The Relevance of Religion for Leadership: How Religious Traditions Can Inform Leadership Values and Approaches

This is an event of the George and Carol Bauer Leadership Center at the Washington University in St. Louis Olin School of Business. Learn more here.

One characteristic of great leaders is a clear set of personal values that guide their decisions. Where do those values come from and how are they learned? Religious traditions and identities provide one powerful foundation for personal values, shaping core beliefs about how to treat people, how to make responsible decisions, and what the definition of success is. As organizations and communities become more diverse, understanding and honoring the moral foundations that underlie different religious traditions can lead to more authentic and responsible leaders and organizations. In this symposium, we explore ways in which religious traditions and identities can shape leadership approaches and ethical decision-making, with the help of scholars and practitioners with experience in this area.