How to Get Leadership Experience

Tanzania Fair, who earned her MBA degree from SNHU in 2020.

True leaders aren’t made overnight — they’re developed over time. So how can you get experience as a leader before you’re hired to be one?

Whether you’re a student without any work experience on your resumé or you’re looking to grow into a leadership role at your current place of employment, there are plenty of opportunities you could take advantage of to help you grow your leadership skills.

How to Develop Leadership Experience in College

It’s never too early to start looking for leadership experience, and many schools have a variety of opportunities for students to explore. For example, you might pursue:

Club Leadership Positions

One way to gain leadership experience as a student is by pursuing a leadership role in a club or organization at your school, according to Lindsey Acampora, a student involvement coordinator at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU).

Campus students at SNHU can explore various leadership roles in a number of clubs and organizations, from academic clubs to community service groups and Greek life groups to multicultural organizations. For instance, students who are interested in journalism could seek out a position as an editor with the school's student newspaper, The Penmen Press.

And Acampora said through SNHU’s online engagement portal, SNHUconnect, online students can join a variety of groups and pursue leadership positions, too, including:

• President
• Vice President
• Secretary
• Engagement Officer

“Helping online students build a sense of community starts with equipping our student leaders to create inclusive, engaging spaces,” Acampora said. “During the onboarding stage for new student leaders, I emphasize the importance of fostering authentic connections and provide training on practical strategies, such as sparking conversations in online settings, planning inclusive virtual events and creating welcoming digital spaces.”

These are all transferable leadership skills that you could include on your resumé.

Read more: How an Online Learning Community Can Transform Your Education.

Student Body Leadership Roles

You could also consider exploring wider leadership roles at your school. For campus students at SNHU, there are 3 different leadership organizations to try getting involved with:

• The Student Government Association (SGA)
• The Inter-Greek Council (IGC)
• The Coordinators of Activities and Programming of Events (CAPE)

SNHU also has the Student Engagement Council (SEC) for online students.

“The group serves as a sounding board to university administrators who seek student perspectives, acts as a welcome wagon to new-to-SNHU students within SNHUconnect and focuses heavily on developing their own and others' leadership abilities,” Acampora said.

These positions are highly competitive, she noted, with only 40 students serving on the council at a time.

Read more: How to Get Involved as an Online Student.

Leadership Events, Organizations and Programs

Ask your academic advisor about any leadership-focused events and opportunities you can get involved with. Your specific program could have leadership events, like SNHU’s Thought Leaders Conference for healthcare professionals.

There might be university-wide opportunities, too. For example, SNHU hosts an annual Lead, Engage, Achieve, Discover and Succeed (LEADS) conference each spring to help students build leadership skills and connections, according to Chantel Freeman, an associate director of Student Involvement, Events and Communication at SNHU.

“This two-day conference provides several virtual sessions for students to develop professionally and build their network with other conference goers,” Freeman said.

She also noted that some students might be invited to join an honor society with a leadership focus, such as the National Society for Leadership and Success (NSLS).

Learn about the NSLS: Online Honor Society Offers More Than Academic Recognition

How to Gain Leadership Experience at Work

If you’d like to gain leadership experience from your current role, there are a few avenues to consider.

 Lead From Your Seat

Even without a structured leadership program, you can still practice leadership skills in your current role. Here are a few ways to lead from your seat:

• Build positive relationships
• Lead by example
• Mentor new employees

Gina Cramer ’20, who earned a bachelor’s in cybersecurity from SNHU, became a security analyst at a global financial company after graduating and later advanced to a leadership role in application security. She said stepping up to the plate when your team has a specific need is another way to lead from your seat in your current role.

“Put yourself out there and offer to do research on this new thing that might help your team with whatever their responsibilities are and take that leadership,” she said. “Even if you fail or it doesn't go the way you think it should or doesn't even get approved or anything like that — you've put the effort forth and you've shown that to your management that you're willing to take chances.”

Pursue Professional Development

To become a leader in your chosen field, you’ll need to be knowledgeable first and foremost. Consider earning certifications or micro-credentials in your field or taking courses to expand your knowledge.

“You've got to do the research. You've got to see what's new out there,” Cramer said. “Read the blogs, read the news, find reputable sources and just keep going. There's always additional learning.”

She recommended shadowing other roles in your organization as another way to learn and develop professionally while on the job.

“I've often asked my boss if I could shadow different other groups within cybersecurity,” Cramer said. “Because I know what application security does, but there's also an ethical hack team.”

Keep Reading: What is Professional Development?

Talk to Your Boss

Have a conversation with your boss and let them know that you’re interested in gaining leadership experience. They might be able to point you toward any internal leadership resources, like leadership programs at your organization.

During this conversation, you could also ask your boss if you can take on additional responsibilities in your current role. Maybe you could express interest in leading a project, for example. You never know what opportunities could arise after sharing your goals.

Other Leadership Opportunities to Explore

Here are three other ways to grow your leadership skills, regardless of where you are in your career.

Become a Thought Leader

Sharing your unique ideas and perspectives as an insider in your field can help make others see you as an authority or thought leader.

For example, you could write articles about your field or engage in public speaking opportunities, like SNHU student Kayla Stoll.

Stoll is currently earning a bachelor’s in environmental science online from SNHU, and in February of 2025, she spoke about the importance of environmental education at a TEDxSNHU event. Since then, she said she's made new connections and has been introduced to new opportunities as well.

“I have to say, ever since that point, it changed my life," she said. "It was an amazing platform to help convey this message of environmental protection."

Explore Volunteering

You could also look for other leadership programs and opportunities outside of your school and workplace, such as through volunteering.

In addition to her experience with TEDxSNHU, Stoll got involved with the nonprofit Global Citizens Circle (GCC) and is currently part of their Emerging Leaders program.

“Being an emerging leader has enabled me to make connections and expand my outreach,” Stoll said. “Particularly, I have had the privilege of meeting and/or interviewing individuals globally, including those from Africa and Afghanistan, and gaining mentors within the GCC community.”

Study Leadership

If you’re committed to growing as a leader, you might also consider advancing your education beyond a bachelor’s in your field by earning a master’s degree that’s specifically focused on leadership or management.

Some graduate programs to consider might include:

• Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Leadership
• Master of Science (MS) in Management
• Master of Science (MS) in Organizational Leadership

Review your options to determine which program is right for you and your goals. For Christopher McGinnis ‘23G, SNHU’s MS in Organizational Leadership was the best fit. Thanks to the program's online schedule, he was able to earn his master’s while working.

“The lessons focused on practical application as opposed to just theoretical,” McGinnis said.

He noted the program taught him about different leadership styles and effective communication skills. “And most importantly — how to navigate and lead change management," said McGinnis.

Since graduating, he’s continued growing in his career and said he uses the knowledge and skills he gained from his program on a daily basis.

Mars Girolimon '21 '23G is a staff writer at Southern New Hampshire University where they earned their bachelor's and master's, both in English and creative writing. In addition to their work in higher education, Girolimon's short fiction is published in the North American Review, So It Goes by The Kurt Vonnegut Museum & Library, X-R-A-Y and more. Connect with them on LinkedIn.