College courses have the power to change your life — how you see the world, how you think, and even how you see yourself. At the University of South Florida Judy Genshaft Honors College, students enrolled in Exploring Leadership Through Literature and Film course during the spring 2025 semester discovered that leadership isn’t always about titles or authority — it's about empathy, reflection and personal responsibility.
Taught by Honors affiliate faculty member Deepak Singh, the course draws on powerful stories of loss, triumph, grief, and moral conflict to help students explore what it means to be a leader — not just in theory, but in their careers and life.
Students read texts such as “The Great Gatsby,” “Things Fall Apart,” and “The Ones
Who Walk Away from Omelas,” analyzing their characters' internal struggles and ethical
decisions. Each work offers a different model of leadership, and students are encouraged
to reflect on how these fictional leaders mirror real-world dynamics.
Singh is not your traditional university professor — with work featured in major outlets
like BBC, New York Times, NPR, and The Atlantic, a master’s of fine arts degree from
Boston University, and two published nonfiction books under his belt, Singh combines
his writing and literary expertise with his experience working in the corporate sector
and a master’s in business administration. Driven by a passion for storytelling and
teaching, this Honors course bridges the worlds of business, creative arts, and ethical
convictions.
“What I learned during my MBA was how to maximize the profit and look like a strong
leader, but literature offers a more human side of it,” said Singh. “Literature shows
the human side of leadership — what’s going on inside the character, what they’re
struggling with.”
The Student Experience
For many non-English majors, a literature course can seem intimidating. But Singh’s
use of film, novels, and short stories offers an accessible entry point. Third-year
Honors student Daniel Anderson, a finance and econometrics major, found that the film
component of the course made it more approachable.
“I always enjoyed watching films,” said Anderson. “But I thought it would be interesting
to start reading again and get more into that head space — that's what initially drew
me to the class.”
The students soon found that the class offered much more than just exposure to a few
select books and films — it opened them up to a wealth of experiences and perspectives,
from both the course content and their classmates.
“There isn’t really a cookie-cutter type of person in the class,” said third-year
political science major Jenna Epright. “Everyone brings a unique perspective. For
a lot of the stories or films, you might not think they’re about leadership, but every
single one ends up having something to teach.”
Complexity in Leadership
By the conclusion of the course, Singh has witnessed growth of confidence in his students
through regularly being challenged to contemplate what it means to be a leader.
“Initially they weren't sure of what this class was about, but slowly as every week
progressed, they've become more vocal,” said Singh. “They bring their own personal
narratives to class — and that tells me that they are becoming bolder, more accepting
of who they are, and more aware of where they come from.”
"The class really helped us focus on what makes a leader effective — and what doesn’t." - Daniel Anderson
Through a variety of stories and films, Singh’s students were exposed to different types of leading figures — from Jay Gatsby to Okonkwo. For Anderson, the class helped break down the myth of the “ideal” leader.
“I started to realize that leaders come in all shapes and sizes,” he said. “Not everyone
leads the same way. The class really helped us focus on what makes a leader effective
— and what doesn’t.”
Epright, who once believed strong leaders hide their emotions, found a new perspective.
“Growing up in this society, it’s easy to believe a leader has to be straight-faced,
never showing emotion, but this course has helped me realize that I need to lead with
empathy, and it’s OK to show when something is bothering me,” said Epright.
Personal Responsibility
By the end of the course, many students had a broader understanding of leadership
— not as a position, but as a mindset.
Anderson said that while he used to associate leadership with titles, he now sees
it as something expressed through daily actions.
“I learned that you don't necessarily have to have the title of the leader to be a
leader,” said Anderson. "You should always be responsible for how you handle yourself,
because that has an effect on others.”
Singh hopes the course inspires students to lead with intention and compassion in
every aspect of their lives — from clubs and classes to jobs, friendships and beyond.
“So, why do students need to learn something like this?” he asked. “Because it's OK
to be vulnerable, it's OK to be a little weak sometimes. But you can still inspire
people, make change, and bring a little bit of happiness in people's lives.”