Our History & Founders

In 2006, Robert J. Dolan, then dean of the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, and Susan Ashford, then associate dean for leadership programming, founded the Ross Leadership Initiative (RLI). RLI was a forerunner to Sanger and one of the first organized leadership programs among business schools worldwide. It was influenced by Professor Ashford’s research on learning leadership via experience, and action-based learning models created by Noel Tichy and other prominent faculty at the school. Early programs—including the Leadership Crisis Challenge—established a blueprint for how we have approached leadership development ever since. We focus on transformative, action-based experiences that integrate stakeholders from across our community in an inclusive, reflection-based space where students can learn and try out the most cutting-edge, evidence-based tools for leaders.

In 2013, a group of Michigan staff and faculty, including Scott DeRue, Gretchen Spreitzer, Brian Flanagan, Benjamin Allen, Robert Quinn, and Kim Cameron, launched the Michigan Model of Leadership, building on decades of research at Michigan Ross on the Competing Values Framework developed by Bob Quinn and Kim Cameron. This framework guides the leadership philosophy of the Center to this day, focusing on the need for leaders to be adaptive across the key sets of paradoxical skills leaders need to be successful.

In 2015, Michigan Ross alumnus Stephen W. Sanger, MBA ’70, and Karen Sanger made a defining gift of $20 million to establish the Sanger Leadership Center and continue the legacy of leadership development to which Steve had devoted his career. This gift was made under the stewardship of Dr. Scott DeRue, who played a pivotal role in elevating leadership development at Ross as the faculty director of Sanger from 2011 to 2016.

Sanger launched three new programs to complement our Crisis Challenge experience—Legacy Lab, Story Lab, and the Ross Leaders Academy (sponsored by the Deloitte Foundation)—which continue to be foundational programs for our students to this day.

Sanger formalized its role in required leadership touchpoints through Collaboration Lab, expanded its experience to include several new opt-in programs (Leadership Dialogues, Leading Inclusive Teams), and added a means for students to integrate their experiences across these programs (the Michigan Ross Leader Endorsement). Additionally, Sanger developed new tools to guide leader learning across the many experiences at Ross (including the Sanger Leadership Journey, the Leadership Roadmap, and the Leader Behavior Encyclopedia), established the Sanger Advisory Board to better integrate corporate and alumni voices into leadership development at Ross, and updated our 5-year strategy and DEI strategy.

This year, Sanger celebrates 10 years of excellence in leadership development. Since its founding, the Center has equipped students with the skills to lead with purpose and create meaningful change. By combining evidence-based research and innovative action-based learning, Sanger has established a strong legacy of leadership excellence. Looking to the future, the Center is dedicated to shaping the next generation of leaders and driving impact on a global scale.