Abstract
The purpose of this article is to describe a leadership biography assignment used in our master's of business administration (MBA) class and to detail how a biographical approach can be used to teach leadership concepts and skills to management students and to business practitioners. In the classroom assignment, MBA students analyzed biographies of leaders across time, industries, and professions by responding to select questions. From this analysis of business and nonbusiness leaders, students gain a more holistic perspective to the different styles, traits, characteristics, and situations that constitute the art of leadership. Although the leadership biography assignment was used in our MBA classes, this assignment could also be used in undergraduate business classes and undergraduate and graduate classes outside the business field, as well as part of a professional development activity for business practitioners.
