Leadership Crisis Challenge
Overview
You and your team will play the part of senior executives tasked with responding to the crisis as it unfolds: you’ll receive emails, social media updates, phone calls, and more throughout Thursday night. Then, on Friday, you’ll come to Michigan Stadium to present your strategy to your board of directors (made up of esteemed U-M alums), journalists, and the public. Along the way, you’ll receive personalized feedback from business leaders, communication coaches, and faculty experts.
This program is generously sponsored by General Motors and McKinsey.
reason why students chose Michigan Ross
awarded to first- and second-place teams since program inception
alumni, faculty, and staff engaged to support the student experience per year
Skills You’ll Learn
All program skills are connected to the Michigan Model of Leadership, our evidence-based framework for leadership development.
Team Communication
I facilitate open team communication
You will practice building trust and psychological safety with your team to embrace debate, manage conflict, and navigate problem-solving discussions to address the needs of diverse stakeholders as the crisis unfolds.
Resilience
I cope effectively with change and ambiguity
You will practice navigating complex, dynamic, and ambiguous situations as you and your team leverage incomplete information to make sound decisions for all company stakeholders.
Team Flexibility
I promote team flexibility in response to internal and external events
You will face complex decisions and a range of stakeholders. You’ll practice how to effectively diagnose and prioritize your response to issues, rigorously analyze trade-offs, and articulate a clear, coherent strategy.
Team Role Clarity
I clearly define team roles
At the beginning of the simulation, you will learn how to leverage the strengths, capabilities, diverse expertise, and learning objectives of your team to effectively delegate roles and responsibilities for your team to achieve its goals.
Influence
I influence others to action
You will practice influential communication by aligning with and persuading your teammates, the board, and the press throughout the Crisis Challenge. You’ll receive meaningful feedback from communication coaches, judges, and your team along the way.
Details & Application
2026 Details
January 7–21
Agenda
Day 1: Thursday, January 29, 4–10 PM, Michigan Ross
Check-in begins at 4 PM
- Simulation in Teams: 5-10 PM
Day 2: Friday, January 30, approx. 9 AM–5 PM, Jack Roth Stadium Club, Michigan Stadium
Required attendance
- Boardroom Presentation: Teams will be assigned a 55-minute window to present to, and receive feedback from, a board of directors between 9 AM and 1 PM.
- Press Conference: The final round of competition begins at 3 PM and ends by 5 PM
Optional attendance
- Leadership In Action networking session
- Field & locker room access
- Educational workshops
Time Commitment
Approximately 10 hours over 2 days
Participant Requirements
Any U-M student
Ability to attend both days
Get Involved
If you are an alumni or community member that would like to volunteer at the event or contribute to the program in another way, please email rossleaders@umich.edu.
The application window for the 2026 Leadership Crisis Challenge is now open. Apply by 1/21.
Experience the Crisis Challenge
Prize
Two undergraduate teams and two graduate teams will receive a reward that is split among team members. Teams will compete against others of the same academic level.
Teams
Team formation happens at check-in on the first day of the event. Registrants are welcome to bring a friend (who has also registered) to the check-in session in order to be assigned to the same team. All other registrants will be randomly assigned to teams at check-in. Students will be placed on teams and compete against other students of the same graduate status, i.e. undergraduate students compete against undergraduate students, and graduate students compete against graduate students.
Collaborations
A cornerstone of the Michigan Ross experience, the Leadership Crisis Challenge has been replicated at institutions across the world (like Chapman University’s Argyros School of Business and Economics). Interested in running your own Crisis Challenge? Reach out to us at rossleaders@umich.edu.
universities have hosted a Crisis Challenge
countries have hosted a Crisis Challenge
Testimonials
Azzahra Ali, MBA ’26
Testimonials
"THE BEST PROGRAM I’VE EVER BEEN IN! I appreciate the scale and structure of this competition. The program encourages collaboration in the most ambiguous and high-pressure setting possible. From the random team assignment to the crisis storyline, and most of all, the personalized feedback from the communication instructor, this program was crucial for my personal development."
Gallery
Scenes from the Program
NEWS
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