Heard on Campus

NO FREE RIDE.  Students in the course faced a challenging workload. Each module began with a chapter from Mills's book, Leadership: How to Lead, How to Live (MindEdge Press, 2005), and often supplemental readings from other sources. Next, students wrote answers to questions based on the topic of the module and posted them on discussion boards on the course's dedicated Web site. They then had to submit comments on the responses of two classmates and provide a written analysis of a mini case study.

Students were open with their critiques of the experimental course. "It would've benefited if we had met and gotten to know each other a bit more," says Laws. Mills plans to address such issues and will offer the course again in the fall. He hopes the format will become more widespread on the Harvard campus and beyond, but expects its biggest impact to come from companies, where Mills says the potential to revolutionize training programs with online components exists. With companies becoming increasingly virtual, online leadership is sure to become a coveted skill.

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Grammy Award
Derek Kwan, a 29-year-old first-year MBA student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Business Bolz Center for Arts Administration, got a taste of record-biz glamour in February when an album he worked on earned a Grammy Award. Kwan served as associate producer for Bebo De Cuba, which included Afro-Cuban jazz musician Bebo Valdes (Calle 54 Records) and was named Best Traditional Tropical Latin Album. Kwan also co-produced the album Una Noche Inolvidable featuring the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra with Arturo O'Farrill (Palmetto Records), which was nominated in the same category.

A Los Angeles native who studied political science and music at Duke University, Kwan says he hopes his MBA in arts administration will propel him into a career producing a wide variety of artistic genres, including classical music and dance. For five years before B-school, Kwan worked as the associate director for programming and concert operations at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York.

WELL-ROUNDED.  Since his time in New York, Kwan has branched out into studio production, as well as live performance. The Wisconsin first-year student is quick to compliment the talent of the artists with whom he works. "My biggest thrill is helping these artists get the recognition they deserve," he says.

No matter what path he finally chooses, there's little doubt that being connected to a Grammy Award will look good on his résumé. "I'm not too sure how this experience will affect my career long term," says Kwan. "I can say it can't hurt it." With a Grammy connection and an MBA under his belt, Kwan hopes he can help artists make beautiful music for years to come.

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