2019 Deloitte Sponsorship Report - Michigan Ross

2018-2019 Academic Year - Annual Report

DELOITTE SPONSORSHIP REPORT

SANGER LEADERSHIP CENTER

BUILDING A BETTER WORLD, ONE LEADER AT A TIME

HAIL! HAIL! TO MICHIGAN THE LEADERS AND BEST

Following a thrilling last-minute victory over arch-rival Chicago in 1898 that gave the University of Michigan football team its first Western Conference championship, U-M music student Louis Elbel penned The Victors, with its iconic line, “Hail! Hail! to Michigan/ The leaders and best.�

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or more than 200 years, the University of Michigan has been committed to developing students who exemplify the “leaders and best.” Nowhere on campus is that commitment more evident than at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business’ Sanger Leadership Center, whose mission is to build a more connected, creative, and prosperous world, one leader at a time.

Thanks in large part to the extraordinary generosity of the Deloitte Foundation and the U-M Leadership Collaboration Fund they established at Michigan Ross in 2015, the Sanger Leadership Center continues to be a hub for leadership development across the entire U-M campus, with dynamic programs, resources, and learning communities serving all students. Sanger’s innovative, action-based programming empowers students to learn leadership by practicing leadership and is designed to meet the demands of the ever-changing world of work. We are grateful for Deloitte’s long-standing partnership and steadfast support of the Center’s work.

During the 2018-2019 Academic Year, the Sanger Leadership Center launched impactful new programs to better integrate Sanger’s offerings into the Ross experience while at the same time maintaining excellence in established programs and operations.

Deloitte’s sponsorship enabled Sanger to expand the orientation experience for FullTime MBA, MAcc, and MSCM students and enhance elements of the Ross Leaders Academy, Sanger’s signature learning community. On behalf of our students, faculty, and staff, thank you.

Please read on to learn more about how the Deloitte Foundation’s support of the Sanger Leadership Center continued Michigan’s tradition of Leaders and Best during the 2018-2019 Academic Year, featuring highlights from the: • Full-Time MBA Business+Impact Challenge • MAcc/MSCM Business+Impact Challenge • Ross Leaders Academy

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Full-Time MBA Business+Impact Challenge

t Michigan Ross, leadership means more than knowing how to take charge. It also means discovering who you want to be, what you want to accomplish in life, and how to get the most out of your Ross experience. For full-time MBA students starting in Fall 2018, that process began at orientation, the highlight of which was a redesigned two-day Business+Impact Challenge sponsored by the Deloitte Foundation.

The 2018 Business+Impact Challenge featured Amazon as a corporate partner and challenged students to answer the question, “How might Amazon leverage its products, services, and technology to support post-disaster recovery and build resilience in local communities and small businesses?”

Over the course of two days, students met with subject matter experts from FEMA, the American Red Cross, and U-M faculty (among others); adopted roles based on the Michigan Model of Leadership; and learned directly from Amazon employees embedded in each team. At the end of the Challenge, students shared their ideas in an interactive showcase and participated in a lively pitch competition that tested their leadership skills on stage, with the winning team selected by a panel of Amazonians and experts.

The Amazon Disaster Relief Team was extremely grateful to partner with Michigan Ross students on the Challenge, with team members expressing excitement about the ideas generated. Students, too, found the Challenge to be an excellent start to their Ross experience; here’s what two of them had to say: “This was an amazing way to kick off my MBA program. It taught me so much about teamwork, leadership, and relationships. I feel so much closer with my section-mates after this, and I’m so glad I got to participate.”

“The Business+Impact Challenge helped me integrate what I learned throughout my career to date. I discovered my key strengths through the challenge and was able to use those skills to lead in my unique way and to coach others confidently.”

A post-Challenge survey of participants found that, compared to last year’s program, MBA students more often agreed or strongly agreed with the following statements: • “Everyone in our section was engaged and participated.”

• “The kickoff was energizing and provided clear information.”

• “The learning reflections and peer feedback provided me with insights.”

What’s more, following the Challenge, 90% of participants said they are likely or very likely to participate in future Sanger programs, further testament to the impact of Deloitte’s sponsorship of the program.

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MAcc/MSCM Business+Impact Challenge

aster of Accounting (MAcc) and Master of Supply Chain Management (MSCM) students kicked off their Ross experience with a fast-paced, one-day Business+Impact Challenge of their own as part of Fall 2018 orientation, thanks to Deloitte’s generous sponsorship. Sanger partnered with Michigan Ross Enriching Academics in Collaboration with High Schools (MREACH) to challenge MAcc and MSCM students to design the culminating event of the MREACH program. As Challenge participants learned, the goal of this event was threefold: to prepare high school students for college, to foster personal capabilities and “real-world” skills, and to increase awareness of MREACH programs within the Ross community.

Ross students enthusiastically tackled the Challenge, creating innovative concepts and prototypes that they presented to a panel of Ross faculty and MREACH staff and alumnae. The winning teams went on to design and implement their proposed event at the conclusion of the 2018-2019 MREACH Academic Year.

After the Challenge, participants were extremely positive, noting action-based programs that tackle real-world challenges push them out of their comfort zones and accelerate their leadership development.

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Ross Leaders Academy

he Ross Leaders Academy (RLA) is an advanced leadership development program for select students from across U-M. Made possible with generous support from the Deloitte Foundation, RLA gives students the opportunity to practice and hone four essential leadership skills: 1) enhancing self-awareness, 2) advancing self-development, 3) working with diverse individuals, and 4) building strong networks. RLA sessions are designed to be reflective, actionbased, and inspiring, as students work within teams to complete fun and engaging leadership challenges while supporting each other’s learning and development. RLA participants also benefit from one-on-one coaching with a certified coach and leave the program with a self-authored leadership vision statement expressing their unique leadership philosophy, values, purpose, strengths, and learning agenda.

The 2018-2019 RLA cohort included 50 students (37 graduate students and 13 undergraduates) representing nine different countries and nine schools and colleges across U-M, including Ross, Engineering, LSA, and the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance. As in previous years, students were enthusiastic about what they learned through their RLA experience: • 100% said they gained relevant leadership skills and insights.

• 97.8% said they will apply the insights and skills they developed.

• 97.8% said the unique, action-oriented format was conducive to their learning.

• 100% said the RLA team added great value to their experience.

As one Ross student stated, “Being a part of the Ross Leaders Academy was by far my favorite experience during my time at Ross. It is such a unique opportunity to learn about your own core values, leadership style, and perspective on the world. The Sanger team pushed me to think outside of my comfort zone and take on new perspectives, developing skills to deal with uncertainties in the future.

“However, the most incredible part of this journey was being surrounded by like-minded students from such diverse backgrounds—it truly was inspiring to interact with a group of people so committed to self-improvement, personal growth, and giving back to the community.”

Many thanks to the Deloitte Foundation for your continued support of Leaders and Best at Michigan Ross!