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Dignity-Based Leadership Development Program

The Emerson Leadership Institute at Saint Louis University’s Chaifetz School of Business proudly offers the Dignity-Based Leadership Development Series. Rooted in the Jesuit tradition of educating the whole person, this series is designed to prepare participants to make a positive impact on the world.

SLU follows the Jesuit tradition of educating the whole person and preparing students to make the world a better place. The Dignity-Based Leadership Development Series is inspired by and rooted in Jesuit education, including:

  1. Caring for the whole person — mind, body, and spirit — while contributing to the greater good;
  2. Striving for “the magis” (more), which leads to excellence in all pursuits; and
  3. Becoming “men and women for and with others.”

This yearlong program is designed to empower individuals to enhance their leadership capabilities through dignity-centered principles and practices, with a focus on immediate application in their roles. The program includes a series of in-person retreats crafted to help participants discover their leadership potential, cultivate key skills, build cohesive teams and foster a culture of dignity and belonging.

Key components include:

  • Research symposiums — Highlighting the latest findings from renowned scholars on leadership challenges and trends
  • Speakers and panels — Bringing leaders together to reflect on and discuss leadership practices
  • Professional development workshops — Hands-on sessions that apply leadership tools to real-world scenarios
  • Conferences and networking — Creating a psychologically safe space for participants to connect, share insights and collaborate

For more information or to inquire about upcoming events, contact Jintong Tang, Ph.D., director of the Emerson Leadership Institute, at jintong.tang@slu.edu.

2024-2025 Series

The Dignity-Based Leadership Development Series for the 2024-2025 academic year launched on Sept. 25, 2024, with a professional development workshop on fostering dignity and belonging. Led by Jackson Nickerson, Ph.D., Edward Jones Dean of the Chaifetz School of Business and a renowned scholar in the field, this workshop set the tone for a year of impactful dignity-based leadership development opportunities.

Participants seated at tables in a classroom setting, with a presenter standing in the front of the room delivering a presentation.
Edward Jones Dean Jackson Nickerson delivered a presentation on fostering dignity and belonging to business school faculty and staff on Sept. 25, 2024.

Schedule

  • Sept. 25, 2024: Professional Development Workshop — Fostering Dignity and Belonging
  • Oct. 11, 2024: Second Iteration of the Professional Development Workshop — Fostering Dignity and Belonging
  • Nov. 1, 2024: Professional Development Workshop — Formulating the Right Problem
  • Nov. 26, 2024: Third Iteration of the Professional Development Workshop — Fostering Dignity and Belonging
  • Jan. 24, 2025: Panel Discussion — A Dialogue on Dimensions of Dignity
  • Feb. 14, 2025: Leading Change from the Middle
  • March 24–28, 2025: Leading for Dignity Leadership Week

For more information or inquiries about upcoming events within the Dignity-Based Leadership Development Series, contact Jintong Tang, Ph.D., director of the Emerson Leadership Institute, at jintong.tang@slu.edu.