In today’s rapidly evolving and interconnected world, leadership is becoming less about authority and control and more about adaptability and collaboration. This course examines conventional and contemporary leadership theories and practices through the lenses of power, inclusion, and organizational change across nonprofit, public, and private sectors. Students will explore foundational and emerging leadership frameworks, including adaptive, transformational, distributed, and collective leadership, and analyze how these theories intersect with identity, culture, and systems of privilege and oppression. Emphasis is placed on developing the self-awareness and emotional intelligence necessary to recognize one’s default leadership patterns and to choose approaches that align with situational and organizational needs. Through case studies, reflective practice, and applied exercises, students will strengthen their ability to navigate conflict, build trust, and lead inclusively in dynamic and diverse contexts. By the end of the course, students will have developed a personal theory of leadership and a set of practical strategies to lead with clarity, courage, and accountability.