The Power of an MSMOL Degree: Leadership That Makes a Difference

By: Howard C. Fero, PH.D., Professor of Management and Leadership, Director of the Master of Science in Management and Organizational Leadership

A master’s degree in leadership, do I need that? This is a question you might have
considered (or be asking yourself right now). I can tell you, without even knowing your
role or industry, that yes, it’s likely you do.

I don’t say that just because I’m the director of the program. I say it because I spend
each day working with students and clients who consistently tell me that the skills we
teach and develop in the Master of Science in Management and Organizational
Leadership (MSMOL) program at Albertus Magnus College are some of the most
important skills they’ve ever learned. Skills they use not just to get ahead, but to make a
difference in their organizations, their communities, and in their own lives.

Leadership, as those who have heard me speak have heard me say many times, is not
about the position we are in, but rather about how we act to help ourselves, those
around us, and our team or organization as a whole to advance their goals. It’s about
becoming our best self and helping others to become their best and strongest self as
well.

So how do we do that? How do we lead, no matter our role or industry?

We start by developing ourselves. We reflect on our strengths and areas for growth. We
learn how to lead from those strengths and how to support others with theirs. We build
trust. We communicate with clarity. We create relationships that matter.

After we understand the basics of ourselves, we can then use our skills to lead others to
success. We adopt a coaching focus, both to coach ourselves and those around us, and
to use this mindset to set goals and create opportunities for overall success.

The tools I mentioned are skills we at Albertus help our MSMOL students develop in our
program. What I love most about this program is that it’s designed not for one type of
leader or for one industry. Whether you’re managing teams in healthcare, education,
business, or public service, the skills we teach—how to build trust, lead with a purpose
driven focus, resolve conflict, communicate with clarity, and lead through change—are
universal. Leadership isn’t a title; it’s a mindset, and the Master of Science in
Management and Organizational Leadership at Albertus Magnus College helps our
students to develop that mindset in a way that’s practical and thoughtful.

We started the graduate leadership programs at Albertus twenty years ago, and I’m
proud of all the alumni who have gone through it. Our alumni are an impressive group,
promoting within their organizations, moving to others, attaining higher degrees (PhDs,
EdDs, and DBAs), and even pivoting their careers to better align their work with their
purpose. We boast alumni who are police chiefs, CEOs, vice presidents, nonprofit
advocates, case workers, healthcare executives, teachers, professors, financial
planners, and more! We have an impressive group of alumni who use their leadership to
create lasting impact.

If you’re ready to grow, not just professionally, but personally as well, this program will
meet you where you are and help take you where you want to go. It’s an honor for me to
mentor and instruct our students and lead this program, and I love to talk about it with
anyone who is interested!

In just one year (30 credits), you can strengthen your leadership, gain practical tools,
and drive meaningful growth for yourself and your organization.

Keep Leading!