Lang Leadership Lab Summer Institute invests in Canadian leadership |
10/03/2026
When Toronto high-school student Malick Shahid Khan arrived for the program’s inaugural year, he thought he had a pretty good understanding of leadership — and then came the wooden ski race.
His team selected him to lead a race requiring students to move together on a shared set of oversized skis. Shahid Khan took charge and tried to drive the team forward as quickly as possible.
“It didn't work out,” he recalls. Only after he stepped aside to let another teammate lead did the group begin moving and eventually cross the finish line. “I learned that leadership isn’t always about being at the front.”
Shahid Khan was one of 36 students selected for the inaugural Lang Leadership Lab Summer Institute, a new immersive experience that brought together students from UCC and communities across Canada for two weeks of leadership learning, challenge and reflection. Participants were selected for their openness to learning about themselves and their stated goals for developing their leadership potential, and the admission process was rigorous. Nearly half of participants received financial assistance to attend.
The Summer Institute is a facet of the Lang Leadership Lab, established through a transformational gift from Stu Lang ’70 and Kim Lang. One of the Lab's commitments is that every UCC student graduates with a sense of himself as a leader, able to articulate his values, strengths and the attributes he is working to develop.
“Leadership is not a position; it's a practice,” says Fiona Marshall, the Lab’s director. “It's something that, like math, science or good writing, can be taught and needs to be practiced and honed.”
That philosophy shaped the Summer Institute’s progression. Students worked to understand themselves, learned how to work effectively with others and applied those lessons to complex leadership challenges. The program included ethical leadership sessions at the University of Guelph, a case competition at the Rotman School of Management in Toronto, a 20-kilometre outdoor expedition at the Norval Outdoor School, and mentorship from leaders across multiple sectors.
One highlight was Cirque du Soleil. Before attending a performance, students explored the company’s origins, examined creativity and innovation through the lens of “blue ocean strategy,” and developed ideas for reinventing declining industries. They also met with Craig Cohon ’82, who had served on the company’s leadership team during a time of exceptional growth and expansion. After the show, they met with members of the production team to discuss trust, teamwork, stress and what it takes to perform at the highest level. For Marshall, Cirque provided a powerful example of courage, creativity and the deep trust required by high-performing teams.
The focus on Canadian examples was also intentional.
“Canadian leadership matters, and UCC has an important role to play,” says Principal Sam McKinney. “We strive to teach students to lead in alignment with the school’s values, and with connection and community-building at the core of their approach. The Langs’ enduring dedication to developing young leaders is part of their long-standing commitment to supporting education and influencing a better future.”
Summer Institute participants arrived with significant accomplishments. Shahid Khan, a newcomer who had been in Canada for only six months, had founded an organization focused on girls’ education. Another participant, Sara Gomes, had founded Helping Handbags, which provides essential items to women experiencing domestic violence or financial insecurity.
Both found that the Institute challenged them to look inward.
For Gomes, personality assessments, journaling and reflection deepened her self-awareness. “By the end, I realized I was thinking much more deeply about why I do what I do. I’m a deeper thinker now.”
In addition to seeing the value in giving others the lead at times, Shahid Khan also found a sense of belonging through the program. “At a time when I was still new to this country, I was surrounded by so many smart and ambitious people who challenged me, inspired me, disagreed with me and made me feel like I belonged,” he says.
“I’m so grateful to the Lang family, and all of the supporters of this program.”
The Lang Leadership Lab will have a permanent home on the second floor of the future Rogers Building, a cutting-edge central building that will connect the Prep School and Upper School. In making their incredible commitments to the College, both Lang ’70 and Edward Rogers ’88 underscored the importance of providing dedicated programs and spaces to nurture the next generations of innovators.
“There’s no better investment than young people,” explains Lang, “because they have a longer runway to change the world. I’d like UCC to be known as the centre of excellence for leadership training at the youth level.”
The new building, says Rogers, “will provide a strong direction for the College in its next 100 years.”
