Skills to Lead Program

During the program, participants will receive the latest information about techniques to succeed as a leader, practice the applications of techniques through case study and role play, and discuss how to transfer learned skills to the workplace. Specific modules include: Understanding leadership, understanding yourself; using power and influence; negotiating; performance management; and working in teams.  The program is highly individualized and includes a detailed self-assessment of one’s own leadership strengths and weaknesses, the establishment of a personal development plan and personalized coaching.

• Every session includes a certificate of participation.
• Complete three sessions for a leadership bronze belt from Coastal Carolina University's Executive Development Programs.
• Complete all five sessions for a leadership teal belt from Coastal Carolina University's Executive Development Programs. In addition to the scheduled sessions, teal belt participants will receive up to two hours of individualized development coaching from leadership experts.

Head Facilitators

Barbara Ritter, Ph.D., is vice president of career services and executive development and dean of the E. Craig Wall Sr. College of Business Administration. Her scholarly specialties are in organizational leadership, justice and business ethics. Ritter has made more than 70 publications and presentations on these topics and has consulting experience in the areas of diversity and equal employment opportunity, organizational culture, human resource policies, employee satisfaction, selection and promotion, performance appraisal and development, and data collection and analysis. She has worked with a variety of profit and nonprofit organizations locally and across the nation. Ritter is the immediate past chairperson of the Management Education and Development Division of the Academy of Management and is on the board of the Teaching Theme Committee. She also serves on the board of Beta Gamma Sigma, Southern Business Academic Administrators, Organizational Behavior Teaching Society (OBTS) and is a recent recipient of the OBTS Peter Frost Mentoring Award.

‌Erika Small has a Ph.D. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from the University of Tennessee. She is an associate professor of management and chair of ‌the‌Department of Management and Decision Sciences in the E. Craig Wall Sr. College of Business Administration. Her academic and research focus is in the areas of leadership and group dynamics. Her consulting engagements have also focused primarily on providing leadership development and managerial skills training for individuals and groups in higher education, politics and healthcare. She also has experience as a facilitator for developmental assessment centers and as a coach for leadership development programs for MBA programs specialized for executives and physicians. Small has served on the board of the Management Education and Development Division of the Academy of Management and is currently a board member and the Program Chair for the Management and Organizational Behavior Teaching Society (MOBTS) annual conference. She is a recent recipient of the MOBTS Mid-Career Distinguished Educator Award.