Teaching business leadership skills to professionals in healthcare cybersecurity, biodefense and biotechnology through experiential learning methods

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has not only reshaped the global economic landscape but also underscored the critical need for strategic leadership and management skills in organizations spanning diverse sectors. This paper delves into the compelling imperative of nurturing strategic leadership and management competencies among technical experts, with a particular focus on pivotal fields such as biodefense, healthcare cybersecurity, biotechnology, and healthcare operations management. It asserts that the post-COVID-19 era necessitates a profound shift in organizational priorities, urging a renewed commitment to fostering comprehensive leadership capabilities alongside technical proficiency within graduate and degree completion programs. To meet this imperative, the paper advocates for the adoption of innovative and student-centric pedagogical approaches. In today’s dynamic landscape, traditional methods fall short in preparing technical managers for the multifaceted challenges they face. Instead, the paper champions the utilization of experiential learning approaches, such as activity-based learning, problem-based learning, design thinking, and Learn-Teach-Do. These approaches go beyond theory, immersing students in collaborative, reflective, and integrative experiences that simulate real-world scenarios, thus equipping them with the leadership acumen needed to excel in technical healthcare roles.