ABOUT
Tuesday, December 6, 2022
In-person at
The Ford Foundation Center for Social Justice
New York City
We are at a moment where unprecedented forces—including a pandemic, the war in Ukraine, supply chain failures, a reimagined reality of work, and new technologies—are dramatically reshaping our world faster than we have yet been able to reshape our institutions, our leadership, and ourselves. We need frameworks, metrics and a community to help address these changes now.
In collaboration with our partners, The HOW Institute for Society will host a one-day, in-person summit bringing together diverse leaders from varied fields—including business, government, education, non-profits, the military, religion, sports, media and entertainment—to stimulate and inspire fresh thinking and concerted actions to help answer the most vital questions we face as a society.
Urgency and action are at the core of the Summit. The agenda will focus on the shared belief that institutions must be guided by values and shaped by moral leaders, that moral authority and formal authority must be united to create meaningful and enduring impact, and that trust and shared truths are essential to bringing people together as communities, organizations and collaborators. We will navigate how leaders can and ought to lead in our now-fused world where political, geopolitical, social, environmental, biological, humanitarian, ethical, and moral issues—that were once considered tangential to an organization’s agenda— are increasingly viewed as inescapably at the center of it.
A future that includes dynamic capitalism, vibrant democracy, healthy communities and free societies depends on the rise of moral leadership and values-driven behavior. Join us.
Participants Include

Strategy and Partnership Executive Vice President and Board Director
Tony Blair Institute for Global Change



Professor of Medicine and Engineering
University of Southern California
CEO
Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine



Faculty Chair, Senior Executive Fellows Program
Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Center for Public Leadership



Former Superintendent
Boston Public Schools
Former Commissioner of Education
Minnesota



Senior Fellow
Harvard Business School
Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Medtronic, Inc.



Lombard Director of the Shorenstein Center and Edward R. Murrow Professor of the Practice of Press, Politics and Public Policy
Harvard Kennedy School



Former Professional Football Coach
Lecturer, Adjunct Faculty, and advisory Board Member
University of Miami Law School
Agenda
Tuesday, December 6, 2022
7:45 - 8:30 AM
8:30 - 11:00 AM
MAINSTAGE SESSIONS:
-
OPENING: WHY NOW? THE IMPERATIVE FOR MORAL LEADERSHIP
Dov Seidman, Founder and Chairman, The HOW Institute for Society
-
THE DISCUSSION CONTINUES: LEADING IN A RESHAPED WORLD
Leadership has always been framework dependent. Join us as we hear from two HOW Institute board members who will set the stage for the day with a discussion of the frameworks we need to lead now.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
Dov Seidman, Founder and Chairman, The HOW Institute for Society
Darren Walker, President, Ford Foundation, The HOW Institute Board Member -
TOWN HALL: PRACTICING THE PAUSE
Together, we will explore the Pause as a practice of Moral Leaders. What does it mean to pause with your team, and how can we use the four ‘Rs’: reflect, reconnect, rethink and reimagine to wrestle with nuance and understand how we can make better choices?Led by: Dov Seidman, Founder and Chairman, The HOW Institute for Society
- WEATHERING THE ECONOMIC STORM
CEOs are facing down the reality of what a recession would mean for their organizations, their employees, and their stakeholders. In the absence of clear answers, leaders often face painful choices between two bad options. Join us as we discover the frameworks and principles to navigate this rough economic terrain.
Chip Bergh, President and CEO, Levi Strauss & Co, The HOW Institute Board Member
Discussion Leader: Darren Walker, Ford Foundation, The HOW Institute Board Member
- INSPIRING, EDUCATING & ELEVATING THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS
It might just be the greatest challenge of the 21st century: to nurture and develop a culture full of moral leaders. In this conversation with leaders across society, we’ll examine how to develop the moral leaders of the future. And, how to ensure that the next generation of moral leaders are in positions of authority.
The Honorable Gina Ortiz Jones, Under Secretary of the Air Force
Dr. Wayne A.I. Frederick, 17th President, Howard UniversityDiscussion Leader: Dr. Dana H. Born, Faculty Chair, Senior Executive Fellows Program, Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Center for Public Leadership, HOW Fellow
- READING: HOW MORAL LEADERS CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT IT
The benefits and powers that reading bestows upon leaders are almost impossible to measure: from gaining historical perspective and thinking spatially to understanding the human condition and building capacity for empathy, sympathy and compassion. That’s why moral leaders are also by nature good readers. We’ll hear from leaders across the sectors of literacy and education about why the simple act of reading is a crucial one.
Niko Canner, CEO, Incandescent
Ann Friedman, Founder and CEO, Planet Word, Museum of Language Arts
Dr. Michael E. Hill, President, Chautauqua Institution
- TRULY LEADING FOR THE LONG-TERM (WHEN LONG-TERM THINKING IS NOT ENOUGH)
In today’s challenging environment, it’s more important than ever for leaders to focus on the long-term. In this session, we’ll hear how true long-term thinking is about much more than the investment horizon; it’s a moral journey, one in which leaders need to see all stakeholders as coequal constituents and not a means to an end.
John W. Rogers, Chairman, Co-CEO & Chief Investment Officer, Ariel Investments
Dan Schulman, CEO, PayPalDiscussion Leader: Poppy Harlow, Anchor, CNN This Morning
11:00 - 11:20 AM
11:20 AM - 12:20 PM
MAINSTAGE SESSIONS:
- EMERGING LEADERS TACKLING NEW TERRAIN
The NXT-GEN Fellowship is an accelerator for emerging leaders, guiding them in navigating our increasingly interdependent and morally-activated world. Meet and be inspired by our NXT-GEN graduates, who are making a wave of moral leadership in their organizations.
Led by: Chip Bergh, Levi Strauss & Co., The HOW Institute Board Member
- MORAL COURAGE: LESSONS FROM THE MILITARY
An extraordinary group of military leaders joins us to discuss how moral courage—doing the right thing, at the right time—even when painful and dangerous—guides their leadership. How do the practices of these military leaders, who support their troops at home and on duty, apply to leaders across every sector?
Rear Admiral Shoshana Chatfield (USN), President, U.S. Naval War College
Lt. General Nadja West, 44th Army Surgeon General, U.S. ArmyDiscussion Leader: Thomas Friedman, Author, Columnist, New York Times
- MUSIC AS A PATHWAY TO THE HEART: PART 1
What comes from the heart enters the heart. Moral leaders can connect and inspire using many unconventional methods, including music. Join us for a special performance as we reveal the connection between music and leadership.
Performance by: Murray Hidary, Composer and Founder, MindTravel
12:20 - 12:50 PM
12:50 - 1:40 PM
MASTER CLASS BREAKOUTS OVER LUNCH:
- HOW: YOUR MORAL LEADER(SHIP) JOURNEY
As taught by: Dr. Dana H. Born, Faculty Chair, Senior Executive Fellows Program, Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Center for Public Leadership, HOW Fellow
What does it mean to be a moral leader and how does one embark on this journey? In this master class, we’ll explore how moral leaders live their values and act on their principles, even when it’s uncomfortable, difficult, or inconvenient. We’ll also dive into how our values fuel the behavior of moral leaders. We will also discuss the role moral leaders play in inspiring and elevating moral leadership.
Subject Matter Expert: William George, Business School Professor, Harvard Business School
-
SCALING TRUST WITHIN ORGANIZATIONS AND BEYOND
As taught by: Dr. Brenda Cassellius, Former Superintendent, Boston Public Schools
Organizations can only evolve and grow in healthy ways — and be resilient through these transformations — if they are built on a foundation of trust. Growth and innovation also inherently involve risk taking. Mutual trust is an accelerant for smart risk taking and the inspiration that fuels it. Often, this trust stems from the thoughtful extension of trust by formal senior leadership, but it must be continuously earned by how all of an organization’s participants connect and collaborate. Therefore, it’s not enough for formal senior leaders to earn and extend trust, they must also shape organizational cultures that foster mutual trust. In this master class, we will examine the tools and techniques formal leaders have at their disposal to earn, extend, and foster trust within organizations, the positive impact these techniques can have, and the challenges that can sometimes ensue.
Subject Matter Expert: Dr. Lloyd Minor, Dean, Stanford University School of Medicine at Stanford University
- MORAL LEADERSHIP FOR NAVIGATING A RESHAPED WORLD
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
It’s a tall order for any leader today: 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 master class, we’ll take a look at how leaders lean into societal issues in a way that honors organizational values, avoids contempt, and demonstrates intellectual humility. How do we engage in tough conversations? How do we make difficult decisions related to risk, especially when it comes to organizational reputation? And, how do leaders foster conversations that build bridges both inside and outside their organizations?
Subject Matter Expert: Dr. David Agus, Professor of Medicine & Engineering, University of Southern California; CEO, Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine
1:40 - 2:00 PM
2:00 - 5:30 PM
MAINSTAGE SESSIONS:
- METRICS THAT MATTER
What and how we measure is a window into what we value. That’s why The HOW Institute for Society has prioritized measuring what matters most today—our organizations’ internal patterns, relationships and cultures. In conjunction with today’s summit, we are releasing our 2022 Moral Leadership in Business report to provide leaders with insights to guide them through challenging times.
Christie Sclater, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, The Estée Lauder Companies; HOW Fellow
- TOWN HALL: TAKING A STAND IN AN ERA OF MORAL ACTIVATION
Voting rights, gun violence, climate change, abortion, racial justice, election integrity, immigration are among the issues activating people to take stands, in and out of the workplaces. In this town hall led by CNBC and New York Times’ Andrew Ross Sorkin, we’ll hear from top executives and community leaders on how to grapple with and navigate these issues using moral leadership frameworks and models.
Angela Buchdahl, Senior Rabbi, Central Synagogue
David Kenny, Chairman and CEO, Nielsen
Federica Marchionni, CEO, Global Fashion Agenda
Tom Wilson, CEO, AllstateLed by: Andrew Ross Sorkin, Anchor, CNBC; Columnist, The New York Times
- THE CHALLENGE OF AUTHENTIC APOLOGIES… EVEN THOUGH IT’S NO LONGER HARD TO SAY “I’M SORRY”
Whether in politics, business or sports, people view public apologizing as an extension of public relations or crisis management, a way to conduct damage control rather than express genuine contrition. Is it time for an apology cease-fire? Together, we will spend time considering what makes an apology truly authentic and offer a new playbook for saying ‘I’m sorry’.
Doug Ulman, CEO, Pelotonia
Cyrus Vance, Former District Attorney, New York; Partner, Baker McKenzieLed by: Dov Seidman, Founder and Chairman, The HOW Institute for Society
- TRANSPARENCY IN A CLOUDY WORLD
If sunlight is the best disinfectant, how can leaders manifest transparency when there’s so much misinformation and so little personal responsibility? In this conversation, we’ll dive into frameworks for how professionals can act on their obligations and serve a loyalty higher than what their boss might be telling them. Where do leaders find the strength to honor the oaths they take?
Michael E. Horowitz, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Justice
Leni Robredo, 14th Vice President, PhilippinesDiscussion Leader: Adi Ignatius, Editor-in-Chief, Harvard Business Review
- MUSIC AS A PATHWAY TO THE HEART: PART 2
Dr. Lloyd Minor, Dean, Stanford University School of Medicine
In conversation with: Dr. Elizabeth Askren, Conductor and Founder, Transylvanian Opera Academy - DOING WHAT’S RIGHT HOWEVER INCONVENIENT AND EVEN DANGEROUS
NBA Free Agent Enes Kanter Freedom knows well the HOW of doing inconvenient things and what it means to take principled actions at a cost. Freedom insists his social activism—including his comments about the NBA and its players’ relationship with China—has cost him the opportunity to play. He joins us to discuss when professional athletes feel morally obligated to put their careers and safety on the line in order to speak out.
Enes Kanter Freedom, Human Rights Activist, NBA Star, and Nobel Peace Prize nominee
- SPOTLIGHT: LEADERS ON THE VANGUARD
Throughout today’s program, we’ll shine a spotlight on rising leaders who are working to reshape the world through human values of compassion, respect, equity and justice. We’ll hear from National Geographic Young Explorer and Berkeley student Shelby O’Neil, whose collaboration with aviation, health care, and beverage companies has reduced the number of single-use plastic straws used annually by 40 million.
Shelby O’Neil, Founder, Jr. Ocean Guardians
- THE BUSINESS OF BUSINESS IS COMMUNITY
The business of business is no longer just business. The business of business is now community. In this in-depth conversation with the CEO of the world’s largest company, Walmart’s Doug McMillon talks with Dov Seidman about how the pandemic and ensuing economic crisis have presented the ultimate leadership litmus test.
Doug McMillon, President and CEO, Walmart
In conversation with: Dov Seidman, Founder and Chairman, The HOW Institute for Society
- HOPE IS A STRATEGY
Moral leaders are purveyors of hope. Leaders across industries discuss the “HOW” of employing hope as a strategy.
Katrina Adams, Executive Director, Harlem Junior Tennis and Education Program
Dr. Brenda Cassellius, Former Superintendent, Boston Public Schools
Zia Khan, Senior Vice President, The Rockefeller Foundation
Eboo Patel, Founder and President, Interfaith America
Zainab Salbi, Co-Founder, Daughters For Earth - RISING OR FALLING TOGETHER: BUILDING HEALTHY INTERDEPENDENCIES
As we close out our day, New York Times author and columnist Thomas Friedman joins us to look forward. Friedman shares the imperative for leaders to forge healthy interdependence, it’s the only way forward in a global, interconnected 21st century.
Thomas Friedman, Author and Columnist, New York Times
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
- CLOSING CALL TO ACTION
Dov Seidman, Founder and Chairman, The HOW Institute for Society
5:30 - 6:30 PM
Partners
Partners of The HOW Institute include:








Venue
The Ford Foundation Center for Social Justice
320 E 43rd St
New York, NY 10017

