Discover the Zachry Leadership Program at Texas A&M University, a transformative five-semester initiative developing self-aware, collaborative engineering leaders.
Written by Laura Bouttell • Sun 4th January 2026
Technical brilliance alone no longer guarantees career success in engineering. The Zachry Leadership Program represents a paradigm shift in how we prepare engineers for leadership roles, recognising that emotional intelligence, business acumen, and collaborative skills distinguish exceptional professionals from merely competent ones. Funded by a $25 million gift from Zachry Group to Texas A&M University's Dwight Look College of Engineering, this five-semester programme has become one of North America's most prestigious engineering leadership initiatives.
The programme's premise challenges conventional engineering education: whilst universities excel at developing technical proficiency, they often overlook the interpersonal competencies that determine who rises to leadership positions. As Henry Mintzberg observed in his seminal work on management education, the most effective leaders combine analytical rigour with intuitive wisdom—a balance the Zachry Leadership Program systematically cultivates.
The Zachry Leadership Program emerged from a century of construction industry wisdom. H.B. "Pat" Zachry founded his eponymous company in 1924 in Laredo, Texas, with just $2,400 in working capital and a commitment to treating employees with respect. That family-oriented culture, emphasising that "Every Person Matters," has guided the organisation through four generations and informed the programme's philosophical foundations.
John B. Zachry, the company's current chairman and a 1984 Texas A&M graduate, recognised that technical knowledge alone proves insufficient for engineers entering the workplace. His vision: create a programme that develops leaders "well versed in business, collaborative in their decisions and self-aware in their behaviours."
Unlike traditional leadership modules bolted onto engineering curricula, the Zachry Leadership Program operates as a fully integrated, five-semester journey. Students don't simply attend lectures about leadership—they practice it through intensive retreats, experiential exercises, and sustained cohort relationships that mirror the collaborative environments of high-performing organisations.
The programme defines leadership as "authentic positive influence" independent of title or position. This definition echoes what Jim Collins described in his research on Level 5 leaders: individuals who combine personal humility with professional will, channelling ambition toward organisational rather than personal success.
Three pillars support the programme's architecture:
The Zachry Leadership Program spans five semesters, with each featuring a three-credit-hour course exploring distinct leadership dimensions. This longitudinal approach—rare in higher education—allows for genuine transformation rather than superficial exposure.
The curriculum unfolds across three phases:
Setting the Stage (Semesters 1-2)
| Course | Theme | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| ENGR 251 | Creating a Self-Aware Leader | Sophomore Spring |
| ENGR 350 | Leading for Impact in Engineering, Business and Society | Junior Fall |
Deepening Understanding (Semesters 3-4)
| Course | Theme | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| ENGR 351 | The Role of Engineering and Business in Society | Junior Spring |
| ENGR 450 | Finding Your Leadership Qualities | Senior Fall |
Bringing It Together (Semester 5)
| Course | Theme | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| ENGR 451 | Leading for a Lifetime | Senior Spring |
Each semester begins with a mandatory multi-day retreat held the week before classes commence. These intensive experiences take cohorts away from campus for four days and three nights of experiential learning, team-building exercises, and introduction to the semester's theme. The retreats create what organisational psychologists call "container experiences"—immersive environments where participants feel safe to experiment with new behaviours.
Weekly classes meet for two hours and incorporate case studies, guest speakers from industry, simulations, and exercises designed to develop emotional intelligence. The workload outside class remains lighter than typical three-credit courses because significant contact hours accrue during retreats.
The Zachry Leadership Program's curriculum centres on five thematic pillars, each explored through dedicated coursework and retreat experiences. This structure reflects contemporary leadership research suggesting that effective leaders develop across multiple dimensions simultaneously.
1. Self-Awareness
The journey begins with self-awareness—understanding one's strengths, limitations, values, and impact on others. This mirrors what Daniel Goleman identified as the foundation of emotional intelligence. Students engage in structured reflection, personality assessments, and feedback exercises that illuminate blind spots.
2. Empathy
The second semester focuses on understanding others' perspectives—crucial for engineers who must collaborate across disciplines, communicate with non-technical stakeholders, and lead diverse teams. Students learn that empathy isn't merely feeling what others feel; it's accurately perceiving their needs and responding appropriately.
3. Creativity
Engineering problems increasingly require innovative solutions that transcend technical boundaries. The creativity module exposes students to design thinking methodologies, artistic experiences, and exercises that stretch conventional problem-solving approaches. The programme incorporates art initiatives specifically designed to stimulate creative thinking.
4. Purpose
Purpose connects individual motivation to broader organisational and societal impact. Students explore how their engineering careers can contribute meaningfully to communities, aligning personal fulfilment with professional contribution. This theme addresses what psychologist Amy Wrzesniewski calls "job crafting"—actively shaping work to align with identity and values.
5. Lifelong Learning
The final semester prepares students for continued growth beyond graduation. Rather than treating the programme as terminal, this module establishes habits and frameworks for ongoing development. Students emerge understanding that leadership mastery requires perpetual refinement.
Entry into the Zachry Leadership Program is competitive, with each cohort limited to 32 students. The selective admissions process ensures committed participants who will contribute meaningfully to cohort dynamics.
Eligibility Criteria:
Application Components:
The application includes three elements:
Timeline:
The programme comes at no cost to admitted students—a remarkable investment in developing future leaders. Zachry Group's endowment covers:
Students remain free during summers to pursue internships, study abroad opportunities, or research experiences—activities that complement their leadership development.
The Zachry Leadership Program delivers measurable benefits that extend well beyond the certificate earned upon completion. Participants consistently describe their experience as transformative, fundamentally altering how they approach engineering challenges and professional relationships.
Professional Competencies:
Personal Development:
Career Preparation:
Students who complete the programme earn an Engineering Leadership Certificate—a credential distinguishing them in competitive job markets. More importantly, they emerge prepared for the interpersonal challenges that derail technically skilled but interpersonally underdeveloped professionals.
Marco Peredo, an aerospace engineering student, described how the programme prepared him for organisational leadership: "The ZLP really helped me in that role as a manager because it taught me what it was like to really understand where people were coming from and when things were going wrong. The ZLP is very good about teaching you about empathy and understanding the influence you have on people."
Understanding the Zachry Leadership Program requires appreciating its corporate sponsor's century-long commitment to employee development. Zachry Group, headquartered in San Antonio, provides engineering, construction, maintenance, and fabrication services across energy, chemical, power, and manufacturing sectors. The company employs over 20,000 people across North America and the Philippines.
The company operates according to three core values that permeate the leadership programme:
These values reflect founder Pat Zachry's emphasis on treating employees with respect and fostering family-oriented culture. As Travis Mross, Zachry Construction Corporation's executive vice president, observed: "What makes us special are the people. We have people who have been here 25, 35, 45 years. The culture and the personality of the company is what makes people want to stay."
The programme extends this philosophy to emerging engineers, instilling servant leadership principles before participants enter the workforce. Bob Gresham, vice president of engineering development for Zachry Group, explained: "Zachry Group prioritises leadership development within the company and wants to play a role in expanding the leadership skills of a select group of engineering students at Texas A&M."
The Zachry Leadership Program occupies a distinctive position within the landscape of engineering leadership education. Understanding its differentiators helps prospective applicants assess fit.
| Feature | Zachry Leadership Program | Typical Engineering Leadership Minor | Professional Development Workshops |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | 5 semesters (2.5 years) | 4-6 courses (variable) | Days to weeks |
| Credit Hours | 15 | 15-18 | Non-credit typically |
| Cohort Model | Yes (32 students) | No | Sometimes |
| Pre-Semester Retreats | 5 mandatory retreats | None typically | N/A |
| Financial Support | Full funding + $5,000 scholarship | None typically | Employer-sponsored often |
| Industry Mentorship | Integrated throughout | Limited | Variable |
| Certificate | Engineering Leadership | Minor designation | Completion certificate |
The programme's longitudinal cohort model creates particularly powerful learning conditions. Unlike course-hopping through disconnected modules, students journey together through shared experiences that build trust and enable honest feedback—conditions essential for genuine growth.
Admission to the Zachry Leadership Program requires demonstrating both leadership potential and genuine commitment to personal development. The following guidance helps prospective applicants present compelling cases.
Resume Development:
Short-Answer Responses:
Video Response:
Interview Preparation:
The selection committee seeks students who will contribute meaningfully to cohort dynamics whilst remaining open to transformation. Technical excellence matters less than character, curiosity, and commitment.
The Zachry Leadership Program is a prestigious five-semester leadership development initiative for undergraduate engineering students at Texas A&M University. Funded by a $25 million gift from Zachry Group, the programme combines academic coursework with intensive retreats to develop self-aware, empathetic, and business-savvy engineering leaders. Students explore themes of self-awareness, empathy, creativity, purpose, and lifelong learning whilst earning an Engineering Leadership Certificate.
Admission is highly competitive, with each cohort limited to 32 students selected from across Texas A&M's College of Engineering. The application process includes resume submission, short-answer responses, and video components, with selected candidates invited to interview in October. The programme seeks students demonstrating leadership potential, self-awareness, and commitment to personal development rather than simply strong academic records.
The programme provides comprehensive financial support including a $1,000 scholarship per semester (totalling $5,000 across five semesters) plus full coverage of retreat costs, course materials, guest speaker fees, and programme activities. This substantial investment removes financial barriers and enables students to focus entirely on their leadership development journey.
Yes, the programme actively encourages summer internships, study abroad experiences, and research opportunities. All required activities occur during fall and spring semesters, leaving summers free for professional development experiences. This design recognises that leadership development benefits from exposure to diverse professional environments and real-world engineering challenges.
Several features distinguish the programme: its five-semester longitudinal structure enabling genuine transformation; mandatory multi-day retreats before each semester creating immersive learning experiences; cohort model fostering deep peer relationships; full financial support eliminating barriers; and integration of business fundamentals with leadership development. The programme's definition of leadership as "authentic positive influence" independent of title also differentiates its philosophy.
The programme prepares students through multiple mechanisms: developing emotional intelligence and self-awareness essential for leading teams; teaching conflict resolution and communication skills for complex project environments; exposing students to business fundamentals and free enterprise principles; connecting participants with industry mentors and accomplished guest speakers; and creating peer networks that provide ongoing support throughout careers.
Students commit to one three-credit-hour course each semester for five semesters, with weekly classes meeting for approximately two hours. Additionally, five mandatory pre-semester retreats (held Monday through Thursday before each semester begins) require full participation. The overall time commitment exceeds typical three-credit courses due to retreat hours, though weekly workload outside class remains manageable.
The Zachry Leadership Program represents an ambitious answer to engineering education's perennial challenge: producing technically competent graduates who can also lead effectively. By investing in sustained development rather than superficial exposure, integrating experiential learning with academic rigour, and connecting students with industry wisdom through the Zachry Group legacy, the programme prepares engineers for the complex human dimensions of professional practice.
For engineering students seeking more than technical proficiency—those who aspire to lead teams, influence organisations, and contribute meaningfully to society—the Zachry Leadership Program offers a transformative pathway. The programme's success ultimately reflects its founder's enduring insight: in engineering as in construction, the most important structures we build are human ones.