Discover Fox

Fox School of Business seniors Becky Bergmaier, Adrian Maghacot and GB Tran have found the Fox Leadership Development Program to benefit their educational experience. 

When alumnus Dominick Peake, BBA ’21, recalls his education at Temple University’s Fox School of Business, his experience in the Fox Leadership Development Program (FLDP) will always stand out.  

“Participating in the FLDP program was extremely valuable to me as a student,” says Peake. “In my opinion, it is one of the most important ways that the Fox School helps you utilize learning outside of the classroom to prepare you for your future.” 

Launched in 2016, FLDP is a co-curricular engagement program that requires all full-time (12 or more credits per semester) undergraduate students within the Fox School to participate in enrichment activities that extend beyond what they learn in the classroom.  

The program centers around five “competencies” of leadership development: personal and professional development, financial literacy, global and cultural awareness, community engagement and ethics. 

In addition to participating in the program as a student, Peake also served as the student director of FLDP programming while at Fox. 

“As a student participant and student director of the program, I was heavily engaged with students and school leadership alike, and quickly learned how valuable of a resource it is,” Peake says. “In every internship or job interview I had, my involvement within the program was an important experience to share.” 

Hosted through the mobile application “Suitable,” the program is led by a point system, encouraging students to meet their requirements of 250 points per academic year. Students can obtain points in a variety of ways, including participating in activities both on and off campus. Some examples include attending networking events, speaker series or panel presentations, career fairs, Student Professional Organization meetings and more. 

Today, Peake works as a strategy and management consultant for RSM, a global provider of assurance, tax and consulting services for middle market leaders. 

“I think it is something students should take advantage of—it helps you gain knowledge and experience where employers look for, and that can make a difference when it comes to starting your career and entering your respected industries,” he says. 

Advocating on behalf of the program, we asked three Fox students to tell us about their experiences and how FLDP has benefitted them.  

How has your experience with FLDP been during your time at the Fox School?  

Becky:  

“I’ve really enjoyed my experience in FLDP in my time at Fox. Mainly, I’ve found the programming has provided me with new educational experiences and helped me expand my professional network. With the incentive-based program encouraging me, I’ve found myself attending events and learning even more about my key subjects such as finance and ethics outside of the classroom.”   

Adrian:  

“Ever since my freshman year, the experience within FLDP has been highly positive and engaging! To me, it is a great way to be aware about what is happening around Fox and learn all ways you can utilize the events like career fairs, speakers, etc. My favorite benefit might be that the program has rewarded me for looking at opportunities outside Fox—a concept like that can really push you to explore outside your comfort zone!”  

GB:  

“My experience in FLDP has been great. Participating in activities beyond the classroom has offered me valuable opportunities and experiences. I don’t think I would have been encouraged to hone my networking skills if it hadn’t been for FLDP. I’ve really had a chance connect with recruiters and industry professionals through the program.”  

How did the program benefit you?  

Becky:  

“Personally, the program has most benefited me in the exposure it’s offered me to different professional activities and student organizations. I’ve utilized attending events such as career fairs hosted by the Center for Student Professional Development and chances to network with companies through the Business Management Organization. I truly believe that FLDP pushed me to do on-campus activities that have resulted in being able to hold strong student leadership positions and make some of my long-lasting friends.”  

How have you obtained points within the program?  

Adrian: 

“I’ve earned most of my points by attending various SPO meetings and participating in both Fox Connection and information technology career fairs. I’ve also gained points by doing off-campus activities like going to museums or, most memorably, attending a performance by the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra through one of my general education classes. I think one of best aspects of the programming is the wide range of ways they allow you to earn points!”  

What advice would you offer to new students so they can make the most out of their program participation?  

GB: 

“Like many students, at first, I didn’t give it much thought, feeling like I had plenty of time to succeed in the program. Looking back, I wish I had taken advantage of it sooner as it is such a great tool to broaden your network. FLDP is just one of the many valuable opportunities that Fox offers to its students to find leverage amongst our peers at other institutions.” 

How do you think the FLDP program has guided you toward academic excellence? 

Becky: 

“I feel the encouragement from the program to attend certain activities and exhibit skills that I have learned in the classroom has helped me achieve academic excellence in many ways. I can say confidently that without the FDLP point system I would not have gotten involved in joining SPOs, some of which have led to me obtaining my dream internships—I have a lot to thank this program for.” 

Adrian: 

“For me, the biggest boost I’ve received through FLDP is my involvement with SPOs at Fox, which I am so grateful for. For example, I’ve been heavily involved with the Temple Finance Association, the Fox Fund and the Owl Fund—those experiences actually led me to becoming a finance major! If it weren’t for that introduction, I would have never learned how much I enjoyed the topics of accounting and valuation—my academic trajectory could have been entirely different.”  

GB:  

“In a general sense, the program has greatly influenced my mindset to shift towards academic excellence. You attend these events and listen to guest speakers, and you realize you need to find ways to stand out on the path to your success. FLDP itself helps you find those ways by ensuring that you explore what is out there for you. For me it has helped motivate me to expand my network and enter leadership roles, like within the Ascend SPO, that I might not have pursued before.”  

How do you believe the lessons learned through this program will stay with you beyond your graduation from the Fox School?  

Becky:  

“Some of the most important lessons I’ve learned about ‘ethics’ and ‘corporate social responsibility’ have come through educational experiences I’ve had through FLDP. There have been various Net Impact events that center around the conversation of ethics—those will continue to stick with me as I enter the professional industry. I believe as business school students it is crucial we are taught about these important issues of sustainability and it’s great to see the program embrace that concept.” 

Adrian: 

“I expect all five competencies, in some compacity, to stay with me as I prepare to enter my professional career. All of them in some way apply to business, such as professional development being crucial within the workplace or the importance of ethics being at the forefront of companies’ missions. Overall, FLDP has encouraged me to acquire skills across my four years at Fox that will help me beyond graduation!”  

GB: 

“I have no doubts that I will carry many of the lessons and learned mindsets from this experience into my professional career. FDLP is a fantastic resource for all students, and I really encourage everyone to take the initiative and challenge yourself to step out of your comfort zone to explore new topics. I think this experience will really accelerate my growth within my future.”