The case study highlights the challenges of modern leadership, the
design and impact of The NXT-GEN Fellowship, and Mastercard’s
strategic integration of values-based behavior and principled
decision-making into its organizational culture.
Fellowship Impact
would recommend
the fellowship to a
colleague
report the fellowship
inspired them to
demonstrate moral
leadership
report the fellowship
inspired them to take on
more responsibility in
promoting moral leadership
within their organization
higher likelihood of
career progression
correlated with
program participation
stronger performance
rating correlated with
program participation
higher retention rate
than benchmark
When you drill down in civility and trust, we find that the NXT-GEN Fellowship alumni have a common language that we can draw on.
MICHAEL FRACCAROFormer Chief People Officer, MastercardOftentimes for typical HR programs, people are really engaged for three months and then they go back to the way they were before. But with HOW, there is sustained changed behavior and sustained elevated behavior. It really unlocks talent for the company. And they are culture change agents who project their behavior in positive ways.
MICHAEL MIEBACHCEO, MastercardHuman systems can’t function without formal authority whether it’s a commander in chief, a CEO, or a school principal. But what makes organizations really work is when leaders occupying those formal positions have moral authority, too. While formal authority can be seized, won, or bestowed, moral authority must be earned by who you are and how you lead.
DOV SEIDMANFounder and Chairman, The HOW Institute for SocietyWe have a purpose driven workforce and The HOW Institute supercharges the mindset and culture that already exists here. As we continue to advance technology within the company, it will become more important that the human dimension remains central to what we do.
JON HUNTSMANVice Chairman and President, Strategic Growth at MastercardThe NXT-GEN Fellowship creates the pause for fellows to clarify what truly matters, align action with values, and learn in deeper ways.
DANA BORNHOW Fellow, The HOW Institute for SocietyThis Fellowship helps bring moral leadership to life in practical, deeply human ways. And when we focus on these everyday practices, we help our people lead with clarity, compassion, and responsibility—strengthening engagement, retention, and belonging at every step. Because in the end, culture isn’t what we say—it’s how we show up for each other, every day.
SUSAN MUIGAIChief People Officer, MastercardMastercard’s partnership with The HOW Institute through the NXT-GEN Fellowship exemplifies how organizations can meaningfully invest in the human dimension of leadership. By immersing its leaders in a cross-organizational learning community and embedding values-based behaviors into its practices and processes, Mastercard has not only elevated individual leaders but also strengthened its organizational culture. The measurable impact—from improved performance to increased retention—demonstrates that moral leadership is not merely aspirational and intuitively critical at this moment in time but also operationally transformative.
GILBERTO CALDART
I’ve traveled the world in my position and interacted in every trip with one or two people that were part of the fellowship cohorts. More important than just helping form their behavior is helping to hold their managers and leaders accountable as well.
GILBERTO CALDART
ROSIE FORREST
As the HOW Fellow Community grows across industries and continents, we remain focused on depth as well as scale. Every offering, be it a virtual learning intensive or an in-person convening, is designed to keep the fellowship’s spirit alive: thoughtful, challenging, and deeply human.
ROSIE FORREST
MARIE WILKINS
I have done a lot of trainings, but this is like no other course. You will find likeminded people. You will feel supported. Someone who will celebrate you when you do well. You will have a community who will come to your aid. You will learn to look at things in a different way.
MARIE WILKINS
MATTHEW GRAHAM
Biggest surprise was that I expected it to be like any other corporate training. It wasn’t anything like that. It was connecting back principles to real world examples. I thought that was really helpful. Also in the seminars hearing from other experiences. It all brought it to life.
MATTHEW GRAHAM
ALISON ANG
One thing I took away is how global and timeless the challenges are and the course concepts can be from the fellowship. You don’t realize these things are common in nature across organizations. The fellowship has organizations of all sizes participating, including for-profits, listed companies, and NGOs and nonprofits. It’s
interesting.
ALISON ANG
MICHAEL GEIGER
The fellowship provided a structured frame that enhanced my personal ability to deal with difficult conversations, to align with stakeholders and diverse interests to drive mutually beneficial outcomes.
MICHAEL GEIGER
LUISA PINO JAVIER
Moral leadership isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about cultivating the courage to ask the right questions, stay grounded in values, and hold space for others to do the same.
LUISA PINO JAVIER
MAX COHEN
Many of the fellows appreciate that the fellowship puts words and language to feelings and concepts they’ve known about but didn’t yet have the words for.
MAX COHEN
HOW Fellow
If you’re inspired by Mastercard’s journey and curious about how the NXT-GEN Fellowship can elevate your own leadership journey or that of your organization, we invite you to explore further. To learn more or inquire about participation, please reach out to The HOW Institute for Society via partner@thehowinstitute.org.
GILBERTO CALDART
I’ve traveled the world in my position and interacted in every trip with one or two people that were part of the fellowship cohorts. More important than just helping form their behavior is helping to hold their managers and leaders accountable as well.
GILBERTO CALDART
ROSIE FORREST
As the HOW Fellow Community grows across industries and continents, we remain focused on depth as well as scale. Every offering, be it a virtual learning intensive or an in-person convening, is designed to keep the fellowship’s spirit alive: thoughtful, challenging, and deeply human.
ROSIE FORREST
MARIE WILKINS
I have done a lot of trainings, but this is like no other course. You will find likeminded people. You will feel supported. Someone who will celebrate you when you do well. You will have a community who will come to your aid. You will learn to look at things in a different way.
MARIE WILKINS
MATTHEW GRAHAM
Biggest surprise was that I expected it to be like any other corporate training. It wasn’t anything like that. It was connecting back principles to real world examples. I thought that was really helpful. Also in the seminars hearing from other experiences. It all brought it to life.
MATTHEW GRAHAM
ALISON ANG
One thing I took away is how global and timeless the challenges are and the course concepts can be from the fellowship. You don’t realize these things are common in nature across organizations. The fellowship has organizations of all sizes participating, including for-profits, listed companies, and NGOs and nonprofits. It’s
interesting.
ALISON ANG
MICHAEL GEIGER
The fellowship provided a structured frame that enhanced my personal ability to deal with difficult conversations, to align with stakeholders and diverse interests to drive mutually beneficial outcomes.
MICHAEL GEIGER
LUISA PINO JAVIER
Moral leadership isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about cultivating the courage to ask the right questions, stay grounded in values, and hold space for others to do the same.
LUISA PINO JAVIER
MAX COHEN
Many of the fellows appreciate that the fellowship puts words and language to feelings and concepts they’ve known about but didn’t yet have the words for.
MAX COHEN
HOW Fellow