Reflection

Introduction
My journey through the Leadership program at Old Dominion University has been transformative, combining diverse disciplines to create a broad foundation for my future career aspirations. With nine years in the banking industry and a deep academic focus on generational workplace dynamics, I've developed a transformational leadership philosophy that bridges theory and practice. Through courses spanning leadership theory, business management, economics, philosophy, and biology, I've developed a multifaceted skill set essential for modern leadership. As a licensed banking professional managing employee teams, I witnessed firsthand the importance of transformational leadership. This leadership style, which emphasizes inspiring and empowering others to achieve their full potential, aligns perfectly with my career experiences and academic research. The combination of professional licenses and hands-on management experience gives me a unique perspective when studying leadership theories. The interdisciplinary nature of this program has been particularly valuable in developing my expertise in customer relationship management, risk management, and financial analysis – three critical competencies for my goal of becoming a CEO of a Fortune 500 company.
Customer Relationship Management Skills
The development of my customer relationship management skills emerged from an interesting intersection of disciplines. Through Leadership Ethics and Business Management courses, I learned to appreciate the delicate balance between profit objectives and stakeholder relationships. In my Leadership Ethics course, I could directly relate theoretical frameworks to real-world scenarios I'd encountered in banking. This practical experience made my academic studies more meaningful and allowed me to contribute valuable insights to class discussions. The philosophical frameworks studied helped me understand the ethical implications of customer interactions, while economics courses provided insights into customer behavior and market dynamics.
The creation of customer engagement strategies in my Design Thinking for Leaders course particularly enhanced this skill. By applying design thinking principles to customer experience challenges, I learned to approach problem-solving from multiple angles. This interdisciplinary approach combined psychological insights about human behavior with business strategy and technological solutions. In this class, three classmates and I came up with a “Remote Work Toolkit” to address the challenges of remote workers. It included noise cancellation headphones, soundproof panels, an ergonomic desk chair, and a cell phone holder.
Today's job market consistently emphasizes the importance of customer relationship management skills. Fortune 500 companies specifically seek leaders who can maintain strong stakeholder relationships while driving business growth. My coursework has prepared me to meet these expectations by providing both theoretical knowledge and practical application experience. The courses I have taken throughout my program directly translate to my professional aspirations. 
Risk Management Expertise
My understanding of risk management was significantly shaped by the Leadership and Law course, combined with economics and business management principles. This interdisciplinary approach helped me understand risk not just from a legal compliance perspective, but also from financial, operational, and strategic viewpoints. My time in banking has also contributed to my Risk Management expertise in profound ways.
During IDS 300W, I conducted extensive research on risk management frameworks across different industries, which helped me understand how various disciplines approach risk differently. Leadership and law contributed valuable insights about systemic risk and interconnected systems that apply directly to organizational risk management. 
Current executive-level job postings consistently list risk management as a crucial skill, particularly in the post-pandemic business environment. My interdisciplinary training has prepared me to assess and mitigate risks from multiple perspectives, making me well-equipped for senior leadership roles.
Financial Analysis Capabilities
My financial analysis skills were developed through a combination of economics, business management, mathematics courses and my time in finance working for Wells Fargo and US Bank. However, it was the interdisciplinary approach that truly deepened my understanding. Philosophy courses helped me understand the ethical implications of financial decisions, while psychology and Leadership Ethics courses provided insights into how people react to financial information and make economic decisions.
A particularly challenging project in my Leadership Ethics course required analyzing the financial impact of ethical business decisions. This assignment demanded integration of quantitative analysis skills with ethical reasoning, demonstrating how interdisciplinary thinking leads to more comprehensive decision-making.
Fortune 500 companies regularly emphasize the need for leaders who can combine financial acumen with strategic thinking and ethical leadership. My interdisciplinary background has prepared me to meet these expectations by providing a holistic understanding of financial analysis within the broader context of organizational leadership.
Conclusion
The interdisciplinary methods and theories were crucial in developing my understanding of leadership in today's complex business environment. IDS 300W was particularly instrumental in preparing me for advanced coursework by teaching me to conduct thorough research, properly format academic work, and most importantly, think across disciplinary boundaries.
The ability to engage with multiple disciplines has taught me to approach problems from various angles and integrate different perspectives into comprehensive solutions. This skill is particularly crucial for my goal of becoming a Fortune 500 CEO, where complex problems require multifaceted solutions. As an African American aspiring to this role, I understand the importance of bringing diverse perspectives and approaches to leadership.
Being an interdisciplinary thinker in leadership is essential because modern organizations face challenges that cannot be solved through single-discipline approaches. Today's business environment requires leaders who can integrate insights from various fields – from technology to psychology, from economics to ethics. My interdisciplinary education has prepared me to be such a leader, equipped with the ability to understand and solve complex problems through multiple lenses.
The combination of diverse coursework, rigorous research requirements, and interdisciplinary thinking has not only developed my technical skills but also shaped my perspective on leadership. It has prepared me to be the kind of leader who can navigate complexity, embrace diversity, and drive positive change in the business world.