Celebrating a Decade of Leadership: Looking Back and Moving Forward

Reflecting on 10 Years of Bold Ideas, Leadership Growth, and Community Impact

This year, the Sanger Leadership Center at Michigan Ross marked a remarkable milestone, 10 years of empowering students to lead with purpose. From the classroom to the boardroom, from research to real-world impact, the Sanger community came together throughout 2025 to celebrate a decade of developing leaders who embody the Michigan spirit of excellence, resilience, and innovation.

That celebration reached its peak this fall as alumni, students, faculty, and friends gathered in the Davidson Winter Garden for a celebratory tailgate. The space, usually home to lively study sessions and spontaneous collaboration, transformed into a sea of maize and blue energy, filled with laughter, reconnections, and stories of leadership journeys that began at Ross. And when the Michigan Football team clinched another win that afternoon, it felt like a fitting reflection of the moment; a community celebrating 10 years of leadership in true Wolverine fashion.

The event featured inspiring reflections from Dean Sharon Matusik, Jeff Domagala (Sanger’s managing director), Dave Webb (MBA ’03, vice president and treasurer, Ford Motor Company), and Jiya Sheth (BBA ’26, Ross Leaders Academy alum). Together, they honored Sanger’s past, celebrated its present, and looked ahead to a future grounded in community, purpose, and impact.

As conversations echoed through the room, it was clear that Sanger’s legacy extends far beyond the walls of Michigan Ross. Leadership at Michigan isn’t confined to classrooms or programs, it’s built through connection, reflection, and a shared belief that great leaders lift others along the way.

As Sanger moves into its next decade, that same spirit of collaboration and curiosity continues to drive bold ideas, ones that challenge convention, expand research, and reimagine what leadership can look like at Michigan and around the world.

Elevating Research and Thought Leadership

Over the past decade, Sanger has grown from an idea into a national leader in action-based leadership development. This year, that commitment to innovation took center stage.

2025 marked the launch of the Sanger10 campaign and visual identity, which set the tone for a year of celebration and reflection. Sanger also formed its first-ever Faculty Advisory Board, strengthening the connection between academic research and student learning.

The Michigan Model of Leadership (MMoL) was expanded through new resources, videos, card decks, podcasts, and blogs to make evidence-based leadership tools more accessible than ever. And through the New Directions in Leadership Research Conference, Sanger solidified its role as a national convenor for leadership scholarship, showcasing award-winning work by faculty and PhD students like Christina Bradley and Tim Kundro.

Leadership for All

Sanger’s mission has always been clear: leadership for all. This year, more than 12,000 students engaged with Sanger programs, reflecting a growing demand for experiential learning that builds confidence, collaboration, and character.

We celebrated the 10th cohort of the Ross Leaders Academy (RLA) and launched new innovations like the Leader as a Coach experience, helping students strengthen their empathy, feedback, and communication skills. The Michigan Ross Leader Endorsement (MRLE) also evolved to create a clearer developmental pathway for students, integrating reflection, experimentation, and peer learning through programs. 

Together, Sanger’s programs and experiences delivered over 278 programming hours and 210 coaching hours this year; each one a step in shaping tomorrow’s leaders.

A Community of Support

None of this progress would be possible without the community behind it. From donors and alumni to corporate partners and campus collaborators, the Sanger network continues to expand and thrive.

This year, the 10-year anniversary tailgate served as a celebration of that shared investment in leadership. Sanger deepened their partnerships, strengthened donor engagement, and celebrated a decade-long collaboration with the Deloitte Foundation.

New initiatives continue to extend Sanger’s reach beyond campus, like the Sanger Mentorship Program, which connects students with alumni mentors for hands-on leadership development, and Leadership Dialogues, featuring conversations with industry trailblazers such as Tiffanie Boyd (EVP and CPO of McDonald’s).

The People Behind the Purpose

As Sanger celebrated 10 years, the team also evolved to realign their structure and strategy to strengthen collaboration across programming, research, marketing, and partnerships. This integrated approach ensures that every initiative, from the classroom to the conference stage, supports the Center’s mission of developing high-impact, evidence-based leaders.

This milestone year was a celebration of gratitude for the students who challenge themselves, the faculty who push the boundaries of research, the alumni who give back, and the donors who make it all possible. Together, they form the foundation of Sanger’s next chapter.

The Next Decade of Leadership

As the Sanger Leadership Center closes out its 10th anniversary year, one thing is clear: leadership development at Michigan is stronger than ever.

The next decade will build on this foundation of bold ideas, experiential learning, and community impact, advancing Sanger’s mission to make “leadership” synonymous with Michigan Ross. With new research, expanded programs, and deeper alumni engagement on the horizon, Sanger is poised to shape the future of leadership education for the next 10 years and beyond.

Watch the Celebration: Relive moments from our 10-year anniversary tailgate.

To learn more about the Sanger Leadership Center and get involved, visit sanger.umich.edu or email rossleaders@umich.edu.