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Management & Organizations

Clinical Associate Professor of Management & Organizations

Director of Full-Time MBA Leadership Development

Portrait of Paul Corona, Faculty at the Kellogg School of Management

Dr. Paul L. Corona is an award-winning leadership coach for successful executives who are committed to finding true fulfillment.

Paul is also a leadership development professor in the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University (where his teaching and coaching ratings average 97/100) and a workshop facilitator for organizations.

As a Leading Global Coach award winner, Paul was considered for the first Thinkers50 Marshall Goldsmith Coaching & Mentoring Award (the Thinkers50 Awards have been called “the Oscars” of management thinking). He also founded the award-winning Lee’s 3 Habits system, which helps motivated professionals build stronger relationships and achieve greater happiness – and he’s the author of The Wisdom of Walk-Ons: 7 Winning Strategies for College, Business and Life.

Paul previously held leadership roles in Fortune 500 corporations, a Big 4 accounting firm, and major research universities.

Most importantly, Paul is a husband, parent and friend.

About Paul
Research interests
  • Leadership developmentRelationshipsPurposeFulfillment
Teaching interests
  • Leadership developmentRelationshipsPurposeFulfillment
  • Doctor of Education, 1998, Dissertation about custom-built executive education, Indiana University
    Master of Business Administration, 1993, University of Notre Dame
    Bachelor of Arts, 1985, Michigan State University
  • Clinical Associate Professor of Leadership and Director of Full-Time MBA Leadership Development, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, 2017-present
    Clinical Assistant Professor of Leadership and Director of Full-Time MBA Leadership Development, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, 2014-2017
    Lecturer, Career Development and Training & Development, School of Professional Studies, Northwestern University, 2006-2009
    Doctoral Graduate Assistant, Office of the VP for Academic Affairs and Chancellor, Indiana University, 1995-1997
  • Director of Learning & Organization Development, Northwestern University, 2002-2014
    Senior Manager of Professional Development, Deloitte & Touche -- a subsidiary of Deloitte, 2001-2002
    Manager of Leadership & Organization Development, Lucent Technologies -- acquired by Nokia, 1998-2001
    Management Development Fellow, Ashland Chemical -- a division of Ashland, 1997-1998
    Manager of Residential Marketing, ComEd -- a unit of Exelon, 1993-1995
    Brand Management Intern, Miles Laboratories -- a division of Bayer, 1992
    Account Supervisor, Campbell-Ewald -- an Interpublic agency, 1988-1991
    Account Executive, Ross Roy Advertising -- an Omnicom agency acquired by BBDO Worldwide, 1985-1988
  • Leading Global Coach award winner who was considered for the first Thinkers50 Marshall Goldsmith Coaching & Mentoring Award (the Thinkers50 Awards have been called "the Oscars" of management thinking)
    Videographer Award for Distinction in Instructional Value: The "Lee's Transformation" micro-movie (part of the Lee's 3 Habits System for Stronger Relationships and Greater Happiness)
    Kellogg Faculty Impact teaching award
    Marshall Goldsmith 100 Coaches honoree, selected from more than 16,000 candidates to advance the practice of leadership coaching and “pay it forward” with Dr. Goldsmith, who is recognized as the world’s top leadership coach
    Kellogg Excellence in Action Award nominee

Leader as Coach (LDEV-462-0)

Coaching or "the coach approach" (using elements of coaching in day-to-day interactions), is a critical skill set for successful leaders. Research shows that coaching is a proven method for engaging employees - and that engaged employees produce superior business results. This is an experiential class that teaches you how to have effective coaching conversations. As part of the course, you are matched with two NU students in which you will have four one-hour coaching conversations with each NU student throughout the quarter to practice your coaching skills. In the full-time program, the assigned NU students are undergraduates usually in leadership roles and PhD students. In the part-time program, the assigned NU students are typically medical, law school and Kellogg MSMS students. The first four weeks of class is dedicated to teaching you coaching skills and frameworks through interactive discussions, coaching demonstrations, peer coaching and other experiential exercises. During weeks five through nine, we conduct supplemental activities: practicum labs, one-on-one, and small group mentor coaching sessions to provide you with more personalized opportunities for you to ask questions, experience being coached, and receive feedback on your coaching skills. We return to the classroom in week ten to discuss how to apply coaching in the workplace. Grading in the course consists of attendance and preparation for class and supplemental activities and an instructor evaluation of your coaching skills via a recording you will submit of yourself coaching a peer in the class.

Prerequisite: MORS 430-0.

Personal Leadership Insights (LDEV-461-5)

This course is a unique opportunity for students who are highly motivated and committed to their personal development and growth as a leader and who value the chance to do this work in a group setting. The Kellogg faculty leader serves as coach and facilitator to guide students through a process that explores who they are (strengths, needs, values), reveals how others experience them (feedback), examines who they want to be (vision/purpose) and identifies actions for moving forward (development planning). Individual reflective exercises will be further explored and shared in small group meetings, full class discussion, and individual coaching appointments with the faculty. Students complete a paper integrating their personal insights. There is no final exam.

Because the course focuses on self-awareness and relationships with others, students rely on interactions with each other to experience vulnerability and growth within an environment of safety and trust. Therefore, students will not receive a letter grade, but rather a "Pass" with 0.5 credits or a "No-Credit" on their transcript. The "Pass" designation will be given if the following requirements are met: 100% attendance (non-negotiable), completion of all assignments, honoring confidentiality, and active participation in class activities and discussions.

Please note that the 100% attendance policy is non-negotiable across all sections and instructors. Only bid on a section for which you are sure you can attend every class session. Review the abbreviated syllabus for that section to confirm the precise meeting dates.