Eligibility for Awards
The GBF Student Leadership Award and Responsible Leadership Award are open to full‑time graduate business students of schools invited to the annual Graduate Business Conference (GBC).
Nominees must be registered at their respective schools (or participating in a sanctioned internship) for the academic semester in which the conference will convene. Nominations will be considered for individuals and teams.
Selection Criteria
The GBF Leadership Awards will be given to the individuals (or teams) best exemplifying the Graduate Business Forum’s ideals of leadership, innovation and a commitment for the greater community at the graduate business level.
The Student Leadership Award is rewarded for leadership and innovation within the business school community and/ or curriculum.
The Responsible Leadership Award is rewarded for leadership and innovation for society at large. This can include charitable events, non‑profit initiatives and social entrepreneurship. As a guideline, these initiatives should have required the involvement of school community members such as students, faculty, and/or administration.
Leadership criteria:
- Ability to establish a clear vision (of an organizational approach, community program, and/or solution to a relevant issue) and effectively articulate this vision within the student’s span of influence (e.g. student club, government, student body, etc.). The nominated program(s) should be of significant scope and proffer substantial impact on the nominee’s community
- Ability to motivate members of the appropriate target group (administration and/ or students) to provide support, take action, or otherwise execute this vision. Substantiation will be sought on the number of individuals enrolled in the effort and on the resources garnered.
- Ability to instinctively foster initiatives to successful completion via motivational support, communication skills, and superior managerial ability. In doing so, the nominee(s) will have engendered substantial respect among members of the community. Special consideration will be given to situations where nominees have overcome potential setbacks to champion a cause.
Innovation criteria:
- Ability to re‑assess historical problems or approach new situations with a fresh perspective. Includes the ability to identify and/or execute novel responses with proven impact.
- Ability to infuse creativity into what may have become a lackluster program or event, rekindle enthusiasm, and ultimately champion a turnaround.
- Ability to effectively assess the community and conceive new programs and/or directives that fulfill unmet needs. Substantiation will be sought as to how this innovation has been adopted within the community and what benefits have been obtained.
