Ross Leaders Academy - Sanger Leadership Center

Overview

The Ross Leaders Academy (RLA) is the Sanger Leadership Center’s premier leadership development community for select students across campus. During the year-long program, you’ll make leadership development a primary focus of your Michigan experience. You’ll learn from diverse peers, receive 1:1 and group coaching, and engage with 50+ years of robust research advanced by the University of Michigan’s innovative faculty. You’ll emerge from RLA more confident, insightful, and with a vision to fuel your emerging career.

This program is generously sponsored by the Deloitte Foundation.

participants (all-time)

group coaching sessions per academic year

schools & colleges represented across participant pool (all-time)

Skills You’ll Learn

All program skills are connected to the Michigan Model of Leadership, our evidence-based framework for leadership development.

Skills

Meaningful Relationships

I develop meaningful relationships

Through coaching, peer discussions, and hands-on activities, you will develop strategies to build trust, respect, and meaningful relationships with peers and future colleagues.

Empathy

I show empathy

You will develop an understanding of empathy as a foundational skill for effective leadership and relationship building, and learn how expanding your capacity for empathy enhances your ability to connect with and support others.

Team Inclusion

I create a shared sense of team belonging

By exploring evidence-based research and empirical case studies developed by Deloitte, you will learn how to leverage skills that foster a sense of belonging among diverse individuals.

Curiosity

I actively seek to learn and grow

Through coaching, reflection, and collaborative exercises with peers, you’ll deepen your appreciation for curiosity and learn how to ask powerful questions—skills that help build meaningful relationships, spark innovation, and unlock the potential in those you lead.

Resilience

I cope effectively with change and ambiguity

A research-based resilience model will help you learn the key components of resilience to effectively cope with change and ambiguity.

Integrity

I act in alignment with my values

You will explore components of your identity, identify your core values, and clarify your purpose statement, which will enable you to make personal and professional, values-based decisions as you navigate change and ambiguity throughout your career.

Influence

I influence others to action

By aligning decisions with your values, strengthening emotional intelligence, and building a resilient leadership mindset, you’ll be equipped to navigate uncertainty and support both yourself and others through change.

Details & Registration

Details

Application Process
Applications are opened in the summer and are due in September

Select students will then be invited to a community interview

The selection committee releases decisions on the cohort in early October

2026-2027 Academic Year
Application opens: TBA

Application closes: TBA

Community interviews: TBA

Kickoff: TBA

Session Dates:
Fridays, 10 AM–12:15 PM

2026: TBA

2027: TBA

Time Commitment
Sessions will be held in person on Friday mornings from 10 AM to 12:15 PM. Asynchronous work between sessions will be communicated to the cohort in advance and should take no more than 30 minutes each week. 1:1 and group coaching will be scheduled separately based on your availability.

Leadership Coaching
Leadership coaching is available as part of the program experience. To learn more about leadership coaching and how it is integrated into this program, visit our coaching page.

Participant Requirements
Deep interest in leadership development, personal growth, and lifelong learning

Any U-M Student (juniors, seniors, and graduate students)

Ability to attend all sessions
Participation in all sessions is integral to gaining the full benefit of the program. Students who miss more than two sessions will not receive the program completion certificate. We ask that participants bring conflicting dates to our attention during the kickoff event.

Heads Up: New Eligibility Requirement!
Starting in academic year 2026–2027, Michigan Ross student applicants to RLA must be enrolled in and intend to complete the Michigan Ross Leader Endorsement (MRLE).

Application

Applications are accepted once per year in September. Ross students will be notified via email when registration opens for the 2026-2027 school year. Non-Ross students are invited to fill out the interest form below to receive the same communication.

INTEREST FORM

Contact a Sanger Student Ambassador about this program.

Content Areas

FALL

Self-leadership

Identity & Self-Inclusion
Gain a greater understanding of identity dimensions, self-inclusion, and leadership style, and identify ways to co-create environments that engage more of your whole self while inviting others to do the same.

Values
Clearly articulate your core values and understand why acting in alignment with them is essential for your future, for those you lead, and for high-performing teams.

Purpose
Understand the importance and benefits of having a clear purpose, craft your own purpose statement and be able to communicate it to others, and learn how to leverage your purpose to create impact and achieve concrete results.

Alternative Futures
Uncover and explore different professional paths and possibilities; experience what it feels like to live in alignment with your values and purpose in various future scenarios; and strengthen your ability to practice resilience amid turbulence and uncertainty.

Winter

Interpersonal leadership

Empathy
Effective leadership and relationship-building require empathy. This session will highlight the benefits of expanding your empathetic capacity and offer practical methods to do so, while also enhancing your ability to shift perspectives.

Inclusive Leadership
Understand the science and practice of inclusive leadership, while increasing your awareness of personal bias and discovering actionable steps to advance inclusion.

Emotional Intelligence
Examine the importance of emotion regulation in the context of leadership, and learn strategies for enhancing your regulation abilities.

Resilience
Understand what resilience means in the context of leadership, and identify key elements and activities you can use to increase your resilience.

Leader as Coach
Explore your unique coaching identity as a leader and review essential tools and techniques to enhance your coaching approach. Engage in interactive activities to practice key skills and receive feedback, enabling you to apply what you learn in your leadership roles.

Testimonials

Michael Ettlinger, MEng ’26

Michael Ettlinger, MEng ’26

Testimonials

“Participating in the Ross Leaders Academy was a clear highlight of my education at U-M. I looked forward to every session and group coaching meeting, as each one allowed me to form meaningful relationships with my incredible peers and the Sanger Leadership Center faculty, challenge my ability to introspect, and reaffirm my commitment to personal and professional growth beyond the program.”

All Testimonials

Niranjana Venkataramanan, FTMBA ’26

Niranjana Venkataramanan, FTMBA ’26

Testimonials

"RLA has been one of the most meaningful parts of my Ross experience. Our cohort had a shared intent to learn and grow, which created a space where people were open, vulnerable, and never felt judged. That made the learning much deeper and more real. This program embodies action-based learning, a core reason why I selected Ross. Every session had practical tools and activities that I could immediately apply, rather than just concepts. The topics felt highly relevant and thoughtfully connected, building on each other to develop a more complete view of leadership. I feel significantly more self-aware and better equipped with tools to lead, which has given me the confidence to take on leadership roles going forward. The RLA team and coaches played a huge role in this: they are approachable, genuinely invested, and lead by example in creating an inclusive and supportive environment."

All Testimonials

Rishya Reddy, WMBA ’27

Rishya Reddy, WMBA ’27

Testimonials

“For me, life can genuinely be divided into before and after RLA. The journey has been incredibly impactful, shaping how I understand my values, my purpose, and what it means to be a thoughtful and effective leader. I wholeheartedly recommend this experience to every friend of mine and hope they get the opportunity to be part of it. RLA is not just a program, it is a journey into knowing yourself and becoming the leader you aspire to be."

All Testimonials

Sarah Wang, MM ’26

Sarah Wang, MM ’26

Testimonials

“Ross Leaders Academy has been, without a doubt, the most meaningful experience I’ve had during my time at the University of Michigan. The program challenged me in ways I did not expect and pushed me to think more deeply about the kind of impact I want to have on others. One of my biggest takeaways from RLA is realizing that leadership is not a fixed trait—it’s something you continue to learn, unlearn, and grow into throughout your life. That mindset changed the way I approach my relationships, teamwork, and everyday interactions with others. RLA redefined leadership for me and gave me a lifelong community that I know I can always depend on. I’m incredibly grateful to carry these lessons and relationships with me long after graduation.”

All Testimonials

Omar Elsherif, MBA ’25

Testimonials

“When I arrived at Ross, I knew I wanted to strengthen and develop my leadership skills in a way that wasn't solely theoretical or case-based. Through the Ross Leaders Academy and the Crisis Challenge, I found the Sanger Leadership programming to be the perfect opportunity to gain hands-on experience in crafting, experimenting with, and developing a leadership model that reflects my values and strengths. I’m excited to continue participating in Sanger programs as I move forward on my leadership journey of learning, reflection, and implementation.”

All Testimonials

Gallery

Scenes from the Program

Students talking at the Ross Leaders Academy Kickoff event at Zingerman’s Greyline in Ann Arbor, MI on October 25, 2024. AP Style

News

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