Sanger Leadership Center

The Sanger Leadership Center at the University of Michigan - Stephen M. Ross School of Business is here to support you in your leadership development journey! ?? Whether you're aiming to strengthen your self-awareness, improve team collaboration, or lead with purpose, our programs are designed to help you grow. Watch the video to learn more!

Great leaders don’t just lead—they bring people together. ?? As co-presidents of the Michigan Business Women club, Clare Henne (MBA ’25) and Sam Schmitt (MBA ’25) are creating spaces where all University of Michigan - Stephen M. Ross School of Business women and allies feel supported. Alongside their professional and academic experiences, their participation in Sanger programs like the Ross Leaders Academy has provided additional opportunities to refine the skills needed to foster inclusive, values-driven communities. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gX5pnFnp

At a recent Hosmer Interdisciplinary Research Lunch at the University of Michigan - Stephen M. Ross School of Business, Sanger Faculty Director Dr. Lindy Greer presented research on how effective leaders enable their teams to ‘flex’ their hierarchy—shifting seamlessly between structured, command-and-control moments and periods of peer-based collaboration where everyone is equal. ?? Hierarchical flexing allows teams to balance structure and adaptability better than static hierarchies or fully flat teams. ?? To enable it, leaders need confidence and humility to FLEX. ?? Flat bursts within a hierarchy enhance both team respect and effective leadership. Learn more about hierarchical flexing and how to implement it on your team: https://lnkd.in/gMX34zPA

It's Michigan Model of Leadership (MMoL) Monday! ?? Developed at the University of Michigan, this powerful tool accelerates your leadership development by allowing you to identify strengths and growth opportunities. Leverage this knowledge to lead a team, drive change, or enhance your personal growth. ??? In 2003, the Financial Times recognized the model as one of the 40 most important management frameworks in history. MMoL co-founder and Professor Emeritus of Management and Organizations, Dr. Kim Cameron, highlights its transformative impact: “The empirical evidence for the validity of the MMoL is voluminous, and it has helped guide leaders worldwide to be more effective, productive, and influential.” – Dr. Kim Cameron Learn more about the model and how you can use it: https://lnkd.in/da_mcbF

?? Want to earn $15 (with a shot at $75) while helping research on team dynamics at Ross? Participate in the Team Consulting Study! ?? Where? Ross Behavioral Lab ? When? Mondays: 2:30 PM, Tuesdays: 3:30 & 5 PM, Wednesdays: 10:30 AM & 4:30 PM, Thursdays & Fridays: 1 PM ?? What? Work on a team task & answer a few questions ?? Bonus? Refer the most participants & earn up to $50 Drop by the Ross Behavioral Lab during the time slots above or sign up in advance to participate: https://lnkd.in/giXccDK8.?

Last week, Sanger wrapped up our final Story Lab retreats of the academic year, where over 150 students from across the University of Michigan honed their storytelling skills and learned to communicate with impact. Next month, you'll have the chance to see them in action! ??? Join us for the Story Lab Winter Showcase on March 25 from 5-6:30 PM in Robertson Auditorium at the University of Michigan - Stephen M. Ross School of Business. Experience the power of authentic storytelling as students take the stage to share their stories. RSVP here: https://lnkd.in/g-_H9f8h

?? Celebrating 10 Years of Excellence In Leadership! Ten years ago, the Sanger Leadership Center was founded at the University of Michigan - Stephen M. Ross School of Business to achieve a bold mission: empower students to lead with purpose and create meaningful change. Thanks to the vision of Stephen and Karen Sanger, our incredible faculty, and our generous supporters, we’ve built a legacy of leadership excellence that spans all 19 schools and colleges at the University of Michigan. Picture students stepping into a room, ready to navigate the high-stakes scenarios of the Leadership Crisis Challenge, or finding their voice in the heartfelt moments of Story Lab—these are the experiences that have shaped a decade of impact on current and future leaders. As we celebrate this milestone, we’re setting our sights on the future. By 2030, we aim to make leadership synonymous with Michigan Ross—advancing research, innovating programs, and delivering deeply personalized leadership experiences for every student. ?? Check out some of our favorite moments from the past decade and join us in shaping the next 10 years of leadership excellence! Read more about our journey and how you can get involved: https://lnkd.in/gAJYHUDZ?

How can leaders create a shared sense of team belonging? ?? Last Friday, Ross Leaders Academy (RLA) fellows explored this question in an interactive session on inclusive leadership. With guidance from Deloitte representatives, students considered workplace scenarios that challenged them to think critically about fostering inclusion. A huge thank you to David Parent, Suzanne Love Beck, Melody Hull-Bagby, and Liz Strohbehn for their engagement and expertise, and to the Deloitte Foundation for sponsoring RLA! Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gSDYt4kB

?? Scenes from the 2025 Leadership Crisis Challenge (LCC)! Last week, hundreds of University of Michigan students stepped into the roles of senior executives tackling a high-stakes crisis. With expert feedback and mentorship from faculty, alumni, and industry leaders, they navigated media scrutiny, ethical dilemmas, and high-pressure decision-making. Congratulations to our winners! ?? Graduate Team C-7: Matt Hughes, OMBA ’26; Haris Jameel, OMBA ’26; Susan Mostofizadeh, WMBA ’26; Jatin Sharma, FTMBA ’25; Viraj Shah, FTMBA ’26; Yasin Taghvaei, FTMBA ’25; Jon W., OMBA ’26 ?? Undergraduate Team Apollo 56: Megan Douglas, BBA ’25; Vidit Khattar, BBA ’25; Sam Mitchell, BBA ’27; Ryan Rzeszut, BBA ’27; Siti Khadijah Sultan, BS ’27; Avi Thanawala, BS ’25; Tiger Wu, BBA ’27 Special thanks to our program sponsors, General Motors and McKinsey & Company. Read the blog recap: https://lnkd.in/g8vawBtn

This week, the Sanger Leadership Center is facilitating workshops for One-Year Master's and Weekend MBA students as part of Collaboration Lab: Accelerate! In these interactive sessions, students are sharpening their ability to give and receive feedback effectively. During a dynamic exercise, they engage in real-time feedback conversations by taking on different perspectives. ??? Research from University of Michigan - Stephen M. Ross School of Business Professors Sue Ashford and Gretchen Spreitzer highlights the benefits of feedback-seeking behaviors—leading to higher performance, stronger leadership, and greater managerial effectiveness. How are you leveraging feedback to support your growth? ??