3 answers
Julia
Student
Edwardsburg, Michigan
1
Question
Asked
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As a woman pursuing finance major, how do I learn and develop leadership skills throughout college to better prepare myself for employment after school ?
My goal is to be a CFO, what classes will help with development of leadership qualities.
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3 answers
Harry Clapeck
Manufacturing
37
Answers
Scottsdale, Arizona
Updated
Harry’s Answer
Hi Julia, A great question. Some qualifications you can learn in college but you will continue to learn throughout your working years. I think there are two leadership skills that you should develop. One is patience. You don't need to be the first to make a decision. Sometimes sitting back and reflecting is the best decision. The other is to look long-term. Many times the first decision looks good for now but what about later? Will it still be good or might it bring up a larger problem that nobody else considered?
One of the most satisfying qualities I developed during my career was sitting in meetings and taking everything in. Then towards the end of the meeting, the leader or CEO of the meeting said: Good meeting, now what is your opinion Harry. I developed the ability to project, both good and not so good suggestions and what the consequences might be. I tried to project 3-4 steps forward. But you also must develop good communication skills. It can be very difficult telling someone their idea sucks without offending them.
Good luck Julia. Let me know if I can be of further assistance.
Harry
One of the most satisfying qualities I developed during my career was sitting in meetings and taking everything in. Then towards the end of the meeting, the leader or CEO of the meeting said: Good meeting, now what is your opinion Harry. I developed the ability to project, both good and not so good suggestions and what the consequences might be. I tried to project 3-4 steps forward. But you also must develop good communication skills. It can be very difficult telling someone their idea sucks without offending them.
Good luck Julia. Let me know if I can be of further assistance.
Harry
Jack Robi
Account Manager
4
Answers
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Jack’s Answer
Hi Julia, I think that business presentations is a super impactful class in developing leadership qualities. Public speaking is something that permeates throughout many careers in finance, especially for CFO's and people advising their companies. Additionally, working as a team in this setting helped me to navigate presenting financials and organizing ideas. Lastly, I would recommend that outside of school, you read news outlets announcements on public companies / finance topics in general, Yahoo Finance and the Wall Street Journal have helpful resources that complement the finance learning you will do in classes. Hope this helps and all the best!
Dr H
Dr. H's Research
1463
Answers
Australia
Updated
Dr’s Answer
Hey Julia, that's amazing to see you're aiming for such a big goal! To develop leadership skills throughout college, it's all about balancing academics and real-world experience.
When it comes to your classes, focus on ones that help you understand people and strategy, like organizational behavior, business ethics, or strategic management. These will shape the way you approach leadership by showing you how decisions impact people and businesses.
Also, look for opportunities outside the classroom to practice leading. Joining clubs or organizations, especially ones that relate to finance or business, will give you chances to lead teams and manage projects. It’s one thing to learn theory in class, but actually doing it in a group setting is where you’ll grow the most.
Remember that having mentors is super helpful too. They can offer insights, share their own experiences, and help guide you through challenges, plus, they’ll be an amazing resource when you’re figuring out the next steps in your career. Now also, Don’t forget to work on those "soft skills" as well. Things like communication, empathy, and emotional intelligence are huge in leadership, for me these soft skills made me stronger in my leadership skills. Basically as far I know, As a CFO, you’ll be making decisions that affect many people, so being able to understand and connect with others will really set you apart.
And of course, any internship or hands-on experience where you get to see leadership up close (or even lead yourself) will give you invaluable lessons. It’s all about learning from both successes and mistakes. You’re already on the right mindset, thinking ahead, so keep up the great work and just keep looking for opportunities to practice. You’ve got this Julia, wishing you all the best. Feel free to reach out anytime hope this helps even a bit.
When it comes to your classes, focus on ones that help you understand people and strategy, like organizational behavior, business ethics, or strategic management. These will shape the way you approach leadership by showing you how decisions impact people and businesses.
Also, look for opportunities outside the classroom to practice leading. Joining clubs or organizations, especially ones that relate to finance or business, will give you chances to lead teams and manage projects. It’s one thing to learn theory in class, but actually doing it in a group setting is where you’ll grow the most.
Remember that having mentors is super helpful too. They can offer insights, share their own experiences, and help guide you through challenges, plus, they’ll be an amazing resource when you’re figuring out the next steps in your career. Now also, Don’t forget to work on those "soft skills" as well. Things like communication, empathy, and emotional intelligence are huge in leadership, for me these soft skills made me stronger in my leadership skills. Basically as far I know, As a CFO, you’ll be making decisions that affect many people, so being able to understand and connect with others will really set you apart.
And of course, any internship or hands-on experience where you get to see leadership up close (or even lead yourself) will give you invaluable lessons. It’s all about learning from both successes and mistakes. You’re already on the right mindset, thinking ahead, so keep up the great work and just keep looking for opportunities to practice. You’ve got this Julia, wishing you all the best. Feel free to reach out anytime hope this helps even a bit.