Rutgers Business School launches institute to fill gap in ethical leadership resources
June 2, 2009
Some of the country’s most respected voices in education, philanthropy and business helped Rutgers Business School launch the Institute for Ethical Leadership on May 27th in Newark. Anne Milgram, New Jersey attorney general, Mark Grier, vice chairman of Prudential Financial, Inc., Margaret Daniels Tyler, senior program officer of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and Barbara Kellerman, author and Harvard professor considered an authority in the field of leadership, each gave their perspective on ethical leadership today. “The problems of bad leadership are costly to society,” said Kellerman in her keynote address to an audience of about 160 business, education and government leaders. “We must not resign to the patterns of the past. Studying leadership, both good and bad examples, can help save us from bad leaders.”Kellerman speaking at the IEL launchThe Institute was created to address the lack of ethical leadership resources for businesses, nonprofits, and government. “Our mission is to provide leaders from all arenas, not just business, with the decision making tools to address and tackle tough ethical issues,” said James Abruzzo, co-founder of the institute. Prudential Financial, Inc., the Newark-based insurer and financial services company, pledged $2 million towards the creation of the institute. “We’ve all seen what can happen when ethical leadership takes a backseat to the quest for profits,” said Prudential’s Grier. “We’re supporting this project as a step toward reversing that trend.”The Institute’s work will consist of three tracks: education and training; basic and applied research and consultation and coaching for top executives. The institute will integrate ethics throughout the Rutgers Business School experience, with a vision to take the program university-wide. “It’s a powerful opportunity to impact this country’s future leaders,” said Alex Plinio, co-founder of the institute. “With the challenges they’ll have to face, not having an education grounded in ethics is a luxury they can’t afford.” The Institute is planning a host of initiatives, including: • Conference on Disclosure in the Fall, Governance and Ethical Leadership co-sponsored with the Journal of Disclosure and Governance and geared towards business, government, philanthropy and nonprofits• Launch of a business school student advisory group• Consulting practice, through the Center for Nonprofit Leadership, benefitting top nonprofit and philanthropic leadership and focused on practical solutions to ethical dilemmas, executive challenges and board developmentRutgers Business School, the only school delivering business, science, and technology credentials, is proud to launch the Institute for Ethical Leadership to provide students and business leaders the resources to tackle tough ethical issues.For more information about the Institute for Ethical Leadership , contact Melissa Smith, executive director at 973-353-1134.
