Sarah Schott
Staff Writer
Set the alarm and prepare to live a life wide-awake. Erwin McManus argues that the future is waiting for all to wake up and get out of bed. He aims to inspire those attending this year’s Student Leadership Conference, which is scheduled on Saturday, Sept. 27 at the Drescher campus. The conference is sponsored by Pepperdine’s Leadership Education and Development (L.E.A.D.) program.
Considered the primary communicator and cultural architect of the Mosaic community in Los Angeles, McManus specializes in developing and unleashing personal and organizational creativity, uniqueness, innovation and diversity. Beyond his role as a speaker, McManus wears many hats as an author, activist, filmmaker and innovator.
Open to both current and emerging student leaders, the conference seeks to engage students in a variety of leadership styles and principles. From 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., students will have the opportunity to hear McManus speak and participate in three of 15 different leadership seminars.
“Wide Awake,” the title of McManus’ recent book and the theme for this year’s conference, encourages students to lead a life of meaning and purpose. “Living wide awake is about realizing the world desperately needs you to live up to your leadership potential,” according to McManus’ Web site.
For L.E.A.D. Director Kerri Heath, hosting McManus at Pepperdine comes as a welcome surprise.
“I really didn’t think he would come here because he is in such high demand as a speaker,” Heath said. “His assistant contacted me and said that he agreed to come do it, and we were ecstatic.”
In addition to opening and closing sessions with McManus, students will attend three leadership seminars selecting from topics including: Leadership from the Court, Leading in the Corporate World, Defining your Leadership, Leading Church in a New Way, Women in Leadership Panel, Unleashing your Potential, Conflict Mediation, Personal Vision and Mission and a Young Philanthropist Panel.
While variant in topic, the seminars also differ in facilitators. Pepperdine athletic coaches will lead the “Leadership from the Court” seminar. Furthermore, executives from Target and Geico will host the “Defining your Leadership” and “Personal Vision and Mission” seminars, respectively. Also, Malibu Mayor Pamela Conley Ulich will serve on the Women in Leadership Panel.
According to Heath, 150 students registered for last year’s Student Leadership Conference, exceeding the L.E.A.D. program’s goal of 75 attendees. For Heath, the conference was a significant success.
“The feedback was excellent,” she said. “It was definitely the best event I have put on at Pepperdine.”
Despite the previous year’s success, Heath has high expectations for this year’s conference.
“We had to work hard to try and top it,” she said, “but with Erwin as the speaker, we should easily surpass everyone’s expectations this year.”
This year’s conference is funded primarily through the Lily Grant, with additional funding from Student Activities, Inter-Club Council and the Student Government Association, according to Heath.
09-25-2008