Wednesday
December 11 2024
December 11 2024
8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
The Ford Foundation Center for Social Justice
New York City
Recent events, and the import of the current moment, underscore how unprecedented forces are dramatically reshaping our world faster than we can reshape ourselves, our institutions, and our leadership. The imperative for moral leadership has never been more urgent.
The HOW Institute for Society, in collaboration with our partner The Ford Foundation, hosted our second Summit on Moral Leadership in December 2024.
This one-day, in-person, off-the-record summit brought together leaders from business, government, education, military, religion, sports, media, entertainment, and the social sector. Designed for heads of organizations who have embraced the imperative of moral leadership, participants spent the day learning from each other and engaging with frameworks, models, and metrics that enable them to scale values, principles for decision-making, and elevated behavior within their own organizations.
Action and collaboration were at the Summit’s core. The agenda focused on the shared beliefs that institutions must be guided by values and shaped by moral leaders; that moral authority and formal authority must be combined to create meaningful and enduring impact; and that shared norms and high trust are essential to healthy communities and organizations.
Participants Included
AGENDA
7:30 - 8:25 AM
8:25 - 10:25 AM
10:25 - 10:45 AM
10:45 - 12:20 PM
12:20 - 12:50 PM
12:50 - 1:45 PM
1:45 - 2:00 PM
2:00 – 3:45 PM
3:45 - 4:00 PM
4:00 - 5:45 PM
5:45 PM
- THE PAUSE
The Pause is the foundational practice of moral leadership. Pausing creates space for leaders to reflect on the world and the situation at hand, reconnect with their core values and relationships, rethink their understanding, and reimagine the future. We will work to cultivate this practice.
Introduction: Dov Seidman, Founder and Chair, The HOW Institute for Society
REFLECT: Claire Babineux-Fontenot, Chief Executive Officer, Feeding America
RECONNECT: Tom Monahan, Chief Executive Officer, Heidrick & Struggles
RETHINK: Chief JoAnne Bass, 19th Chief Master Sergeant, U.S. Air Force; Founder, The Bass Group LLC
REIMAGINE: David Heath, Chief Executive Officer, BOMBAS
- THE URGENT IMPERATIVE FOR MORAL LEADERSHIP
Discussion of how moral and formal authority can be combined to create meaningful and enduring impact.
Dov Seidman, Founder and Chairman, The HOW Institute for Society
- HEALTHY INTERDEPENDENCIES
What does moral leadership look like in an interconnected yet isolated era, where health and well-being depend on fostering healthy interdependencies? This session covers the shift from individual health to collective connection, drawing on Dr. Vivek Murthy’s long experience studying the power of belonging and community. We’ll explore Dr. Murthy’s own moral leadership and his role in guiding behaviors, balancing prescriptive action with normative influence, and leveraging hard science to cultivate trust and shared responsibility.
Vice Admiral, Vivek H. Murthy, 21st Surgeon General of the United States
Conversation Leader: Tom Friedman, Columnist, The New York Times
- LEADING WITH HUMANITY
We are human beings, not human resources. How can we put humanity – people’s hopes, aspirations, concerns, and fears – at the center of decision-making and how we operate?
Rodolfo Spielmann, Chief Executive Officer, NatureSweet
Tom Wilson, Chief Executive Officer, Allstate
Discussion Leader: Nancy Gibbs, Lombard Director of the Shorenstein Center and Edward R. Murrow Professor of the Practice of Press, Politics and Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School, The HOW Institute Board Member
- LEADERSHIP IN A FUSED WORLD: PRACTICES AND PLAYBOOKS
In this era of ever-increasing complexity, it has become more urgent than ever to have moral leadership at the helm of organizations, institutions, and communities. How can we more fully embody moral leadership ourselves, proactively develop it in others, and scale it at all levels?
A’shanti Gholar, President, Emerge
Gen. David Goldfein, Former Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force
Discussion Leader: Tom Friedman, Columnist, The New York Times
- TRUST
Trust is in crisis. It has broken down—between citizens and employees, between consumers and suppliers, and with authorities and institutions. Trust is built on a foundation of personal and team relationships. How do we extend trust to create a virtuous cycle?
Devika Bulchandani, Global Chief Executive Officer, Ogilvy
Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick, Interim CEO of the American Cancer Society; President Emeritus of Howard University and the distinguished Charles R. Drew Professor of Surgery at the Howard University College of Medicine
Discussion Leader: Dana Born, (Ret) Brigadier General, U.S. Air Force; Senior Advisor, National Security Fellowship, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs; Lecturer in Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School
- YOUTHQUAKE: LESSONS FROM YOUNG LEADERS
While moral leadership norms and values are consistent, they are expressed and interpreted differently by younger leaders. A new cohort explains how they approach – and impact — the world.
Wanjiku “Wawa” Gatheru, Founder, Black Girl Environmentalist
Gitanjali Rao, Inventor, Aspiring Scientist and Author
Discussion Leader: Brenda Cassellius, Chief Executive Officer, Fresh Energy
- ANATOMY OF AN AUTHENTIC APOLOGY
Whether in politics, business, or sports, we’ve increasingly come to view public apologies as an extension of public relations or crisis management, a way to conduct damage control rather than express genuine contrition. A true apology is so much more than saying ‘I’m sorry’; it’s a way to rebuild trust by making amends and pledging to repair what has been damaged. Together, we will offer a new playbook.
Sima Sistani: Former Chief Executive Officer, WW International
Discussion Leader: Adi Ignatius, Editor in Chief, Harvard Business Review Group
- MAKING WAVES
Just like an audience-generated wave in a stadium, wave-making in today’s world can’t be forced or incentivized; it must be inspired. We’ll hear from individuals who – even without formal authority – have inspired waves of enduring impact.
Christy Turlington Burns, Founder, Every Mother Counts
Shannon Watts, Founder, Moms Demand Action
Discussion leader: Poppy Harlow, Award-winning Journalist and Former Anchor, CNN
- SCALING MORAL LEADERSHIP: THE NEXT GENERATION
It might just be the greatest challenge of the 21st century: to nurture the moral authority of the next generation of leaders and ensure that they are the ones placed into formal leadership positions. We’ll hear how organizations are nurturing their next generation – and how this next generation in turn is strengthening their institutions.
Discussion Leader: Dr. Ashwin Vasan, 44th Health Commissioner, City of New York, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
NXT-GEN Fellows:
Andrew “Drew” Curiel, Center for Leadership, University of Mount St. Vincent
Kerice Hyatt, Director, Product Management SMEs, Mastercard
Marjorie Mays, Director, Wholesale Planning, Levi Strauss & Co.
Grayson Sessa, Private Equity Principal, KKR
SEMINAR #1
- EMBEDDING/SCALING VALUES (OPERATIONALIZING)
How do you build a community of moral leaders? Start with a core set of values and norms, with clear ethical boundaries. From there, these concepts must become deeply embedded within the organization’s ethos, transcending mere culture. We will explore HOW moral leaders can effectively extend and scale these values and norms throughout their organizations. By fostering a shared commitment to ethical boundaries and a culture of trust, we can empower leaders to inspire others and create lasting impact.
As taught by: Dana H. Born, (Ret) Brigadier General, U.S. Air Force; Senior Advisor, National Security Fellowship, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
Subject Matter Expert: Bill George Professor, Harvard Business School
SEMINAR #2
- CONVERSATIONS THAT BRIDGE GAPS
It’s a tall order for any leader: Navigating a world full of misinformation, where huge sections of the population don’t trust each other and even intentionally assault the truth. In this fused world, topics once considered out of the purview of many organizations are now intertwined with it. How do leaders wrestle with tough conversations in a way that leads us to shared truths and understandings? How do they foster conversations that build bridges both inside and outside their organizations?
As taught by: Nancy Gibbs, Lombard Director of the Shorenstein Center and Edward R. Murrow Professor of the Practice of Press, Politics, and Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School, The HOW Institute Board Member
Subject Matter Expert: Eboo Patel, Founder, Interfaith America
SEMINAR #3
- TRIP: A FRAMEWORK FOR INNOVATION
Why is it so difficult to build a culture of continuous innovation? Because one ingredient is missing from most initiatives: trust. When trust is high, people take on 32 times more risk – which in turn, leads to 11 times more innovation. Moral leaders use trust as currency; by meaningfully giving it away, we create the right conditions for innovation. We will discuss the HOW Institute’s TRIP Model (Trust, Innovation, Risks, Progress) and how to apply it to your organization.
As taught by: Zia Khan, Chief Innovation Officer, The Rockefeller Foundation
Subject matter expert: Danny Meyer, Founder and Executive Chairman, Union Square Hospitality Group
SEMINAR #4
- HUMILITY – BUILDING MORAL MUSCLE
Being a moral leader requires constantly thinking about right and wrong, fairness and justice. It also means having true humility, or what we call making yourself small so that others can do big things. Moral leaders are successful not because they delegate authority, but because they build a culture grounded in true humility. This session will work on techniques and strategies for building that moral muscle.
As taught by: Gautam Mukunda, Business Fellow, Harvard Business School
Subject matter expert: Niko Canner, Chief Executive Officer, Incandescent
HOW METRICS: THE 2024 State of Moral Leadership Report
Michael Fraccaro, Chief People Officer, Mastercard
- LEADING BEYOND Xs AND Os
Sports increasingly mirror society. It has always been about winning, yet today’s most successful coaches and athletes are winning in profoundly new ways, which puts them at the vanguard of moral leadership and organizational culture. In this session, champions will share playbooks that we can all use.
Torri Huske, Olympic Swimmer Gold Medalist and World Record Holder
Carol Hutchins, Former Head Softball Coach, University of Michigan
Discussion Leader: Nick Thompson, Chief Executive Officer, The Atlantic
- FINDING STRENGTH IN THE STRUGGLE
Every moral leader faces moments where their convictions and core tenets are questioned. Forging ahead in moments of struggle is the essence of moral leadership. Gregg Berhalter returns to the HOW Stage to share lessons and insights from his journey.
Gregg Berhalter, Director of Football and Head Coach, Chicago Fire FC
In discussion with: Dov Seidman, Founder and Chairman, The HOW Institute for Society
- LEADING IN THE AGE OF PROTEST
Today, we are not only polarized but being actively divided and morally activated. Meanwhile, once-tangential political, geopolitical, social, environmental, biological, and ethical concerns are increasingly taking center stage inside organizations. How can leaders frame and lead conversations that transform outrage and fear into shared understanding and greater moral clarity? We’ll hear from three leaders navigating these conversations in the world of higher education.
Sian Leah Beilock, President, Dartmouth
Michael Roth, President, Wesleyan University
Katherine Rowe, President, William & Mary
Discussion Leader: Andrew Ross Sorkin, Columnist, The New York Times; Co-Anchor, Squawk Box, CNBC
- TOWN HALL: NAVIGATING THE GRAY
When times are challenging, we must sometimes make suboptimal or inconvenient choices. At the same time, we must have the courage to do things that are uncomfortable; seeking moral clarity sometimes means rejecting neutrality – and remembering the power of hope to sustain you. In this town hall, we’ll explore how we’ve wrestled with this most elusive of leadership capabilities – and share some real-life tactics in an open discussion.
Brian Hainline, Chair of the Board and President, USTA
Michael Horowitz, Inspector General, U.S. Dept. of Justice
Janti Soeripto, President & Chief Executive Officer, Save the Children
Discussion Leader: Andrew Ross Sorkin, Columnist, The New York Times; Co-Anchor, Squawk Box, CNBC
- LEADING THROUGH MUSIC: TOUCHING THE HEART
Laura Metcalf, Founder and Co-Artistic Director, GatherNYC
- EMPATHY AS A PATHWAY
Management requires both hard and soft skills. Moral leadership requires character. In this session, we’ll hear from an unlikely pair, one from Wall Street and another from Broadway, about empathy – one uniquely powerful quality of character – and its role in shaping the ethos of organizations.
Pete Stavros, Co-Head, Global Private Equity, KKR
Jeanine Tesori, Two-Time Tony Award-Winning Composer for Musical Theatre, Opera, and Film Scores
IGNITING MORAL LEADERSHIP: PHILOSOPHY, READING, AND POETRY
The best insights into the human condition come from the way we express ourselves creatively. Words – in poetry, in philosophy, or in other genres – can shape worlds. They are a window into how we see the world but also are often the vocabulary of our thoughts. In this session, we’ll explore how reading and studying poetry and philosophy gives us a sense of perspective and cultivates moral leadership. We’ll share strategies and tactics for converting accumulated wisdom into meaning.
Ann Kirschner, President Emerita, Hunter College
Anthony Marx, President, New York Public Library
Sonal Shah, CEO, Texas Tribune
Shmuly Yanklowitz, President and Dean, Valley Beit Midrash
- FOSTERING FREEDOM AND THE CHALLENGES OF HIERARCHY
Increasingly, we live in a world of “freedom from”: Freedom from movie theaters (Netflix), freedom from taxis (Uber,) freedom from recruiters (LinkedIn) and so much more. But what we value more is “Freedom to” – be ourselves, speak our minds, take risks and pursue aspirations. This comes from shared values, which serve as a guide for knowing what’s right. We’ll explore how leaders can move towards a values-based playbook to unleash the full potential of their people.
Deborah Borda, Executive Advisor, NY Philharmonic
Arne Duncan, Managing Partner, Emerson Collective; Managing Partner, Chicago CRED
Discussion Leader: Darren Walker, President, Ford Foundation
- LEADERSHIP AND THE INCONVENIENT CHOICE
Making an inconvenient choice is one of the hallmarks of moral leadership. We’ll discuss how to wrestle with difficult dilemmas and about how to find a way to maintain and scale hope.
Alex Gorsky, former Chairman and CEO, Johnson & Johnson
Discussion leader: Dov Seidman, Founder and Chairman, The HOW Institute for Society
COURAGE AND OUR JOURNEY AHEAD
Dov Seidman, Founder and Chairman, The HOW Institute for Society
Partners
Partners of The HOW Institute include
INVITATIONS
Designed for heads of organizations who have embraced the imperative of moral
leadership, the Summit will bring together leaders from business, government,
education, military, religion, sports, media, entertainment, and the social sector.
Participation is by-invitation-only and there is no cost to attend.
If you have received an invitation to participate, please RSVP by clicking the link in the email invitation.
If you would like to apply for an invitation to attend, please click here.
Venue
The Ford Foundation Center for Social Justice
320 E 43rd St
New York, NY 10017
For questions about the Summit on Moral Leadership please email
info@events.thehowinstitute.org
