Growing Program Prepares Young Professionals with ‘More’

A campus leadership and professional development program is growing exponentially thanks to the competitive advantage it gives Rockhurst University grads entering their careers.

The Magis Leaders Program was created about a decade ago by David Fowler, former managing partner of KPMG, when he observed that RU graduates were capable and skilled but not all knew the ins and outs of professional conduct. A program was designed to teach students success skills not found in the rigors of academic courses and bring community professionals to class as speakers.

“Magis” is Latin for “more,” and that’s just what the program offers to students in any major.

“RU graduates bright students,” said Director Ken Mellard. “However, once they join a company, it's knowing and acting professionally that gives graduates a competitive advantage and the opportunity for promotion. Therefore, Magis focuses on giving graduates a competitive advantage by focusing on these skills and attitudes.”

Some of the skills reviewed are purposeful networking, knowing how to manage a mentor situation and personal branding.

In 2019, the first year of the program under Mellard, it drew about 14 applicants from Business majors. Just two years later there were more than 40 applicants representing most majors on campus. Business school deans, noting that professionalism is a key component across all professions, had opened applications to all undergraduate students at Rockhurst.

The current group consists of 25 students whose collective GPA stands at 3.78 – also a high for the program. They meet for a 2-hour class every month to complement their regular coursework and often includes prominent presenters from the Kansas City community.

Presenters so far have included leaders from the C-suites at CBIZ, JE Dunn, Hallmark, and Black & Veatch. 

“University faculty have been instrumental in identifying quality students and encouraging them to enroll,” Mellard said.

Mara Akers, a recent Rockhurst grad who now works at VMLY&R marketing and communications, first heard about the program through her work-study supervisor, Tina Wendling. Akers was interested to learn more about becoming a leader in an entry-level position, tips for networking, and how she could build her personal brand. On top of that, she was interested in hearing it from people who were established in the KC community outside of her major.

“The program also has a mentorship assignment built-in – and from that I built a strong connection with someone who was extremely successful in my field,” Akers said. “They helped me navigate through applications and were a wealth of information into what my role might look like in the advertising world.”

Akers says she can see the results of the Magis program training in her work at VMLY&R.

“I've been thrown into high-stress leadership positions since beginning in February, and better understanding how to build and lead a team has definitely applied to those situations,” she said. “Additionally, advertising (and really any career) is all about connections, and the Magis Leaders Program really lit that fire for me. Before I received my position, I probably did over 100 one-on-one meetings with professionals in the advertising world all over the country. And even since I started my new role, I've aimed to continue networking and building relationships. [Diversity, Equity and Inclusion] is also an important topic, especially in an industry that has a history of being white and male. Our sessions on this topic helped me continue to have DE&I at the forefront of my thoughts and actions, recognizing that acknowledgment is the first step towards change.”

Matthew Linomaz learned of the program while in Professor Jeffrey Wright’s Managerial Accounting class. Wright and Professor Acey Lampe have been on the Magis Advisory Committee since its inception.

“I learned how to shape my own personality to be the most optimal and effective leader that I could,” Linomaz said. “I learned how empathy is a strong tool that every leader should possess. I learned that leadership is much more than telling people what to do. Rather, being a servant leader is the best path towards optimal leadership capabilities.”

Chris Brady is a current member of the program. He heard of the program directly from Mellard while in his Leadership Development 2000 class.

“I learned so much in that class and enjoyed myself, so I wanted to take another leadership course with him,” Brady said. “Being able to hear from highly successful professionals is an incredible opportunity. Hearing their stories, advice, mistakes, etc. and getting to ask them questions has been the biggest help so far.”

Mellard attributes the program’s success in part to the fact it addresses students’ fears and anxieties.

“If a student graduates with a finance degree they may wonder what happens if, after a year or two working with those skills, they prefer a different set of company responsibilities,” he said. “All the presenters discuss their own career paths, many of which are circuitous. This information can alleviate fears about the students’ majors and give insight into how professional growth can occur.”

All three current or former students interviewed recommend the program to other Rockhurst students.

“I would definitely recommend this class to anyone regardless of their major,” Brady said. “It gives you insights into becoming a better leader and person.”                  

“Being a leader is important to every single study and thus, the Magis Leaders Program can be an optimal conduit for students, in any degree field/study, to learn the valuable skills of leadership and development towards a more servant leader role in their personal and professional lives,” Linomaz said.

“I encourage them to put all they can into it,” Akers said.

Pictured: Stephen Penn, current managing partner for KPMG in Kansas City, speaks to the Magis group in November.