CIL Fellows
Become an innovative leader!
The CIL Fellows Program is a selective, 10-month leadership experience designed for Carey Flex MBA students who are serious about strengthening their capacity to lead in complex, real-world environments. The program begins in the first week of June with a four-day immersive two-credit residency that blends rigorous, evidence-based research with hands-on application.
Rather than treating leadership as a set of abstract concepts, the residency centers on the moments where leadership is actually practiced—helping Fellows build self-awareness, refine their ability to influence others, and develop sound judgment in the face of ambiguity. Through simulations, facilitated reflection, and collaborative problem-solving, participants engage directly with the Center’s Present Moment Leadership (PML) framework while navigating the interpersonal and organizational dynamics that shape effective leadership, gaining tools they can immediately apply in their professional contexts.
Program overview
- 2-credit week long residency course in June 2026 taught by Professor Michelle Barton
- Peer coaching team for accountability and feedback
- Leadership Treks (full-day, regionally located off site experiences)
- Leadership growth plan – PML360 assessment, leadership coaching, and goal setting
- Monthly connect sessions for continued learning and community building
- Collaborate on the Wisdom research project that explores current trends and best practices for innovative leadership
Following the residency, the program unfolds as a sustained, practice-based 10-month experience that keeps Fellows actively engaged with one another and with their own development. Peer coaching teams create space for honest dialogue, accountability, and shared learning, while regional Leadership Treks offer firsthand exposure to how leaders operate in high-stakes, high-reliability settings.
Monthly connect sessions and the team-based Wisdom research project connect emerging insights to broader leadership scholarship, reinforcing the link between research and practice. Throughout the program, Fellows are encouraged to reflect, experiment, and adapt—culminating in a personalized PML360 leadership growth plan that translates their experience into a clear path forward. The result is not only a deeper understanding of leadership, but a strengthened ability to act with empathy, competence, and agility when it matters most.
This was an eye-opening experience that changed my perspective on leadership education. We were able to learn in an interactive environment and explore situations from multiple angles, setting aside pride and preconceived notions. We learned to explore dissenting opinions, give and receive feedback through peer coaching, create a shared vision, and hone our leadership skills in times of crises and uncertainty.
Tonya Schnitzius, PharmD
MBA ’24
(To be completed between June 2026 and March 2027)
- Complete Fellows Residency course – June 2026
- Lodging and meals will be provided by CIL
- Students are responsible for travel and incidentals
- Participate in five virtual peer coaching sessions
- Attend at least one Leadership Trek
- Locations will be regional – Baltimore/DC, NYC, west coast, Midwest
- Students are responsible for travel, lodging, meals and incidentals
- Participate in a facilitated leadership development process
- 360 Assessment, leadership coaching, individual leadership growth plan
- Contribute to research project that highlights a salient leadership topic
(To be completed between June 2026 and March 2027)
- Complete Fellows Residency course – June 2026
- Lodging and meals will be provided by CIL
- Students are responsible for travel and incidentals
- Participate in five virtual peer coaching sessions
- Attend at least one Leadership Trek
- Locations will be regional – Baltimore/DC, NYC, west coast, Midwest
- Students are responsible for travel, lodging, meals and incidentals
- Participate in a facilitated leadership development process
- 360 Assessment, leadership coaching, individual leadership growth plan
- Contribute to research project that highlights a salient leadership topic
- Introduction to cutting edge research and evidence-based best practices for leading and influencing others
- Facilitated leadership development process that includes a 360 assessment, leadership coaching, and development of an individualized leadership growth plan
- Opportunity to connect with peer students in the FlexMBA program to build community and expand your network
- Participate in unique, immersive leadership treks that expose you to recognizable leaders and organizations in various industries
- 2-credit elective course that meets graduation requirements
- Official certificate of completion that is endorsed by the Carey Business School and can be added to your resume and professional networking profiles (LinkedIn)
- Introduction to cutting edge research and evidence-based best practices for leading and influencing others
- Facilitated leadership development process that includes a 360 assessment, leadership coaching, and development of an individualized leadership growth plan
- Opportunity to connect with peer students in the FlexMBA program to build community and expand your network
- Participate in unique, immersive leadership treks that expose you to recognizable leaders and organizations in various industries
- 2-credit elective course that meets graduation requirements
- Official certificate of completion that is endorsed by the Carey Business School and can be added to your resume and professional networking profiles (LinkedIn)
- Applicants must have an intended graduation date no earlier than May 2027
- Applicants must have completed at least 6 credits in the Flex MBA degree program and be in good academic standing before the start of the Fellows program
- Applicants must have completed the ‘Leadership and Organizational Behavior’ course (or the equivalent ‘Leadership in Organizations’ course) by June of the application year, as a prerequisite for the Fellows residency course
- Applicants must have an intended graduation date no earlier than May 2027
- Applicants must have completed at least 6 credits in the Flex MBA degree program and be in good academic standing before the start of the Fellows program
- Applicants must have completed the ‘Leadership and Organizational Behavior’ course (or the equivalent ‘Leadership in Organizations’ course) by June of the application year, as a prerequisite for the Fellows residency course
The tools, frameworks, and experiences from the CIL Fellows program provided a trove of wisdom that I’ve already begun weaving professionally. The knowledge of research-based leadership practices is guiding my strategic decisions. Furthermore, team exercises have enriched my capability to lead cross-functional teams by fostering a culture of collective goal mapping and accountability.
Vidith Huot, MBA ’25
Director/Senior Consultant at Nucleate/ZoomRx