Seminar: Heroes and Leaders

The strategic goal of the Center for Research on the Economics of Memorial Sites is to conduct international comparative research, at the memorial sites, where the former German Nazi concentration camps, extermination camps and the largest places of mass executions were located, including the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Holland, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Latvia, Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Ukraine.

Over the past two years, the Center has significantly advanced this goal and is currently ready to expand its research to memorial sites around the world, including the USA.

Thanks to the cooperation with Saint Vincent College, the Center will expand its research scope not only geographically, but also contextually, to include memorial sites stemming from non-European culture and history located on the territory of the United States.

Additionally, the seminar will provide an excellent opportunity for a meeting and exchange of ideas between 60 scholars and students from Saint Vincent College and SWPS University. The Center for Research on the Economics of Memorial Sites will also present its activities and research from the past two years.

13.00-13.30 – Welcome and refreshments

13.30-13.40 – Opening Address – prof. Marcin Jacoby, Rector’s Representative for International Relations

13.40-14.00 – presentation of the Center for Research on the Economics of Memorial Sites – prof. Igor Lyubashenko, dr Katarzyna Wojtkiewicz

14.00-14.30 – Heroes and Leaders: A Cultural Perspective for Creating a Better Future by Learning from the Past – prof. Michael J. Urick, the Alex G. McKenna School of Business, Economics, and Government, St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA, USA

14.30-15.00 – Q&A session and discussion

15.00-15.30 – Guided tour of SWPS University campus

One definition of leadership is that it is a process of influence. To become more influential, a leader can learn from successful leadership styles and behaviors from the past. After examining historic “leadership heroes,” a leader must then also consider the current context which would include one’s culture, attributes of potential followers, and other external elements. There are likely both elements that are similar to and different from historic contexts and so a modern leader must adapt what she or he has learned from past leaders to fit the current environment. In doing so, leaders need to consider their own leader behavior preferences and acknowledge that they may need to change their style to fit their context. Throughout the presentation, various examples of historic leaders and heroes will be considered as will many fundamental theories of leadership and culture.