I’m especially excited about the semester project because it allows me to work on my current business while also developing deliverables and talking points that translate directly into interviews. This combination of real-world application and peer collaboration makes the course both practical and strategically valuable for my next career step.

The elements of a presentation

This material was highly beneficial to me, as I frequently organize presentations for training purposes at my workplace. Understanding how to plan and deliver an effective presentation is essential for my role. Additionally, I learned a new approach today regarding the use of scaffolding and connectors during presentations.

Providing positive feedback should not be taken lightly, as it influences the recipient; therefore, it is essential to be prepared and to understand how to deliver both constructive and positive evaluations effectively. The professor's lecture equipped me with the necessary tools and knowledge to assist my employees and classmates in meeting their needs when requested or needed.

In this lecture, my biggest takeaway is taking the Keirseys temperament sorter assessment. I have taken the other assessments before, and I am curious to see the results of this test. Personality, test, and learning styles spark my curiosity. Each module is like a new gift to unwrap!

My main take away from module one is that this class is going to be very collaborative and that is something I am very excited about. Also with interaction comes knowledge and I am eager to see how we all develop as students.

Managing Effectively Across Cultures

My primary takeaway from this lecture and the accompanying resources is the critical importance of educating myself about global knowledge, cultural sensitivity, and appreciation. This understanding is particularly essential when considering visits or business engagements with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds. I look forward to exploring the unique customs and etiquette inherent to each culture, recognizing their richness and significance.

Something I will hold on to is actually from this class. I learned many valuable skills, especially in leadership. I experienced outstanding leadership when I worked with my group at the beginning of this semester on our project. Our team was able to communicate with eachother effectively and share ideas. The amount of good interactions I had with my group will definitely be one of the memories I hold on to.

My proudest accomplishment this semester was being able to focus and turn in every assignment on time despite being in the middle of Christmas and New Year.

I will share the tests to get to know each other better.

I want others to succeed and help them as others have helped me on my journey.

I'm grateful for Vanessa Bailey, my classmate in this course. We worked together on a team project, and she is calm, collected, and professional; even in those challenging technical moments, she remained quiet. Some people help you without knowing. Grateful for Professor Wengelnik for her encouragement and for believing in me.

I will share the tests to get to know each other better.

I want others to succeed and help them as others have helped me on my journey.

I'm grateful for Vanessa Bailey, my classmate in this course. We worked together on a team project, and she is calm, collected, and professional; even in those challenging technical moments, she remained quiet. Some people help you without knowing. Grateful for Professor Wengelnik for her encouragement and for believing in me.

This course also helped me better understand the importance of soft skills in professional and academic settings. Skills like asking questions, receiving feedback, and managing anxiety don’t always get talked about, but they make a real difference in how you grow and show up as a leader. These lessons have helped me feel more prepared and confident as I move toward my future career in IT audit.

Overall, this class helped me shift away from perfection and toward growth. That mindset change alone made this experience meaningful and something I’ll carry forward.

This course also helped me see the importance of learning through reflection and real-life application. Many of the discussions made me think about my own experiences and how small changes in communication or mindset can make a big difference. Overall, this class helped me grow not just as a student, but as a person, and it gave me insights I know I’ll carry with me beyond the classroom.

This experience strengthened several transferable skills, including emotional intelligence, storytelling, and strategic thinking. I am especially grateful for the way this class was led in such a thoughtful and impactful way within a short period of time. Thank you Professor for creating a learning environment that encouraged reflection, growth, and real-world application. I now feel more confident in my ability to explain ideas clearly, motivate teams, and guide others through uncertainty, and these skills will directly benefit my future career as I move into senior leadership roles.

My advice to future students is to engage with the material beyond just completing assignments. Reflect on how the concepts apply to your own experiences and be open to feedback and growth. This course truly helps you build skills that matter long term, both professionally and personally, if you take the time to apply what you learn.

A key concept from this course is that effective leadership depends on self-awareness, good communication, and teamwork, rather than solely on authority. I learned that great teams are built on trust, effective listening, and leveraging diverse perspectives. The course also emphasized adaptability and ethical decision-making. As a result, this course increased my leadership skills and helped me understand how to contribute successfully to groups in both my academic and professional life.

There were several takeaways for me during this presentation. One that stuck out to me was when presenting with a team to say things such as welcome everyone to our topic today. I often feel like that introduction is awkward because I'm nervous and I don't want my audience to immediately disintegrate.

Another important tip that really resonated with me was conquering fear, and saying " let me come back to that point, let's move on for now." I feel like this makes one's presentation authentic.

My number one takeaway is to know your material when presenting. I think that if you can go before your audience with confidence that you know what you’re talking about, it can make most presentations attention grabbing. Like our Professor mentioned, you have a certain aura about you when you’re there prepared and sure of yourself and the content.

One of the take-aways for me is how Professor Wengelnik suggested taking the time before doing the actual presentation to come up with a list of potential problems and brainstorm ideas for how you can handle them. This will prepare us for any hiccups during the presentation and for me, this gives me a kind of security, knowing I have come up with Plan B solutions.

To inspire others, I will put myself in their perspective and see what motivates them. I would ask them questions to get their thoughts and opinions to really understand their perspective.

One key takeaways from how to give constructive feedback that’s you give constructive feedback in many different environments. Whether it’s in peer feedback from replying in a discussion; or in group projects giving feedback to your teammates. Even when you don’t realizes it you might be giving feedback to others.

A key takeway that I took is that no matter how different you beliefs and opinions are you must always be respectful in order to have a relationship.

I would like to inspire my peers by sharing that I know life gets crazy during the semester with work, school, and personal lives, however we are all in the same boat. Keep pushing on and we are one week closer to the end goal of graduating and competing this milestone in our life! :)

A Black-owned hair care brand focused on hair growth, scalp health, and moisture for textured hair (3B–4C), especially for natural and protective styles.

Growth Potential

The market is rapidly growing, with successful brands like Mielle Organics and SheaMoisture proving high demand. Expansion can happen through social media, e-commerce, and retail stores.

How It Becomes Reality

Start with 1–3 products, use a manufacturer, launch online, promote on TikTok/Instagram, then scale through influencers and retail partnerships.

Why It’s a Passion

Black hair is tied to identity and confidence. This business empowers people to embrace their natural hair while solving real hair care challenges.

Applying this to the corporate world, I believe that learning about personality styles will help me communicate better with clients and colleagues in my future career. Some people are better off with the facts, while others need more information or a different style.

One thing that I would like to begin working on now is to pay more attention to how other people learn and communicate, rather than assuming that everyone thinks the same way that I do. This is something that I believe helps create better teamwork and makes you a better leader.

One key takeaway was the 2x2 matrix regarding pressures for cost reductions and pressures for local responsiveness. I knew the answers to this regarding international and localization strategy. However, I didn’t realize that for a transnational strategy the pressures for cost reduction would be high. This is very interesting and I could see why it’s more common to use an international strategy, rather than transnational.

From the video I understood that the difference between empathy and sympathy is that empathy is feeling with someone what they are feeling and actually putting yourself in someone else's shoes, like when they go down the hole. And sympathy is just telling them you feel bad for them but not putting yourself in their shoes.

One of the things I think people can do to build personal influence is to be consistent with who they are and what they believe because reliability is a great way to build trust. Something I think people to that harms their personal influence is lacking self-awareness about how their behaviors affect others, which has to do with the retrospection and the level of emotional intelligence they have.

I don’t think any of them are least important because everyone has different needs and everyone learns differently.

My take away from this video is that it is important to have sympathy and empathy for people. Being honest and reliable allows for people to trust and respect you more. If you are dishonest and do not follow through on commitments then it makes it kore likely for people to not trust you. It makes it worse when you are in leadership position.

My take away on this video is that international divisions areimportant as it centralizes all international operations i. One making it easier to coordinate within the group and with others. Additionally , it allows companies to focus on the specific needs of each market and make quicker decisions.

A key takeaway I had from this resource is that running an international business involves much more than just expanding into different countries. It really requires a strong level of organization, clear communication, and coordination across multiple locations to ensure everything runs smoothly. Without these elements, it would be easy for companies to face misunderstandings, delays, or operational issues.

I also found the idea of empathy really eye-opening. It is not just about feeling sorry for someone; it is about actually connecting with what they are experiencing and being present with them, even if I cannot solve their problem. That part really stuck with me because it showed me how meaningful it is to truly support someone instead of just trying to fix things.

Overall, I see now that practicing emotional intelligence helps me manage stress better and build more genuine relationships. It reminded me that small actions like patience, understanding, and empathy can have a big impact on how I interact with others and how they perceive me.

I feel confident that by understanding personality types, I will be able to better communicate with my coworkers and clientele in the future. While some individuals are best served with facts, many may require additional information or alternative methods of communication.

Something that I would like to start doing right away is being more aware of how others gather knowledge and communicate versus making assumptions that everyone learns and communicates in the same manner as myself. I think developing greater awareness of how others learn and communicate will lead to better team building and also make you a better leader.

My takeaway is that there are different ways to advertise different products to different countries.

I also learned that companies need to carefully research their target markets before expanding globally, especially when it comes to consumer preferences and local competition. Overall, this helped me understand that being successful internationally requires flexibility, strong decision-making, and a deep understanding of global diversity.

To promote global cultural awareness I think I could talk to more people about what I have learned. In the US people can be very close minded about learning about other people’s cultures and they think our way is the right way. By sharing about global awareness face to face I might be able to change that narrative in some people’s lives.

I can also use my involvement on campus to bring people together through events or conversations that highlight different cultures. Even small actions, like sharing information or starting discussions, can make a difference.

Overall, promoting global awareness starts with being curious, respectful, and willing to learn from others.

Professional/Institutional: Encourage inclusive teamwork, respect, cultural differences in communication and decision-making, and support diversity training, or policies.

Communities: Participate in cultural events, support local diversity, initiatives, and build friendships with people from different backgrounds.

Around the World: use social media responsibly to share, respectful content, support, global cooperation, and stay informed about international issues and cultures.

A key takeaway from this course was learning how to be an effective leader. I learned that having emotional intelligence allows leaders to manage their emotions and remain calm and respond effectively during conflict. Empathy lets leaders understand and relate to different team members. It creates a positive work environment where everyone feels comfortable.

My takeaway from this course is all of the teachings regarding being a great leader, and how to build a great team. The information was encouraging, and sharpening. I also enjoyed how encouraging and positive Professor Wengelink is. It makes all the difference going through a college course to have such encouraging things to say to students and pouring into them great information to be built up for our future endeavors.

Professor Wengelnik, thank you so much for making this courrse such a great experience. The discussion posts, the articles, and the way you connected everything to realworld situations made learning feel engaging and meaningful  not just like checking off assignments. As soomeone who just transferred to the University of Houston this semester, having you as one of my first professors here really made a difference, and I'm genuinely grateful for that.

One memory that I'll always hold onto throughout this semester is learning about the importance of culture and international business, developing leadership skills, and how to be a leader. Being in this course has definitely helped me in developing stronger communication skills.

I also just want to say thank you for the immense support and encouragement from Professor Wengelnik, the TA's Sumanth and Mohammad for helping not only me, but everyone else. I will always appreciate the time when I had a problem with an assignment and Professor Wengelnik and the TA's were really helpful, generous and understanding.

I enjoyed exploring how to use AI as a tool to enhance productivity, decision-making, and everyday life in a thoughtful and responsible way. That’s a skill set I know will be valuable long after this course.

Another important concept I took away is the importance of defining roles early and ensuring that everyone understands expectations. When that piece was missing, progress slowed and confusion increased. Once we established structure, the team became more efficient and focused.

On a personal level, I developed stronger skills in delegation, communication, and decision-making under uncertainty. I also learned how to balance creativity with discipline, making sure that innovation was supported by clear execution steps.

Overall, this course helped me understand that effective leadership is not about control, but about creating alignment and enabling others to perform at their best. These lessons will carry forward into both academic and professional environments.

A helpful resource for me was using the STAR method to organize my thoughts when explaining ideas or experiences. It made communication more structured and easier to follow, especially in team settings and professional situations. Overall, I feel a lot more confident in my communication skills moving forward.

The most meaningful takeaway from this course is how Professor Wengelnik cares about her students. From the beginning of the semester until now she always had made sure to introduce new topics to us in a way that is interesting by connecting them to relevant parts to our lives. Furthermore, with the new content we learn, Professor Wengelnik has allowed us to utilize interactive activities to better ourselves as we apply critical thinking skills to the classroom and ourselves. Thank you for an amazing last semester! :)

One of the biggest things I’m taking from this course is that leadership isn’t just about being in charge it’s about helping people grow and connecting their work to bigger goals. I learned that training should have a clear purpose and actually improve performance, not just be done for the sake of it. I also found expectancy theory really interesting because it made me think about how confidence and rewards impact motivation, including my own. Overall, this course helped me see leadership in a more practical way and showed me the importance of continuously improving myself while supporting others.

I also gained insight into emotional intelligence and how important it is in handling people and situations professionally. Overall, this class showed me that leadership can happen at any level through initiative, accountability, and consistency.

Another important takeaway is the value of communication and self-confidence. Through discussions and group activities, I became more comfortable sharing my ideas and listening to different perspectives. This helped me grow not only as a student but also as a future professional.

Overall, this course taught me that leadership is a continuous learning process. In my future career, I will apply these skills by being a supportive, open-minded, and confident leader who encourages others to grow and succeed.

Another skill I think I developed is being more comfortable with critical thinking instead of just looking for quick answers. A lot of the assignments and discussions made me slow down and actually think through my responses instead of rushing through them. That helped me get better at explaining my ideas and backing them up, instead of just saying what I think without much reasoning behind it.

From a leadership standpoint, I learned that good leadership is not just about knowing the material or being in charge; it’s also about being open-minded and willing to listen to different perspectives. This class really showed me that leaders need to be flexible and aware of how people think differently, especially in a global environment where you’re working with people from different backgrounds.

Overall, I feel like I’m leaving this course with a better understanding of how to think, not just what to think. That’s probably the biggest takeaway for me, and something I know will help me as I move forward in my career and take on more responsibility.

I would like to thank Dr. Wengelnik for having the assignment under Application #2 because it took me out of my comfort zone and made me feel great about what I can accomplish in my goals.

I also got better at thinking carefully and working with other people. In class discussions and activities, I learned to listen to different ideas and share my own thoughts in a clear way. I also learned how to build on what others say to help solve problems.

Another big lesson I learned is that good leaders need to be flexible and willing to learn. Leaders don’t always have all the answers, but they keep learning, reflect on what happens, and try to improve. This class helped me see that leadership is about growing and helping others, not just giving orders.

Overall, this class helped me learn important skills and understand how to be a better leader in the future.

The discussions on self-awareness and emotional intelligence really resonated with me. I’ve learned that being a "Champion" in your field means being a lifelong learner who isn't afraid to ask questions or seek out mentors. I’m incredibly grateful for the supportive community Professor Wengelnik built here, and I’m excited to carry these leadership skills into my new chapter in life

One of the most meaningful things I gained from this course was a better understanding of leadership as more than just having a title. I learned that effective leadership involves communication, self awareness, adaptability, and the ability to support others while working toward shared goals. The course also showed me that leadership is not one size fits all, and that different situations may require different approaches. Another important takeaway was the value of emotional intelligence and reflection in becoming a stronger leader. I learned how understanding people, managing emotions, and building trust can make a major difference in teamwork and decision making. Overall, this course helped me think more intentionally about the kind of leader I want to become in both school and my future career.

A major skill I developed is the ability to evaluate AI tools critically. Instead of just using AI, I learned to question its effectiveness, biases, and limitations. Understanding when AI adds value, and when human interaction is still necessary, is essential for future HR and L&D roles.

From a leadership perspective, I realized that successful implementation of AI requires change management and trust. Leaders must ensure employees feel supported, not replaced, and create a learning environment where technology and people work together.

My advice to future students: don’t just focus on the technology, focus on the impact. Think about how AI improves learning outcomes, employee experience, and organizational performance. If you stay curious and intentional, this course will not only teach you tools, but also how to lead in a rapidly evolving workplace.

A key insight I took away is how important it is to lead with intention and awareness, especially in today’s fast-changing world shaped by artificial intelligence and innovation. The material felt incredibly relevant and timely, and it pushed me to think more critically about how leadership must evolve alongside technology. I also appreciated the online layout of the course, which made it easy to stay engaged, organized, and consistent while still allowing flexibility. It created a structure where I could take ownership of my learning while still feeling connected to the class.

Throughout this experience, I developed several transferable skills including communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and adaptability. These are skills I have already begun applying in my leadership roles, and I know they will continue to benefit me in my career. Whether I pursue opportunities in business, construction, or entrepreneurship, the ability to lead teams, navigate change, and think strategically will be essential. Overall, this course not only strengthened my leadership foundation but also gave me confidence in my ability to grow, adapt, and lead in any environment.

In terms of skills, I improved my ability to collaborate in teams, communicate more clearly, and take initiative without waiting to be told what to do. I also became more confident in giving and receiving feedback in a constructive way. In the end, this course helped me realize that strong leadership is about supporting others, staying accountable, and continuously growing through experience.

I also got better at teamwork and making decisions through the simulations and class activities. They made me think more about tradeoffs, listen to other perspectives, and be more thoughtful before making a choice. Overall, this course gave me lessons and skills I can definitely use in future internships and business settings.

A key leadership insight I gained is that effective leaders must be adaptable, open-minded, and willing to learn from others. This course has helped me grow in confidence and better prepared me to work and lead in an international business setting.

It also made me reflect on my own experience of living in many countries. Growing up in different countries made me notice how differently families, friends, and the people around me behaved, and at times that felt confusing because each environment had its own unspoken rules and expectations. Living in Singapore, Switzerland, India, Germany, and Italy made me realize that my own perspective has been shaped by all of these cultures, not just one. Over time, I absorbed different habits, values, and ways of communicating from each place. It reminded me that there is no single “normal,” and that cultural awareness is important if we want to avoid misunderstandings and build stronger connections.

I learned so much about leadership in this course. I discovered the best ways to work amongst others of different backgrounds, races, and economic status. I learned how to gain respect amongst peers by asking others questions and taking advice to show you truly care about those around you. Being adaptable and devising a plan using everyone’s ideas and opinions to take the best possible approach. Understanding how to deal with different personalities was also crucial when it came to working towards a common goal. I also learned the importance of communication, vocal and non-vocal.

One of the most meaningful insights I gained from this course is that leadership is not about authority but about influence, trust, and accountability. Previously, I believed that being a leader required having all the answers and maintaining control, but I have since learned that effective leaders prioritize listening, asking the right questions, and fostering the best in others.

A key skill I developed is communication—both verbal and nonverbal. I’ve become more intentional with how I interact with others, especially in group settings, which has helped me build stronger relationships and create a more positive team environment. I also learned how important adaptability is, especially when working with people from different backgrounds, perspectives, and personalities.

Overall, this course helped me grow not only as a student but as a future professional. I now see leadership as a continuous process of learning, self-improvement, and helping others succeed.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart

One of the biggest things I took away is that leadership isn’t just about being in charge—it’s about how you communicate, support others, and handle challenges. I learned how important it is to lead with empathy while still holding people accountable, especially in team settings where everyone brings different perspectives. It also showed me that real leadership is about creating an environment where everyone feels comfortable contributing, not just being the loudest voice in the room.

Throughout the semester, I developed skills in teamwork, problem-solving, and time management, but more importantly, I grew in how I think and approach situations. I’ve learned to stay open-minded, adapt when things don’t go as planned, and continue learning from every experience.

Overall, this class wasn’t just about leadership concepts—it helped me better understand myself. I’m really grateful for everything I gained from it, and it’s something I’ll carry with me moving forward. Thank you!

I also learned the importance of emotional intelligence, especially understanding others and staying composed in professional situations.

Overall, strong communication and consistency are what drive team success and effective leadership in a business environment

I also improved important skills like communication, teamwork, and time management. Working in groups helped me see how different ideas can come together to make better results. I learned how to share my thoughts more clearly and also listen and respect others’ ideas.

Another important lesson was learning how to adapt when things don’t go as planned. Instead of getting stressed, I learned to adjust and keep moving toward the goal.

Overall, this course helped me grow as a leader and gave me skills I can use in future classes and my career.

I also improved a lot in communication, both verbal and nonverbal. I’ve become more intentional about how I interact with people, especially in group settings, which has helped me build better relationships and contribute to a more positive team environment. Another important lesson was learning how valuable adaptability is, especially when working with people who have different backgrounds, perspectives, and personalities.

Overall, this course helped me grow not just as a student, but as someone preparing for a professional career. I now see leadership as an ongoing process of learning, improving yourself, and supporting others along the way.

Looking back on this semester, I’ve gained a better understanding of what it means to be a leader. One of my biggest takeaways is that leadership is not just about doing your job well, but about the impact you have on others and the work environment you create. I’ve also learned how important communication and support are in strong leadership. Great leaders motivate others, stay consistent, and help shape how new employees view work. Overall, I’m leaving this course with a stronger appreciation for good leaders and a better understanding that leadership is shown through everyday actions, not just a title.

I also gained confidence in managing responsibilities and thinking on my feet in real-world situations. Overall, this experience helped me grow as a leader and better prepared me for my future career.