Core Lessons from Rotman’s Leadership Development Course
Last week, I stepped away from the desk and into the classroom at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto for their Leadership Development for Early Career Women course.
As a creative professional, I’ve always understood that "soft skills" are actually the hardest to master. But after two days of deep dives into neuroscience, negotiation, and brand strategy with Director Dr. Andrea Wojnicki and a team of experts, I walked away with a new perspective: Leadership isn't a rank; it's a voluntary connection built on trust, EQ, and intentionality.
Here is a deep dive into the core pillars that will help you lead from exactly where you are right now.
1. Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is a Muscle
We often think of emotions as things that "happen" to us, but instructor Carolyn Meacher reframed them as insightful data. Your best work happens when you feel supported, valued, and safe to be creative.
The Neuroscience of Leadership
Emotions physically exist in the brain. Our biology is wired to respond immediately to keep us safe, but those responses aren't always accurate for the modern office.
The goal of EQ is to link that emotional centre to the cortical brain (logic) to strengthen the connection—much like working out a muscle.
The Strategy: The Six Seconds EQ Model
Know Yourself: Feelings are data. If you feel anger, it often means a core value, like trust or fairness, is being blocked. Use the formula: “I feel [emotion] when [event] because [value].”
Choose Yourself: Shift from "autopilot" to intentionality. Recognize your triggers (like condescension or unrealistic deadlines) and use a one-minute purposeful pause to validate the emotion and reframe your interpretation of the situation.
Give Yourself: Connect with others compassionately to build loyalty. Use Powerful Questions (e.g., "What was surprising today?") to signal care without pressure.
2. Leadership is Voluntary Followership
Prof. Geoff Leonardelli challenged the traditional idea of hierarchy. Leadership isn't about your place on an org chart; it’s about people seeing value and choosing to follow you toward a common goal.
To be an effective leader, you must balance three distinct roles:
Managing: Focusing on the task and getting results.
Directing: Navigating through change and aligning stakeholder interests.
Engaging: Building a team culture of where everyone feels empowered to contribute.
Breaking the "Hidden Profile" Trap
We participated in a group activity, taking on roles at a company and discussing candidates we wanted to hire for one role.
In group decisions, we often fall for the "Common Information Effect": only discussing things everyone already knows. High-performing teams benefit from sharing all information of the entire group.
To lead a better process:
Suspend initial judgment: Don't disclose your preference upfront, as it creates confirmation bias.
Invite dissent: Reframe the meeting as a problem to be solved, not a competition to be won. Keep "minority information" on the table and integrate diverse perspectives to ensure the quality of the final decision.
3. Negotiation is Preparation, Not Personality
One of the most liberating things I learned from Prof. Sonia Kang is that confidence does not drive negotiation outcomes: structure and preparation do.
Many women feel they need to "opt-in" to negotiate, but when we treat it as a process of creating value rather than just "claiming" it, the dynamic shifts. It moves from a zero-sum game to a collaborative "package deal."
The Negotiation Toolkit:
BATNA (Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement): This is your Plan B. Your power in a negotiation comes from your outside options. Always try to improve your BATNA before the conversation starts.
Reservation Price: This is your bottom line based on your BATNA. Anything lower, and you walk. Keep this number private!
Integrative Negotiation: Look for "asymmetrical" issues where you and the other party value things differently. Don't just split the difference; find trade-offs. If you make a concession, always make it a trade (reciprocity) to keep the momentum moving forward.
4. Personal Branding & the Power of Networking
Dr. Andrea Wojnicki shared a definition of branding that everyone should memorize: "Your brand is being your authentic, best and whole self on purpose."
Personal branding is about controlling your narrative so that when you're gunning for those lofty goals, people already see you as someone headed in that direction.
The Networking Mindset
Networking isn't about "selling yourself"—it's about building relationships. To build a resilient career, you need to be intentional:
Add Value First: Instead of thinking about what you can get, ask: "How can I add value to this person?" Introduce them to a contact, share a resource, or just listen with genuine curiosity.
Mentors and Sponsors: You need a Mentor for advice, but you also need a Sponsor, a champion who mentions your name in rooms you haven't entered yet.
Close the Loop: Always follow up. Connect on LinkedIn, look people up before meetings, and provide authentic appreciation by acknowledging the hard work someone put in to get a result.
The Creative Takeaway for LinkedIn
Stop listing your tasks and start listing your impact. Write one sentence per job that specifically states how you solved a problem in that role.
People don't buy your history; they buy your ability to solve their future problems.
Final Thoughts: Leadership is a Practice
Leadership isn't a destination you reach; it's a series of intentional choices you make every day.
Whether it's pausing to check your EQ before a tough meeting, preparing your BATNA for a contract negotiation, or reaching out to a peer with a helpful resource, these small actions build the foundation of a sustainable, impactful career.
By being our authentic selves on purpose, we don't just climb the ladder: we build a better one for everyone following behind us.
Which of these areas feels like the biggest "muscle" you need to work on right now: EQ, negotiation, or personal branding?
Let's swap strategies in the comments!
