Management & Leadership Development Program

MLDP is currently running a fully in-person program.

The Management and Leadership Development Program (MLDP) is a one-term program, developed around the skills employers seek and designed for any sophomore, junior, or senior looking to make significant progress in their leadership and management development. Led by expert guest speakers each week, sessions employ experiential teaching techniques to engage students through hands-on learning of core management and leadership skills. Participants work individually and in small groups to develop practical skills that they can apply immediately.

Since the program began in 2009, more than 1000 students have participated in MLDP. We welcome all sophomores, juniors, and seniors in any course of study to participate in this program.

The first part of MLDP concentrates on self-awareness with sessions that help students discover their strengths and areas of needed growth. The next few sessions emphasize the importance of working effectively with others. The final stretch of the program focuses on hard skills like public speaking, negotiation, and writing for the workplace.

Through the "Personal Leadership Challenge" portion of the program, students identify a tangible challenge they currently face and set goals to tackle it. Sessions offer skills and practice to achieve their goals. Staff and fellow participants offer support throughout the process. This includes a mini-coaching session with the staff. Students are provided the opportunity to reflect on and share the experience.

• MLDP Kickoff: What's your "Why" of Management and Leadership?: Asynchronous
• Self-Awareness in Leadership: Dan Fang '15
• Mindful Presence to Masterful Presentation: Dr. Belinda H. Y. Chiu, Ed.D., D'98
• The Art and Science of Building Professional Relationships: Kate Hilton '99
• All Leaders are Project Managers: Mike Heslin '08
• Crucial Conversations in Inclusive Teams: Captain Anthony Johnson
• Writing and Workplace Etiquette: Amrita Sankar '12
• Negotiation for Leadership: Peter Sisitsky '97
• MLDP Leadership Case Study Trip

• Fall 2023: Wednesday, May 25, 2022 - Round Two: Saturday, August 13, 2022
• Winter 2024: Saturday, November 11, 2023
• Spring 2024: Saturday, February 24, 2024

There is an online application you can access here and one-on-one interviews following the application deadline. Spots are limited.

MLDP welcomes any sophomore, junior, or senior regardless of major. First-year students who are veterans or have taken at least one gap year before coming to Dartmouth are also welcome to participate in MLDP. Those who have taken a gap year must prove that they have been working in a professional environment, in active military service, or involved in some sort of academic or professional project, program, or internship.

Successful completion of MLDP is a requirement to become a paid student assistant at the Rockefeller Center. MLDP will also strengthen students' applications for Rockefeller Center funding for unpaid internships in the field of public policy and other Rockefeller Center programs, such as the Rockefeller Global Leadership Program and the Rockefeller Leadership Fellows Program. MLDP will provide participants with ample opportunities to further engage with the Rockefeller Center during and after completing the program.