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Leadership Accelerator

Makhoul Leadership Fellows

Leadership isn’t learned from the sidelines. It’s built in the Hot Seat.

A feminine-presenting person with fair skin and curly, shoulder-length hair sits with her arms crossed across from a masculine-presenting person with medium-tan skin and dark hair, as he olds a piece of paper in his hands and gestures while talking. A screen behind these two reads, "Welcome to the hot seat."

Role-Play Scenarios with Professional Actors

Through high-stakes role-plays with professional actors, students experience the adrenaline of making tough decisions.

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Peer Coaching

Students coach each other through difficult conversations—asking probing questions, giving real-time feedback, and building confidence together.

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Small Cohort

In a small, tight-knit cohort, everyone has a voice. Together, students support, challenge, and learn from one another.

A group of twelve students addresses a feminine-presenting actor seated in the middle of the room.

Live Group Simulations

In a group setting, students navigate challenging conversations with professional actors who respond in real time.

Five students sit in a row writing out responses on pieces of paper that sit on their laps.

Extensive Reflection

Through regular reflection, students connect what happens in the room to how they lead outside of it.

Formats
Professors
Frequently Asked Questions

Sample Course Themes

Defining Leadership For Us

Self-Awareness and Authenticity

Giving and Receiving Feedback

Group Decision-Making

Influence

Perspective-Taking

Navigating Ethical Dilemmas

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Testimonial

Brittany LaPointe | NYU Stern School of Business '25

"We didn’t just talk about leadership; we practiced it. We engaged in live workplace simulations with professional actors, completed personal reflection exercises, and challenged ourselves to develop tangible leadership skills."

Our Method

Leadership Practice in Action

Imagine being dropped into a high-stakes leadership moment, with a professional actor across from you and a group of your peers watching. The Hot Seat is our signature learning method: a live simulation where students lead through tension, try new approaches, and receive immediate coaching from peers and faculty. It's intense, iterative, and unforgettable.