WE ARE NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR CLASS OF 2013 VENTURE FELLOWS. CLICK THE BUTTON BELOW TO ACCESS THE ON-LINE APPLICATION.
Staff
Preston Cline, Senior Associate Director
prcline@wharton.upenn.edu
Tia Dorsey, Coordinator
dorseyt@wharton.upenn.edu
About Us
Vision: Develop leaders who excel in stressful and ambiguous environments.
Excel: Leaders who excel in stressful and ambiguous situations possess the following traits:
- Lead by example: “You’ll always be seen before you are heard” – Doug Taylor
- Have a bias towards action: make decisions rapidly, acting on the 80% plan and taking calculated risks
- Can motivate others to action
- Are adaptable, flexible and resourceful in their planning
- Communicate effectively
- Are self-aware and selfless
Mission: Create, offer and facilitate world-class ventures which place participants under authentic levels of stress and uncertainty in order to improve their ability to lead.
Ventures: Ventures are outdoor, experiential based treks that provide genuine environments of uncertainty and challenge. Ventures facilitate self-discovery, leadership and character development by allowing participants to exceed previously set personal limitations, step out of their comfort zones and to experience leadership first hand. These lessons are learned not only through positive cooperation but also uncomfortable confrontation and self-reflection. Defining characteristics of a venture include:
- Limited distractions
- Immersion event – limited opportunities to quit or exit
- Critical decision making – the outcome is dependent on the decisions of the leader of the day and the team
- Authentic uncertainty – path/process to goal or outcome is not guaranteed, risk of failure is inherent
- Opportunities of stress – from ambiguity, risk of failure, conflict, and unfamiliar roles and responsibilities
- Expedition and Goal oriented
