Leadership as a discipline
What does effective leadership look like in a world full of disruption, uncertainty — and possibility? It is not always about authority and command, but rather curiosity, trust, self-reflection and courage. At the SC Johnson College, we research management techniques, define meaningful strategies, create space for aspiring leaders to develop and offer alumni opportunities to keep learning.
A culture of leadership
Leading at every stage
Undergrads, graduate students and alumni find ample opportunities to grow as leaders, whether they are managing The Establishment, directing a Grand Challenges project team, tuning into lifelong learning, or attending the Cornell Alumni Leadership Conference.
Original research
SC Johnson College faculty pursue wide-ranging research on leadership and management, including the influence of billionaires in emerging markets, machine learning in operations management and the nature of authority and compliance.
Inspiration & opportunity
From the Voices of Our College speaker series to partnerships with leadership development organizations, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, led by associate dean Michelle Duguid, elevates diverse perspectives and practices in leadership, furthering Cornell’s founding principle of “… any person … any study.”
A United Nations initiative
Andrew Karolyi, the Charles Field Knight Dean of the SC Johnson College began his appointment as chair of Principles for Responsible Management Education on July 1. At the recent PRME Global Forum in Cairo, Karolyi moderated a panel on strategic leadership, and Sarah Wolfolds, director of undergraduate studies for the Dyson School, led a discussion on experiential learning. PRME is a United Nations-supported initiative founded that “engages business and management schools to ensure they provide future leaders with the skills needed to balance economic, environmental, and social goals.”
Faculty leaders
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Laura Georgianna
Associate Teaching Professor; Executive Director of Leadership Programs at the Johnson Graduate School of Management; Donald F. Douglas Director of the Roy H. Park Leadership Fellows Program -
Elizabeth A. Mannix
Ann Whitney Olin Professor of Management -
Risa M. Mish
Professor of Practice; Day Family Senior Lecturer in Business Ethics -
Sunita Sah
Professor
Leadership opportunities abound on campus.
Leadership programs
Leadership education is integrated into programs across the college. Students learn specific skills, practice in both low- and high-stakes settings, receive and reflect on meaningful feedback and develop unique leadership styles.
Grand Challenges Program
Dyson undergraduates develop both sharp skills and smart skills, from statistical thinking and data analytics to communications and leadership, that make them uniquely qualified to tackle pressing challenges.
Hotel Leadership Development
Created in the premier hotel that teaches, this Statler Hotel program gives Nolan School students the opportunity to apply the lessons they learn in class to the four-diamond hotel on campus.
MBA Leadership
In the full-time Two-Year MBA program, students develop leadership through coursework, mentorship and experiential learning. It’s all based on the 4C framework: character, cognition, connection and courage.
Park Leadership Fellows
In addition to the core MBA curriculum, Roy H. Park Fellows pursue public service projects that improve services and programs for either non-profit organizations or for-profit start-ups that stimulate economic development.
Cornell Business News
MBA alum wins runoff election to become mayor of Miami
The first woman in the post, Eileen Higgins, MBA ’89, is also the first Democrat to lead the city in nearly three decades.
Where tech meets tradition: Cornell MBAs graduate
Cornell MBA students unite tech and business across campuses.
Students pitch startups at Autodesk Gallery
Students travel to San Francisco to pitch startups at the Cornell Silicon Valley: Student Startup Showcase at Autodesk Gallery.
Wayfair co-founders to share secrets to success at Durland Lecture
The founders of Wayfair, both Cornell graduates, will share insights from their entrepreneurship journey at the 2026 Durland Lecture.
Leadership-focused centers & institutes
Cañizares Center for Emerging Markets
The CCEM fellowship program supports MBA students who want to become leaders in emerging markets. The center also convenes visionary leaders with highly accomplished international careers through the Global Leadership Fellows Program, bringing their mentorship, expertise and research directly to students.
Food Industry Management Program
Widely recognized as the premier food industry education and research program in the United States, FIMP supports food marketing fellows; produces research on retail, manufacturing and supply chain concerns; and offers executive education opportunities to professionals.
Center for Real Estate and Finance
CREF offers a variety of opportunities for students to develop leadership skills and network with alumni and industry executives through clubs, courses, internships, treks, case competitions and research. The center also publishes reports, tools, roundtable highlights and indices, which offer insights for students and industry executives alike.
The 4C framework
This research-based model developed at the Johnson School helps leaders — aspiring or established — become thoughtful, effective and inspirational leaders.