Cunanan Center Highlights Leadership 7 in Employer Series

The ECU College of Business continues to elevate its commitment to student development through the Leadership 7 framework—a model that defines what it truly means to “Build Leaders.” Developed by a cross-disciplinary faculty team and grounded in research and industry insight, Leadership 7 identifies seven core capabilities that shape effective leadership. These include skills such as ethical decision-making, communication, innovation, and growth, each forming a vital piece of the College’s broader mission.

This spring, the Cunanan Center for Professional Success put the framework into action through its Leadership 7 Series, a semester-long program designed to connect students with real-world applications of leadership. Each week, the Cunanan Center hosted a different employer to speak on one of the seven capabilities, sharing practical examples of how leadership principles are applied and valued in their organizations.

The interactive series concluded each session with a Q&A, allowing students to engage directly with professionals and ask questions about leadership challenges and opportunities. Students who attended all seven sessions earned completion recognition from the Center.

By embedding the Leadership 7 framework into programming, the Cunanan Center not only reinforces the College’s values but also ensures students graduate with a clear, practical understanding of what exceptional leadership looks like in the workplace.