Mary C. Gentile Boeken

Describes an approach to recognizing what is right and knowing how to act on values in the face of opposition, and includes advice, practical exercises, and scripts.

When business, government, and other sectors fail to fulfill their responsibilities, it often stems not from a lack of tools or techniques but from a deficiency in vision and leadership, undermining individual and organizational purpose. To tackle this issue, management education should transcend mere skill transfer; it must embody a moral commitment, imparting wisdom about ethical responsibility in complex environments. Faculty at professional schools have a vital role in linking students' potential for achievement with a sense of purpose and guiding principles. This work explores how one business school is prioritizing leadership, ethics, and corporate responsibility in its mission. It advocates for a rebalancing of the educational focus on values, knowledge, and skills. The narrative details the development, strategy, and execution of the innovative Leadership, Ethics, and Corporate Responsibility program at Harvard Business School. It outlines the initiative's origins, the comprehensive research informing its approach, and the design of its strategy. The program's significant achievements offer valuable insights for other professional schools—such as those in management, public administration, and law—as well as for corporate leaders seeking to establish their own leadership and ethics initiatives.