Wharton Leadership Ventures at the University of Monterrey, Mexico (UDEM): March 7 - 14, 2010

Information Session:
Thursday November 19th, 2009
7pm - 8pm
255 Huntsman Hall
Contact: maxwellc@wharton.upenn.edu

Watch a video of the 2009 venture here.

View photos from the 2009 venture here.

Join the Wharton Leadership Ventures team for a week of active leadership development in collaboration with the Leadership and Challenge Center of the University of Monterrey (UDEM), Mexico. The UDEM campus will be our base camp for the week. Lodging will be on the UDEM campus.

Network with UDEM undergraduates in both informal and structured dialogues
Experience the on-campus leadership challenge course (the largest of its kind in Mexico) under the direction of the leadership staff of the Leadership and Challenge Center at UDEM
Enjoy a two-day multi-sport leadership camp in a beautiful natural setting in the mountains of Santiago, Nuevo Leon
Collaborate on a social impact project with a local women's cooperative affiliated with UDEM
Enjoy a very special leadership seminar and dinner at the home of celebrated Mexican high-altitude mountaineer, Alex Villarreal. Alex, a graduate of UDEM, has climbed three of the world's highest peaks, including Mt. Everest.
Explore the local culture, and enjoy a special closing dinner at a fine Monterrey restaurant.

Monterrey is the third largest city in Mexico, and is a major center of industry, finance, and commerce as well as an important center of culture and education. The city is situated in a valley and is surrounded by four main mountains: Cerro de la Silla (Saddle Mountain, the symbol of the city), Cerro de las Mitras, Sierra Madre Oriental, and Cerro del Topo Chico.

UDEM's on-campus Challenge Center will be the site of a full-day leadership program guided by UDEM facilitators.

The Leadership Camp program provides a significant overnight adventure experience, with the purpose of developing emotional intelligence competencies, interpersonal relationships and teamwork skills. At a beautiful natural setting in the mountains of Santiago, Nuevo León, this 2-day program provides an opportunity for participants to practice leadership skills in an active and fun way. Activities include rappelling, hiking, and caving.

Venture Staff

Dr. Chris Maxwell organizes the Patagonian Trek. Chris teaches Management 100 at Wharton and serves as faculty advisor for the Wharton Leadership Ventures Undergraduate Advisory Board. He has trekked through the Everest region of Nepal, hiked in Chilean Patagonia, and has climbed five of the major peaks in the Teton Range of Wyoming. Chris completed the National Outdoor Leadership School's Pacific Northwest Trip Leader Program in 2002.

Adam Brown is a junior at the Wharton School concentrating in Marketing and Entrepreneurship. He is from Phoenix, Arizona and is the oldest of six children. He has traveled extensively in Europe and Asia and was a participant on the inaugural UDEM trip. Adam enjoys playing sports and doing just about any outdoor activity imaginable. He serves as a member of the Student Advisory Board of Wharton Leadership Ventures, Undergraduate Division.

Dr. Kathy Maxwell is an academic adviser and health instructor at Penn State University. Kathy began her career as a surgical nurse, and earned bachelors and masters degrees in nursing and health education, and a doctorate in adult education. In addition to her nursing training she is certified as an EMT. Kathy has hiked and trekked in Nepal and the Cascades, and has climbed in the Teton Range.

Photos from the 2009 Venture

WLV 2009 at Cascada del Chipitin

WLV 2009 waterfall rappel

WLV 2009 on the challenge course

Colin Lee, W11, on the 2009 challenge course

Xenia Kolesnikov, W10, on the 2009 caving expedition

Relaxing in camp after the 2009 caving expedition

WLV 2009 at the Monterrey, Mexico home of Mt. Everest climber Alex Villarreal (front row)

Wharton Leadership Ventures are active learning experiences focused on enhancing team leadership skills. Dates and registration procedures for all events are announced through The Wharton Exchange electronic newsletter.

To join the advisory board or to serve as an event coordinator, contact Dr. Chris Maxwell at maxwellc@wharton.upenn.edu.