New Course Offers Insights on Character-Driven Leadership From U.S. Army General

New Course Offers Insights on Character-Driven Leadership From U.S. Army General

Are some people born to be leaders? Or is leadership learned?

Some of the most respected and trusted leaders can be found in the U.S. military and veteran communities. In the U.S. military, leadership is highly valued — and very much learned. It’s widely believed that anyone can learn how to become a character-driven and ethical leader with the right tools and practice.

With a new course called Principles of Character-Driven Leadership, a collaboration between ASU CareerCatalyst and ASU's Leadership, Diplomacy and National Security Lab (LDNS) aims to make the expertise of senior military leadership accessible to all. Professionals who aspire to a leadership role won’t want to miss this unique opportunity to gain actionable insights directly from the highest levels of U.S. military leadership.

Behind the scenes with senior military leadership

With over 36 years of military experience, former U.S. Army Lieutenant General Benjamin C Freakley knows a thing or two about leading teams. After graduating from West Point, he went on to serve in several positions and campaigns around the world, including combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. Freakley served as assistant division commander of the 101st Airborne Division under David Petraeus during Operation Iraqi Freedom, and commanded the 10th Mountain Division in Afghanistan, where he also became the commanding general of Combined Joint Task Force-76.

After retiring from the army, General Freakley went into higher education, becoming a professor at ASU, special advisor to ASU President Dr. Michael Crow and cofounder of the ASU Leadership, Diplomacy and National Security Lab.

“In the military, leaders make decisions that impact lives every day,” says General Freakley. “This requires the highest level of education, training and development in values, ethics and Character-Driven leadership. These principles aren’t just for the military — they’re applicable in every team and every workplace. With the right effort, everyone can earn trust and reach their leadership potential.”

The course gives working learners direct access to teaching from General Freakley as well as other Generals and Admirals, who will engage with learners in a live, virtual Q&A session.

A course designed to reveal the leader in you

Principles of Character-Driven Leadership defines leadership as the commitment to do the right thing, the right way for the right reasons. The course focuses on values and ethics — individual, organizational and national — and culminates with a clear understanding of leadership principles.

Learners also work to apply character-driven leadership to their own careers and lives. Each learner explores the “leader in me” by examining the values they embrace and the causes that they believe in, along with understanding “the environment I lead in,” including where they lead and who they lead.

The six-week course, scheduled for January 17-February 21 2023, uses experiential learning to help learners firmly grasp and apply the concepts of leadership, with weekly discussions, live Q&As and a dedicated Slack community for sharing insights.