Preparing to Lead with the Help of the Disney Leadership Institute 

“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” – Walt Disney 

Many undergraduate and graduate programs at colleges and universities worldwide provide opportunities for their students to travel abroad and learn global experiences that help them complete requirements within a designated course. This global experience focuses on observing, relating to, and learning from like minds in like disciplines but in different cultures, environments, and strategic organizational goals. Keeping this in mind, the PhD in Education, Leadership, and Organization (ELO) at Texas Woman’s University (TWU) faculty wanted to offer a global experience to students that supported their individual needs and leadership goals. Hence, the Disney Institute of Leadership became a great opportunity for our students. We wanted our students to have the ability to attend and learn about leadership and organizational practices by learning from an entity that is a global sensation and is respected for its longevity and productivity.  

The first cohort that attended Disney’s Approach to Leadership Excellence was able to do so with an internal grant from the TWU Jane Nelson Institute for Women’s Leadership. Through the grant, five students were able to travel, stay at a Disney resort, attend the Disney Institute, and grow from their experiences in studying Disney’s Parks and how Disney implements their leadership in a truly “hands-on” way. Additionally, due to the online nature of the ELO program, this grant allowed this cohort to have time together to discuss the learning that was happening, along with getting to know each other, sharing advice, and making long-lasting connections. Each student walked away with something different, highlighting the Disney Leadership philosophy’s alignment with the PhD in ELO, while enhancing the individual educational experience of our students. Each student had their own perspective and expounded on how the Disney Institute enriched their academic and professional careers.  

One of our doctoral candidates is a current elementary principal and he expressed his appreciation of being included in the grant and trip and viewed the Disney Institute (DI) as a supplemental learning experience that rounded out the ELO program, coursework, and student learning objectives. Through the DI, he learned a different perspective that challenged his thinking, especially as a school leader building culture on a campus or in a district. It was an opportunity to get out of the “vacuum” of leadership theory and see how businesses and companies are applying similar principles in a completely different environment. Additionally, it provided a space to think about what issues are within public education and how they can be tackled, while presenting those issues to peers and professors for their insight and direction.  

Another doctoral candidate, who is an elementary teacher and an intern in his school district’s leadership academy, liked how the DI represented a strategic and innovative endeavor aimed at enriching the educational and professional development of attendees. Through engagement with diverse industries, a nuanced understanding of leadership and organizational dynamics that extend beyond the realm of education was learned. Additionally, the integration of the Disney Institute of Leadership into the PHD in ELO program at TWU embodies a forward-thinking approach to educational leadership development. By combining global perspectives, interdisciplinary insights, experiential learning, and innovative partnerships, this initiative serves as a catalyst for students’ academic and professional growth, equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and mindset needed to thrive in today’s complex and dynamic educational environments. 

One of our doctoral students who works in higher education believed that attending the Disney Leadership Institute was an amazing experience and an opportunity to view leadership through a broader lens. The tools and strategies shared transcends disciplines and not only exposed areas for improvement in her own leadership, but highlighted specific areas that are positively impacting her as a leader. Having the opportunity to share this experience with other ELO program cohorts allowed for time to share various perspectives, practices, and insight, and helped forge a discussion of the best ways to navigate through the program. Integrating the Disney Institute has given her an insight that she would not have otherwise been able to grasp. Sharing the different perspectives in an atmosphere that encourages leadership was refreshing.  

“You think the only people who are people, are the people who look and think like you. But if you walk the footsteps of a stranger, you’ll learn things you never knew you never knew.” – Pocahontas 

Learning and growing together with our PhD students also helped us as faculty to see unique ways that we could enhance our program to meet the needs of our diverse student population. As the majority of our students are already leaders within their own organizations, having opportunities with such world-renowned leaders gave us the chance to work alongside our students and opened doors of communication and discussion that has been unparalleled. We were able to hold nightly seminar type meetings on Disney property, either in the hotel or the parks themselves, to see how Disney created what they did from a leadership perspective and how they implemented their ideals in a tangible way. It truly was a dream come true to have the opportunity to learn and grow together! 

“If you can dream it, you can do it.” – Walt Disney 

Laura Trujillo-Jenks is a professor in the Department of Teacher Education at Texas Woman’s University, where she teaches principal and superintendent courses in the Educational Leadership program. 

Rebecca Fredrickson is a professor in Teacher Education at Texas Woman’s University where she teaches in the Curriculum and Instruction program and the Education, Leadership, and Organization (ELO) program. 

Aaron Landon Turrubiarte is a doctoral candidate earning his PHD in Education, Leadership, and Organization (ELO)  in the Department of Teacher Education at Texas Woman’s University.  

Anthony Rose is a doctoral candidate earning his PHD in Education, Leadership, and Organization (ELO)  in the Department of Teacher Education at Texas Woman’s University.  

Versinia Gooden is a doctoral student earning her PHD in Education, Leadership, and Organization (ELO) in the Department of Teacher Education at Texas Woman’s University.