Teaching Leadership

How to teach leadership to MBA students is a perennial topic of debate — and one that has gained salience in the wake of the financial crisis and with the growth of the MBA Oath, a voluntary student-led pledge of ethical behavior.

On August 23, three SOM faculty members, Rodrigo Canales, Cade Massey, and Amy Wrzesniewski, published an article in the Wall Street Journal arguing that many business schools are not doing enough to prepare their students for the ethical demands they will face in the business world. They wrote, "We need to better prepare our students for leadership. This requires creating a deeper understanding of the difficult decisions they will face, often under enormous pressure. We must make them aware that these decisions will challenge their values, and that, consequently, they need to clarify the values they stand for." (Read the full article online.)

The piece has received attention around the world and prompted ongoing dialog. In a video discussion, Canales, Massey, and Wrzesniewski talk about why they thought it was vital to write the article and what they hope readers will take away from it.

Read the latest updates on SOM research on the Faculty Insights page.