During the University of Michigan’s Homecoming, the Sanger Leadership Center and the Office of Advancement co-hosted an alumni session focused on one of today’s most essential leadership skills—staying grounded in your values through change and uncertainty.
The session began with a core values exercise led by Jeff Domagala, Sanger’s managing director, inviting alumni to reflect on the principles that guide their decisions and define their leadership. Through an interactive card sorting activity, participants explored how their personal and professional values show up in real-world moments of complexity.
Following the exercise, Professor Aparna Joshi moderated a panel conversation featuring distinguished alumni Ariane Goldman (BBA ’00, CEO of Hatch Collective) and Kevin Ozan (BBA ’85, former McDonald’s executive and current Hershey’s board member). Together, they shared stories of navigating disruption and leading with integrity in fast-moving industries.
Their message was clear: values aren’t abstract ideals—they’re a leader’s most practical tool for clarity, connection, and resilience. The session gave participants the opportunity to reflect on their own values and how they show up in times of uncertainty and change.
“Leadership development is a lifelong journey. Sanger contributing to the professional development of alums, with their research-based perspectives, is a key element to it becoming the number one institute for leadership development,” said Edward Hightower, MBA ’95, managing director of Motoring Ventures LLC and former Sanger Advisory Board member.
This Homecoming session represents a strategic expansion of Sanger’s alumni programming, creating new ways for Michigan Ross graduates to learn, engage, and connect with one another throughout their careers.
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