Young Leaders Learn Lessons of Leadership at Nissan Student Government Leadership Program
GARDENA, Calif., Aug. 1, 20057, 2005 -- The Nissan Student Government Leadership Program ended on August 10 after three days of leadership training sessions rendered by a cadre of nationally-recognized speakers. Last week, Nissan North America launched the inaugural session of the program inviting 60 student government presidents from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) from across the country to participate in an innovative leadership program on the historic campus of Tougaloo College in Tougaloo, Mississippi.
Jim Morton, Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance for Nissan North America states, "Nissan is committed to developing young leaders who will help take this nation to a higher level of excellence." He adds, "I was extremely impressed with the students' insight, inquisitiveness and enthusiasm. They are to be commended for their willingness to share themselves and to serve others in their role as student government presidents. It is my hope that they had fun, forged new relationships and honed new leadership skills."
Nissan North America provided student participants intensive leadership development and training at a level generally reserved for Fortune 500 company executives.
The leadership sessions, conducted by four of the nation's premier leadership training specialists, enhanced the students' self-awareness, self- management, socio-political awareness and interpersonal relationships. Nissan executives and managers, including Morton, were on-hand as "mentors" throughout the program.
Students began their early morning sessions with speakers and ended it with informal leadership rap sessions each evening. Each day was filled with interactive sessions such as: "Understanding your Leadership Challenges," "Keys to Success for Leaders" and "The Mechanics of being a Student Government Leader." Participants also received a "Leadership Toolkit" to aid in their success during their upcoming tenure as SGA presidents. The toolkit included the book "TurnAround" by David Magee which chronicles Mr. Carlos Ghosn's leadership principles in his successful attempt to place the automotive manufacturer in a profitable status; "The First 90 Days: Critical Success Strategies for New Leaders at All Levels" by Michael Watkins and GoalCentrix, a new goal-attainment software package designed to make goal-setting strategic, effective and more efficient.
According to Morehouse College SGA President Dewey Fowler, "The program was very enriching; it gave me an opportunity to network with other SGA presidents and brainstorm ideas on how to make my school better. The toolkit will be very useful for the upcoming years."
A number of internationally acclaimed leaders visited the program to offer advice and personal experiences on how to build a strong foundation for success on their respective campuses, in their communities, in government and in global corporations. These guests included Julius Erving, NBA Hall of Famer; Stedman Graham, author and motivational speaker; Major General Marcelite Harris, the first Air Force African American female general; Dr. Michael Lomax, President and CEO of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF); Tavis Smiley, author and media personality and Gwendolyn Sykes, Chief Financial Officer for NASA.
About Nissan North America
In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at www.nissanUSA.com and www.infiniti.com.
For more information on the Nissan Student Government Leadership Program visit http://www.nissansglp.com/.
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