10 Years of Developing Leaders: Reflecting on the Ross Leaders Academy

For the past decade, the Ross Leaders Academy (RLA) has been a cornerstone of leadership development at the University of Michigan, equipping students with the skills, confidence, and networks needed to excel in their careers and beyond. Since its inception, RLA has supported over 400 graduates, provided more than 800 hours of executive coaching, and facilitated 180+ hours of leadership programming. As we mark this milestone, we celebrate the immeasurable impact the program has had over the years.

The RLA Journey

Each year, a cohort of students embarks on an immersive leadership journey through RLA, engaging in interactive sessions, working closely with executive coaches, and building lasting connections with peers. With approximately 250 applicants annually, only 48 students are selected through a community-driven interview process. The program is anchored in the Michigan Model of Leadership (MMoL), a framework that helps students identify and refine their leadership skills.

The fall 2024 semester focused on self-leadership, guiding students to explore their identity, articulate core values, and craft a personal purpose statement. Through sessions such as Identity & Self-Inclusion, Values, and Alternative Futures, participants developed a deeper understanding of themselves as leaders and gained tools to align their decisions with their long-term vision.
During the winter semester, students shifted their focus to interpersonal leadership. Sessions emphasized empathy, inclusive leadership, emotional intelligence, and resilience—essential skills for navigating complex professional and personal environments. By engaging in discussions, hands-on exercises, and reflection activities, participants gained strategies to build stronger relationships and lead with confidence in diverse settings. The fall and winter semester sessions coalesce to provide students with adaptive, reliable leadership toolkits.

A Decade of Impact and the Deloitte Foundation’s Support

As RLA celebrated its 10th anniversary, it also recognized the continued support of the Deloitte Foundation, which has played a vital role in sustaining the program’s success. Since its inception in 2014—when the Sanger Leadership Center was known as the Ross Leadership Initiative—Deloitte has been a steadfast partner in advancing leadership development. One of RLA’s standout experiences is the Inclusive Leadership session, co-led by Deloitte managing partners and senior leaders, where students explore evidence-based research and navigate scenarios that underscore the importance of practicing inclusion to drive team and organizational success.

Defining Moments: Highlights from This Year’s Sessions

Envisioning Alternative Futures
At the end of the fall semester, RLA fellows participated in Alternative Futures, a thought-provoking exercise that challenged them to envision at least three different future paths aligned with their values and purpose. This session encouraged participants to push beyond self-imposed limitations and consider new possibilities they may have never explored before.

Allan Greig, MSW ’26, shared his reflections on the activity: “I really enjoyed some of our conversations about the importance of intentionality and the fear that lurks when considering making big changes. It takes intentionality to deal with that fear and overcome it. I also appreciate the awareness that it’s all doable, and we have the power to pursue whatever future we want to.”

Strengthening Resilience
Another powerful session focused on resilience, equipping students with tangible strategies to navigate challenges. Sanger facilitators presented a research-backed model of resilience, highlighting six key behaviors students could engage in to become more resilient. Many previous RLA sessions supported this development, particularly those on purpose, emotional intelligence, and relationship-building.

During the session, fellows participated in two hands-on activities: a guided nature walk to explore well-being practices, and an exercise on personal support networks, where they identified their “personal board of directors.”

Ellie Smith, MS ’25, found this session particularly meaningful: “I loved the nature walk we did as part of this session. My partner and I walk often, but it’s so easy to forget to slow down and actually be present when we do it. There are so many unknowns in life as I get closer to graduation, whether it be starting a new job or moving to a new city, and this session reminded me to be mindful about practicing optimism and self-care through ambiguity.”

A Night of Reflection: A Milestone Closing Celebration

In early April, the Sanger Leadership Center hosted a closing ceremony to honor the 2024–2025 RLA cohort. The event brought together approximately 100 attendees, including program alumni from the past decade, Deloitte partners, and donors.

Among the distinguished guests was Alyshia Dyer, elected sheriff of Washtenaw County and a 2020–2021 RLA alum, who shared insights on how the program shaped her leadership journey:
“I’m still able to lean on the community that I built in RLA. Having that lifelong connection to leadership in a way that helps you continuously grow is just amazing. I will never forget the experience that I had.”

As we reflect on 10 years of RLA, we celebrate not only the students who have completed this transformative program, but also the lasting impact of its leadership lessons. The skills cultivated through RLA extend beyond the classroom, shaping students’ professional and personal journeys for years to come.