Try this: open a Google search on your computer and type in “leader character.” What comes to the top of the list? Ivey. That’s because the School has developed a unique understanding of leadership that is gaining international recognition. And much of the credit belongs to two very generous donors who stepped forward to support this ground-breaking work when it started.
The story begins with the financial crisis of 2008. As the dust was settling, a group of Ivey professors—Gerard Seijts, Jeffrey Gandz, Mary Crossan, Stephen Sapp and Mark Vandenbosch—published a provocative paper posing some critical questions about the role of leadership in the lead up to and during the crisis. The paper grew into a research project involving business leaders across Canada and around the world, and eventually resulted in the publication of a book, Leadership on Trial: A Manifesto for Leadership Development, in 2010. The book zeroed in on character, alongside competencies and commitment to the role of leadership, as a key differentiator in the financial crisis, and a critical component in business leadership.
