Leadership Initiative

Students standing in O-H-I-O pose at the Fisher College of Business.

We develop principled leaders.

Leadership is a set of behaviors and an influence process that is rooted in values and principles. For every clear ethical situation, there are myriad "gray area" decisions where leaders' words and actions privilege certain socially desirable values over others. This comes at the expense of engaging in open, vulnerable conversations about the values at stake for the leader, for others, or for the organization. Ultimately, equipping leaders to handle these "shades of gray" is one of the most critical challenges facing our society and it urgently needs our attention. 

At Max M. Fisher College of Business, we are preparing our students to handle these "shades of gray" — Decisions which are neither right nor wrong, black nor white, ethical nor unethical through curricular and co-curricular experiences.

  • 72.5% of companies are looking to hire students who have demonstrated leadership through extracurricular experiences.
    National Association for Colleges and Employers, 2020
  • 18,500+ students have completed the BUILD Leadership Assessment since 2017
  • 2,100+ students complete a Crisis Leadership Case each year
  • 500+ enrollments in Dean's Leadership Academy courses each year

Undergraduate Experiences

  • BUILD Leadership Assessment

    A self-awareness tool that measures behaviors across 18 unique leadership competencies.

    BUILD
  • Crisis Leadership Case

    Students work in teams to navigate high-pressure, ambiguous situations and test their ability to emerge as leaders.

    Crisis Case
  • Dean's Leadership Academy

    An experiential, 15-credit hour leadership certificate program.

    Dean's Leadership Academy
  • Honors Leadership

    A set of five honors business courses focused on principled leadership and small group collaboration to build a broader understanding of leadership in business and community.

    Learn More
  • Leading Expeditions

    A rock climbing and outdoor adventure program in which students immerse themselves in the study and application of high-stakes leadership.

    Leading Expeditions

Continuing Education

  • Conference on Principled Leadership

    A premier opportunity to explore evidence-based strategies and perspectives.

    Conference on Principled Leadership
  • Lead Read Today

    Our leadership and management blog that provides weekly best practices.

    Lead Read Today
  • The Leadership Initiative Podcast

    Thought-provoking conversations with experts, thought leaders, and change-makers.

    The Leadership Initiative Podcast
  • Custom Programs

    Partner with us to develop principled leaders within your workforce.

    Custom Programs

Research