at the Brown Student Services Building (3600 Rue McTavish, suite 2200)
How It Works
- Register for any workshop and you’ll be automatically enrolled in the Leadership Discovery Series experiential program in myFuture so you can track your progress.
- If you complete all five workshops in the same academic year, you will be recognized on your Student Experience Record.
📝 Need a Reference?
If you’ve completed the program in the past and need a reference, fill out the Verifier Request Form.
📩 Questions?
Email us at leadership.training [at] mcgill.ca
👉 Meet members of the Leadership Facilitation Team at a workshop!