KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Western Michigan University has announced a new center to advance teachings in business.
The Center for Principled Leadership and Business Strategy will teach immersive learning experiences at the undergraduate and graduate levels that are meant to “blur the line between education and professional business experience.”
The new center, which is operated through the Haworth College of Business, was made possible by $6.5 million in donations from various sources including the Haworth family, Greenleaf Trust Chairman William D. Johnston, the Menard family and the Charles Koch Foundation.
“We are truly grateful to these donors for partnering with us to develop the next generation of business leaders,” WMU President Edward Montgomery said in a statement. “Their philanthropy enables Western Michigan University to help students and business leaders harness their passions and beliefs to change the way we think about profit and purpose through new and exciting education, research and outreach activities.”
Officials say that the center will offer the following experiences:
- Interdisciplinary outreach through the new leadership and business strategy co-major and minor.
- Innovative, immersive, technologically enhanced action-learning that offers students relevant career experiences from day one.
- A course for graduate students on small business acquisition that also provides select students with capital investment from alumni to acquire and operate West Michigan companies.
- A retreat in which students and alumni share a transformational experience focused on principles, performance, profit and purpose.
Officials also note that students will learn to engage with the business community through:
- Large-scale, consulting projects where leadership and business strategy students, alongside faculty, solve problems for executives on increasing profit and purpose.
- Conferences focused on leading profitable businesses that are able to make a greater contribution to customers, employees, suppliers, community members and society.
- Executive education sessions on leadership and strategy, which explore creating genuine value for others.
- Research on such topics as leadership, strategy, meaningful work and leading with purpose, relevant to both academic leaders and industry.
Dr. Doug Lepisto, assistant professor of management, and Dr. Derrick McIver, associate professor of management, are co-directors of the new center.
“Traditional notions of shareholder-only business models are becoming obsolete,” McIver said in a statement. “Traditional notions of higher education are becoming obsolete. We aspire to set a new standard for business education and are innovating to impact as many people as possible as deeply as possible. The most important thing we can pass on is enabling others to pursue their purpose and passion in ways that help improve others’ lives.”
More information about the new business center can be found online at wmich.edu/leadershipcenter.
