The Novak Future Leaders Tour, along with other student programs within the Novak Leadership Institute, was developed to meet the evolving needs of tomorrow’s leaders. The tour places specific emphasis on visiting organizations where strategic communication, technology and innovation intersect. Silicon Valley lies at the very center of this intersection and offers valuable opportunities for students to connect with leaders, network and gain inspiration for their careers.

About the Novak Future Leaders Tour

Launched in 2018, the Future Leaders Tour introduces students to the San Francisco Bay Area and includes a range of immersive and interactive visits to some of the world’s most innovative companies and organizations (see list of past tour stops below). Each day, students visit two or more sites and participate in workshops, information sessions, tours, networking, career coaching, and résumé reviews.

At these site visits, students gain valuable insights and exposure to cutting-edge ideas and people. Students have done everything from participating in a workshop to redesign the Instagram app user experience at Facebook, to engaging in design thinking workshops at the Stanford dSchool, to testing new products and giving feedback in focus groups at Adobe.

Each night, the group also travels to a different part of the city for dinner where we invite Mizzou Journalism alumni and agency leaders to join us to share their experiences and network with students. Finally, we leave time to visit some of the top tourist sites and cultural attractions in the San Francisco area. Previous destinations include SF MOMA, The Presidio, Golden Gate Bridge, Mount Tamalpais, Ghiradelli Square, the Museum of Ice Cream, and the Embarcadero.

Costs

Future Leaders Tour participants receive a $500 scholarship to cover the cost of flights and meals. On-ground transportation and housing are provided by the Institute. Click the button below to email Brandon Butcher for more information or if you have questions.