UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School recognized for global innovation

AACSB’s “Innovations That Inspire” award spotlights The Leadership App – a state-of-the-art app that markets UNC Kenan-Flagler’s advanced leadership program. It also serves as a course app for its Leadership Immersion program, an experiential course taught outside of the classroom.

“Innovation is part of Carolina’s DNA and we are excited to see UNC Kenan-Flagler’s traditions of curricular innovation and developing leaders recognized by AACSB,” said UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor Carol L. Folt. “We want our university to be a place where innovators thrive and this award is a great indicator that we’re on the right path.”

AACSB is the longest-serving global accrediting body and membership association for business schools. UNC Kenan-Flagler won in the “outreach and engagement category” and competed against 200 institutions from 35 countries. It was one of just 30 schools selected.

The Leadership App markets UNC Kenan-Flagler’s unmatched portfolio of leadership development programs to students, prospective students, recruiters and the broader business community by showcasing the program’s depth with features such as a leadership library, which provides content from UNC Kenan-Flagler and other sources. The app also digitally guides MBA students as they create individual development plans.

“Because developing leadership is an educational hallmark at UNC Kenan-Flagler and digital marketing is a critical strategy we use to attract top students, creating a digital app for leadership met our strategic and marketing priorities,” said Douglas A. Shackelford, dean and Meade H. Willis Distinguished Professor of Taxation. “The Leadership App is a unique way to capture a unique program using an innovative approach that builds on our strengths in both leadership and experiential learning.”

UNC Kenan-Flagler started its leadership initiative in 2005 to enhance students’ career success.

“The Leadership App captures our complete story for the first time and helps students gain the highest ROI on their education,” said Mindy Storrie (EMBA ’97), director of leadership development. “As a portal for the Leadership Immersion, students will use it to connect with course materials, classmates, faculty and executive coaches during competitions, simulations, treks to cities and Outward Bound challenges. UNC Kenan-Flagler is the only business school to offer this type of course and this kind of app.”

“The opportunity to develop a course app – the first ever for Carolina – was ideally suited to the Leadership Immersion,” said Michael Schinelli, chief marketing officer at UNC Kenan-Flagler. “It is a mobile app for a truly mobile course designed to meet student needs for interactive digital content. The broader app captures the full range of classes, programs and activities and uses the very latest technology to guide students through their leadership journey at UNC Kenan-Flagler.”

The app is designed for iPhone, iPad and Android and can be downloaded here.