First Advisor

Melissa Appleyard

Date of Award

Spring 6-14-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Business: Management and Leadership and University Honors

Department

Business

Language

English

Subjects

Business, Outdoor, Leadership, Capstone, Reflection, Skills

DOI

10.15760/honors.1687

Abstract

This paper explores the development of my leadership skills through the Portland State University School of Business and the Portland State University Outdoor Program. Drawing from my four years as a trip leader and equipment rental center coordinator and my capstone experience with Team Flamingos, the cross-disciplinary business team I was a part of, I examine how both of these experiences have shaped and grown my skills as a leader. In this paper, I analyze leadership competencies such as communication, decision-making, adaptability, and self-awareness, through the National Outdoor Leadership School's 4-7-1 Leadership Model. This model acts as a framework to illustrate how these skills are expressed and refined in both business and outdoor settings. I also analyze the final recommendations that my capstone team and I presented to our business partner to showcase the successful application of leadership skills in use within a business context. Finally, I reflect on how my leadership skills will further develop and aid me in my next chapter of life, which is a graduate program in Leadership for Sustainability Education at Portland State, as well as a new professional role within the Outdoor Program. Ultimately, this paper argues that leadership is a cross-disciplinary skill that is most powerful when it is shaped by a diverse set of experiences that are mutually reinforcing.

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In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/43792

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