The Friedman School: Self-Differentiating Leaders for a Meta-Modern World

Posted: November 7, 2024 | Author: Dr. Ernie | Filed under: AI-Powered Essays, education | Tags: business, politics, resilience, systems, training, transformation, values |1 Comment

[Yes, this is a ChatGPT-powered fantasy. But seriously: why isn’t anyone doing this? — Ernie P.]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 1, 2025

Minerva University Launches The Friedman School: A Groundbreaking Program for Self-Differentiating Leaders in a Meta-Modern World

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Minerva University today announced the launch of The Friedman School, a pioneering leadership program designed to develop self-differentiating leaders equipped to navigate, integrate, and lead in the complex, interconnected meta-modern world. Named in honor of Edwin Friedman, the influential thinker on self-differentiation and systems-based leadership, The Friedman School aims to empower a new generation of leaders with the resilience, empathy, and adaptability needed to address today’s global challenges.

Rooted in Minerva’s commitment to innovative and purposeful education, The Friedman School curriculum is built around three core areas: Self-Differentiation and Personal Mastery, Meta-Modern Leadership Skills, and Complex Systems and Ethical Governance. The program integrates foundational courses, experiential learning, and a final capstone project that allows students to design and implement real-world solutions.

“The Friedman School is designed for those who want to go beyond traditional leadership models,” said Dr. David James, Program Director of The Friedman School. “Our students will cultivate a deep understanding of self, embrace ambiguity, and lead with ethical integrity. We are proud to offer a curriculum that not only prepares students for today’s challenges but empowers them to shape a sustainable, inclusive future.”

Each course will be led by an esteemed expert in their field, ensuring that students receive unparalleled instruction and mentorship. Key courses and instructors include:

• Foundations of Self-Differentiation with Dr. Peter Steinke (Profile)
• Emotional Intelligence and Relational Grace with Daniel Goleman, noted author on emotional and social intelligence (Profile)
• Vision and Purpose in Leadership with Simon Sinek, author of Start With Why (Profile)

The curriculum also features courses aimed at fostering meta-modern skills essential for complexity and adaptability:

• Both/And Thinking for Complex Problem Solving with Barry Johnson, developer of the Polarity Thinking Model (Profile)
• Empathy and Narrative Pluralism with Brené Brown, renowned researcher on empathy and vulnerability (Profile)
• Adaptive Leadership and Scenario Planning with Dr. Ronald Heifetz from Harvard University (Profile)

In addition to cultivating emotional intelligence and systems-based thinking, students will engage in forward-looking courses on ethical governance and technology’s impact on society:

• Ethical AI and Technology Governance with Dr. Timnit Gebru, founder of the Distributed AI Research Institute (Profile)
• Sustainable Stewardship and Global Responsibility with economist Kate Raworth, creator of “Doughnut Economics” (Profile)
• The Future of Democracy and Digital Citizenship with Ethan Zuckerman, a scholar on digital infrastructure and democracy (Profile)

The program culminates in a capstone project, The Meta-Modern Leadership Initiative, led by Dr. Otto Scharmer of MIT’s Presencing Institute (Profile). This project challenges students to design and implement solutions for pressing global issues, embodying the principles of adaptive, empathetic, and transformational leadership.

To engage and inspire the larger academic and professional community, each course will be tagged with relevant Minerva hashtags, including #SelfDifferentiation, #MetaModernLeadership, and #SystemsThinking, to foster online dialogue and shared learning.

About Minerva University
Minerva University is a globally recognized institution dedicated to innovative, interdisciplinary education. Through its active learning model and world-class faculty, Minerva challenges students to think critically, act responsibly, and lead with purpose.

Contact:
Afake Persona
Director of Communications
Minerva University
communications@minerva.edu
(415) 555-0123

Website: www.minerva.edu

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Appendix: Course Details for The Friedman School – Minerva University

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1. Self-Differentiation and Personal Mastery

FS 101: Foundations of Self-Differentiation

• Instructor: Dr. Peter Steinke, student of Edwin Friedman and author on systems theory in leadership.
• Profile
• Description: Introduces principles of self-differentiation, focusing on understanding personal values, emotional resilience, and self-clarity. Students learn to identify the “stimulus-response trap” and develop strategies to maintain autonomy and integrity in leadership.
• Hashtags: #SelfDifferentiation #SystemsThinking #LeadershipFoundations

FS 102: Emotional Intelligence and Relational Grace

• Instructor: Daniel Goleman, renowned author on emotional and social intelligence in leadership.
• Profile
• Description: Explores emotional intelligence with a focus on relational grace, the ability to balance accountability with empathy. Skills in non-anxious presence, conflict navigation, and relational dynamics are practiced.
• Hashtags: #EmotionalIntelligence #RelationalGrace #LeadershipEmpathy

FS 103: Vision and Purpose in Leadership

• Instructor: Simon Sinek, best-selling author of Start With Why.
• Profile
• Description: Students develop a personal leadership vision and purpose-driven philosophy, aligning their values and strengths with purpose-driven projects.
• Hashtags: #LeadershipVision #PurposeDriven #StartWithWhy

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2. Meta-Modern Leadership Skills

FS 201: Both/And Thinking for Complex Problem Solving

• Instructor: Barry Johnson, creator of the Polarity Thinking Model.
• Profile
• Description: Teaches “both/and” thinking to transcend binary perspectives, making room for paradox and nuance. The course includes case studies on adaptive responses to global issues.
• Hashtags: #BothAndThinking #PolarityManagement #ComplexProblemSolving

FS 202: Adaptive Leadership and Scenario Planning

• Instructor: Dr. Ronald Heifetz, Harvard University, creator of adaptive leadership theory.
• Profile
• Description: Covers adaptive leadership with a focus on scenario planning and resilience. Students engage in simulated crises and multi-layered decision-making.
• Hashtags: #AdaptiveLeadership #ScenarioPlanning #LeadershipResilience

FS 203: Empathy and Narrative Pluralism

• Instructor: Brené Brown, researcher on empathy and vulnerability.
• Profile
• Description: Teaches narrative pluralism and inclusive leadership, equipping students to engage diverse perspectives across cultural and ideological divides.
• Hashtags: #EmpathyInLeadership #NarrativePluralism #InclusiveLeadership

FS 204: Experimentalism and Creative Governance

• Instructor: Tim Harford, economist and author known for work on innovation and experimentation in complex systems.
• Profile
• Description: Explores experimental approaches to governance, encouraging creativity in policy development. Students design “prototypical policies” for real-world issues.
• Hashtags: #ExperimentalGovernance #CreativePolicy #MetaModernLeadership

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3. Complex Systems and Ethical Governance

FS 301: Systems Thinking and Interconnectedness

• Instructor: Donella Meadows Foundation, dedicated to the legacy of the renowned systems thinker.
• Link to Foundation
• Description: Introduces systems thinking, enabling students to analyze the interconnected forces shaping society, from environmental systems to socio-economic dynamics.
• Hashtags: #SystemsThinking #Interconnectedness #ComplexityScience

FS 302: Ethical AI and Technology Governance

• Instructor: Dr. Timnit Gebru, AI ethics researcher and founder of the Distributed AI Research Institute.
• Profile
• Description: A deep dive into the ethical implications of AI, covering frameworks for ethical oversight, privacy, data rights, and societal impacts of emerging technologies.
• Hashtags: #EthicalAI #TechGovernance #AIethics

FS 303: Sustainable Stewardship and Global Responsibility

• Instructor: Kate Raworth, economist and creator of “Doughnut Economics.”
• Profile
• Description: Focuses on global responsibility and sustainable stewardship, covering climate policy, sustainable development, and ethical resource management.
• Hashtags: #SustainableStewardship #GlobalResponsibility #DoughnutEconomics

FS 304: The Future of Democracy and Digital Citizenship

• Instructor: Ethan Zuckerman, scholar on digital public infrastructure and social media.
• Profile
• Description: Explores challenges in democratic governance and digital citizenship, studying emerging models and the role of technology in civic engagement.
• Hashtags: #FutureOfDemocracy #DigitalCitizenship #PublicEngagement

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Capstone Project: The Meta-Modern Leadership Initiative

• Instructor: Dr. Otto Scharmer, MIT, developer of Theory U and expert on leading transformational change.
• Profile
• Description: The capstone project allows students to tackle a significant, real-world challenge of their choice, designing and leading an initiative that applies self-differentiation, meta-modern strategies, and systems thinking for positive impact.
• Hashtags: #MetaModernInitiative #LeadershipCapstone #TransformativeLeadership

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For more information on each course and instructor, please visit the program page on Minerva University’s website.

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