The Sanger Leadership Center is expanding access to personalized leadership coaching thanks to a generous gift from the J. Ira and Nicki Harris Family Foundation. The gift establishes the Harris Family Leadership Coaching Fund, giving students one-on-one professional coaching to clarify their goals, build self-awareness, and unlock their potential as leaders.
Leadership coaching is an important part of the Sanger experience, giving students dedicated space to reflect on their goals, work through challenges, and experiment with new ways of leading. Coaching is integrated into several Sanger programs, including the Ross Leaders Academy, Michigan Ross Leader Endorsement, and Story Lab, through a combination of group and one-on-one experiences. The new fund will allow Sanger to expand coaching opportunities, providing more students with personalized support tailored to their individual leadership development needs.
Jon Harris (BGS ’94), who recently joined the Sanger Advisory Board, shared why his family chose to invest in this work:
“Michigan has always been known for producing the leaders and the best, and Sanger is where that promise gets built. Our family is proud to support a program that gives Ross students the essential building blocks they need to succeed and lead, not just in their careers, but in every community they are a part of.”
Sanger Managing Director Michelle Austin shared, “Leadership development is deeply personal, and coaching allows students to focus on the specific challenges, goals, and growth areas that matter most to them. This generous gift will enable us to provide that individualized support to more students and help them turn what they’re learning about leadership into meaningful growth and action.”
The Harris family’s support will help Sanger continue to make meaningful, individualized leadership development accessible to students at a formative point in their lives and careers. By expanding opportunities for coaching, Sanger can help more students translate what they are learning about leadership into the way they show up, grow, and lead at Michigan and beyond.