Where MBAs Write ‘Love Letters’ To Their Profs

On leadership professor Alexander Horniman: “Professor Horniman has had a profound impact on me both as a student and as a future business leader. The bar is high and he went above the call of duty..”

It is my distinct honor to recognize Professor Alec Horniman for the 2008 Frederick S. Morton Leadership Award. Professor Horniman has had a profound impact on me both as a student and as a future business leader. It is through his guidance and support that I was able to extend complex leadership concepts learned in the classroom to real-world application as a club leader.

As a student leader at Darden, I was struggling with how to move from leadership theory to practical application. In fact, my frustration grew as I found myself falling into the same pitfalls I encountered as a manager in my career prior to Darden. I realized I had the rare opportunity to enhance my leadership abilities while still in a classroom setting but I was unsure exactly how to do it.

I approached Professor Horniman for advice and he graciously offered to start a course for club leaders that would serve as a laboratory environment for developing these leadership skills. The course provided us with a toolkit to develop a greater sense of self-awareness about our leadership style. It gave me confidence in my leadership ability by identifying strengths I could leverage while providing a supportive environment to develop my weaknesses. The course provided an intense and intimate learning experience for all the students involved and it was clear by the end that each student had taken several developmental steps forward as a leader—quite a feat for a one-quarter course!

I am fortunate to have had the honor to spend two wonderful years at Darden with outstanding faculty in all areas of business. The faculty commitment to students in and out of the classroom clearly demonstrates Darden’s dedication to developing leaders in the world of practical affairs. It is because of this outstanding commitment that I believe Professor Horniman is to be truly commended. The bar is high and he went above the call of duty to help enhance the club leadership at Darden and, in turn, strengthen the Darden community as a whole. It is because of this dedication and sacrifice to student leaders that I thank Professor Horniman and for which I am privileged to honor him today.

Darden MBA Jennifer Chick

Sincerely,

Jennifer Chick

Darden MBA

Class of 2008

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