McCall MacBain Leadership Development Program

One of the most valuable aspects of the McCall MacBain Leadership Development Program is building a close-knit and engaged community.

To establish this sense of belonging from the outset, a three-day integration retreat is held at Crêt-Bérard (Puidoux, VD) before the beginning of the first academic year. The retreat provides an opportunity for students to start their EPFL journey with greater confidence and peace of mind. It offers a space to explore topics that can support their personal and academic development, including health and wellbeing, stress and anxiety management, and self-leadership.

The mountain retreat was for me a truly unforgettable experience that laid the first brick of my new life at EPFL. I got the chance to connect and create very deep links with amazing people in a very small timeframe while doing a lot of activities. The coaches organized the activities in such a manner as to help us dig deeper into ourselves while giving us the opportunity to help and support each other.

Leadership is cultivated through the development of strong mentorship skills. Mentorship requires self-awareness, the ability to build meaningful relationships and communicate with clarity, empathy, and purpose. It further strengthens critical-thinking abilities, instills confidence, and provides the perspective needed to navigate challenges.

For students to develop these skills and grow into capable, thoughtful leaders, they are encouraged to carry out a mentoring project during the second year of the program. Participants will have the possibility to either create their own mentoring project, or get involved in already-established ones. Here are some examples of projects that have been carried out in previous years:

• Coaching the next McCall MacBain cohort;
• Mentoring students in CMS-3, a preparatory program for refugees and asylum applicants, and guiding them during their adaptation period at EPFL.

I once believed leadership skills were purely innate and not part of my own abilities. However, the insights from the program, together with the experience I gained through associative involvement — previously seen as a secondary commitment — have led me to consider pursuing a Master’s in management to leverage my diverse perspective for the benefit of society.

Impactful service and thoughtful engagement with communities through a social project develop leadership skills further by adding competencies like project management and organizational skills. It encourages students to explore opportunities that are beyond the scope of their studies, while making a positive impact on society.

During the third year of the program, students participate in or initiate a project that shows their involvement in the community as well as their contribution to substantially tackling societal challenges, for example in the fields of culture, gender equality, sports, environmental protection, politics, human rights, or cooperation and development.

Here are some examples of projects that have been carried out in previous years:

• Starting a group working with the local community on improving gender equality;
• Organizing collections of food and hygiene products and redistributions to people in need;
• Participating in a theater group offering free workshops for local children to inspire creativity and imagination.

This program provided significant new insights, which became evident through my work with the associations I serve, and it has prompted sustained reflection on my long-term career plans and choices.

The program offers students the opportunity to further develop their transversal skills, which are valuable both throughout their studies and for their career, through two formats: workshops and Discovery Series.

The workshops are designed to develop specific transversal skills, and focus on topics such as inclusive leadership, verbal and non-verbal communication, cultural agility, and mentoring. These abilities have been increasingly recognized as among the most important skills for today’s and tomorrow’s leaders, enabling them to effectively adapt to change and lead themselves and others.

The Discovery Series is a cross-cohort series of conferences, workshops and discussions designed to foster dialogue and broaden students’ perspectives and knowledge around timely themes and emerging issues. Topics explored through the series to date include:

• Leading self and turning inspiration into action through entrepreneurship;
• Designing a sustainable global food system.