E-LEAD

E-LEAD is a hands-on leadership program for Carl R. Ice College of Engineering undergraduate students who want to stand out in their careers. Through team challenges, coaching, and real-world case competitions, students practice leading in tough situations and learn to manage conflict, balance priorities, and drive innovation when others resist change.

Along the way, students will build the mindsets and skills employers value most: adaptability, collaboration, systems thinking and the confidence to lead with impact.

The inaugural event took place in spring 2026. View photos from the spring 2026 E-LEAD Case Challenge Competion on Facebook.

Enrollment for E-LEAD in spring 2027 is available. Students also have the option to earn a non-credit-bearing microcredential to showcase their leadership growth. Learn more below.

At a glance

• Designed for K-State engineering students ready to grow as leaders.
• Hands-on learning through team projects, coaching, and a case competition.
• Focus on leadership as practice, not just a position or title.
• Builds five core mindsets: leadership, experimental, systems thinking, reflective, and collaborative.
• Equips students with the skills employers want most: adaptability, communication, and confidence in complex environments.

Engineering leadership for the real world

E-LEAD helps engineering student prepare to thrive in today's complex, fast-changing work environments.

Leadership isn’t about a title. It’s about how leaders show up and act when challenges get tough. That’s why E-LEAD focuses on leadership as practice. Students tackle real-world problems like miscommunication on a team, managing conflict, balancing competing priorities, or leading innovation when people resist change. These are the kinds of challenges that don’t have step-by-step solutions, but do require leadership skills.

In E-LEAD, students learn through doing. Hands-on projects, group challenges and reflective activities will push students outside their comfort zone and help them grow.

Students will work in a small “Edge Group” with a leadership coach who will help them navigate the ups and downs of practicing leadership. The program wraps up with an intensive case competition where each team takes on a workplace-style leadership challenge, putting its skills to the test in a way that feels real and rewarding.

In the end, students will be able to:

• Diagnose and respond to complex workplace challenges.
• Address moments of uncertainty.
• Energize collaboration across teams and perspectives.
• Lead tough conversations with confidence.
• Create meaningful change that lasts.
  
  

Enroll for spring 2027

If there is a scheduling conflict with a student's courses, please move forward with your signup, as adjustments can me made.

After you complete the enrollment form, the course will appear in your KSIS account as LEAD 502 – Section L, during the enrollment period in October 2026.

• Enroll for E-LEAD at this link
  

Requirements and schedule

To earn recognition as a participant in E-LEAD, the following requirements must be met.

Workshops

Students will meet five times during the semester for workshops. Attendance at all sessions is required to earn the non-credit-bearing microcredential.

Spring 2027 workshop schedule

• 3-7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29: Kick-off Session, dinner provided
• 4-7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12, dinner provided
• 4-7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 26, dinner provided
• 4-7 p.m. Friday, March 5, dinner provided
• 4-7 p.m. Friday, April 2, dinner provided

Book club

Book club will take place during the workshop sessions, reading When Everyone Leads. Each team will be assigned a student coach/facilitator to facilitate and convene these sessions. All five are required.

Three must be attended to earn the non-credit-bearing microcredential. Book clubs are also opportunities for teams to prepare for the Case Challenge.

Edge Groups

Each Edge Group will have five to six student members and a leadership coach/facilitator who meet frequently. Edge Group members work together on specific projects/activities they are assigned during the program, provide peer-consultation to each other, and practice leadership skills taught in the course.

Case Challenge

A real-world simulation challenge will be presented to student teams. In 2026, corporate partner Evergy presented the Case Challenge. Watch the Case Challenge simulation video at this link. In 2027, another corporate partner will bring a real-world challenge to E-LEAD.

The competition will take place in two rounds.

In the first round, all teams will compete. Teams will have a designated period to collaborate and develop a plan to address the challenge before presenting their solutions to a panel of judges. Through a preliminary judging process, five finalist teams will be selected to advance to the second round and present their projects at the College of Engineering's Design Showcase Day.

Three awards will be presented:

• Project Excellence Award, presented to one of the five finalist teams that develops the strongest practical solution to the challenge
• Collaboration Award, presented to any participating team for excellence in collaboration
• Innovation Award, presented to any participating team for excellence in innovation

Spring 2027 Case Challenge schedule

• 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Friday, April 9: Case Challenge first round, lunch provided
• Time TBA, Wednesday, May 5: Final round, top five teams present at Design Showcase Day

Questions?

Email leadership@k-state.edu.