The Urban Technology Leadership Development Trek is a spring break travel experience for students seeking to grow as emerging leaders and clarify the impact they hope to make in their communities and professional fields. Working in a small cohort, students identify questions at the intersection of their interests, collaboratively design a professional learning trek, and engage with alumni and other leaders whose work creates meaningful change. Participation is by application only and requires a full-time commitment to spring break travel, along with all expectations outlined in the program materials.
Urban Technology Leadership Development Trek
TLDR: work with a group of peers to find important questions at the intersection of your professional interests; plan a five-day itinerary; go to NYC and Boston; meet interesting people; have vibrant discussions; come back and tell your peers what you learned.
The Urban Technology Leadership Development Trek is for students who aspire to be leaders in their communities. If selected as a participant, you will have the opportunity to develop your perspective as an emerging leader in your community and eventually your chosen professional path.
This program will help you focus on what kind of impact you want to have in the world and give you the opportunity to dwell on this question with a small group of equally motivated peers. You will travel together to New York City and Boston for 5 days and 4 nights over spring break, where we will visit UM alumni and other professionals to learn from their real-world experience making change on the sidewalk and in the boardroom. Trek participants will co-create the Leadership Development Trek based on their interests and goals. Along the way, we will practice respectful collaboration, professional conduct, and generous conversation. Once you return to campus, you will host a leadership workshop for fellow UT students and faculty to share what you learned and foster discussion among the broader Taubman community.
Keep in mind this is different than the Career and Professional Development Career Trek that often does 2-3 day treks to different cities to meet specifically with a list of employers and companies. If you are not selected, you may consider applying to join this shorter trek.
Leadership Trek Details:
- Trip will be led by Lisa Sauve and Mariah Patteri
- Trip will occur during Spring Break (during the week of March 8-12, 2027). You must be available to travel during that time.
- You will be required to attend (3) planning sessions prior to the trip, (1) debrief after the trip concludes, and the workshop as mentioned above.
- Post-trip workshop will be a 1-hour session during lunch break at a date to be scheduled shortly after Spring Break. You and your fellow selected students will be entirely responsible for designing and executing this event.
- Taubman College will cover a majority of the costs with support from a generous donor. You may be responsible for up to $500 in additional expenses towards travel.
Application:
- Open to UT sophomores and above
- Apply here.Note that you will be asked to upload an unofficial transcript and answer the following on the application:
- Imagine yourself 10 years from now. You’re doing important work in your community. Describe what this looks like by addressing the following questions (250 words total):
- What kind of impact are you working toward (sustainability, social inclusion, economic outcomes, etc.) and how?
- What is your source of motivation that keeps you going?
- Who are you working with most closely and why is that important?
- How will this trip help you get there?
- Given your professional goals, select which verticals and industries you’d most like to explore during the trek.
- Imagine yourself 10 years from now. You’re doing important work in your community. Describe what this looks like by addressing the following questions (250 words total):
- Applications close Friday, November 13 at 11:59 p.m.
- Some applicants will be selected for short interviews between November 16-20
- Up to 10 students will be selected as trek participants; preference will be given to those who have not attended previously.
- Save the Date: December 8 at noon for kick-off meeting with accepted students
Questions? Email urbantechnology@umich.edu
