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2024-25 Leadership Development Program

The Dignity-Based Leadership Development Series for the 2024-2025 academic year launched on Sept. 25, 2024, with a professional development workshop on fostering dignity and belonging. Led by Jackson Nickerson, Ph.D., Edward Jones Dean of the Chaifetz School of Business and a renowned scholar in the field, this workshop set the tone for a year of impactful dignity-based leadership development opportunities.

Sept. 25, 2024: Professional Development Workshop: Fostering Dignity and Belonging

Participants seated at tables in a classroom setting, with a presenter standing in the front of the room delivering a presentation.
 

The Emerson Leadership Institute at Saint Louis University’s Chaifetz School of Business hosted its first Fostering Dignity and Belonging workshop as part of the 2024–2025 Dignity Based Leadership Development Series. Facilitated by Nickerson, the session welcomed 35 faculty and staff for an engaging exploration of dignity in leadership. Participants reflected on personal experiences of belonging and alienation, evaluated meeting structures for dignity violations, and learned strategies to create more inclusive environments.

Oct. 11, 2024: Second Iteration of the Professional Development Workshop: Fostering Dignity and Belonging

A man standing in the front of a room presenting to a participant
 

The Emerson Leadership Institute at Saint Louis University’s Chaifetz School of Business hosted its second Fostering Dignity and Belonging workshop as part of the 2024–2025 Dignity Based Leadership Development Series. Led by Nickerson, the interactive workshop invited faculty and staff to explore key concepts such as dignity, belonging, alienation, and inclusive leadership practices. Participants engaged in partner discussions, reflected on personal experiences, and applied five actionable meeting principles designed to foster dignity and psychological safety in team settings.

Nov. 1, 2024: Professional Development Workshop: Formulating the Right Problem

a man presenting in front of a group of people
 

The Emerson Leadership Institute at Saint Louis University’s Chaifetz School of Business hosted the Formulating the Right Problem workshop as part of its 2024–2025 Leadership Development Series. Facilitated by Nickerson, the session guided participants through strategies to avoid one of the most common pitfalls in organizational decision making: solving the wrong problem. Attendees explored cognitive biases, team dynamics, and structured processes designed to improve problem formulation and enhance leadership effectiveness. Through interactive exercises and discussion, participants gained practical tools for identifying root causes, aligning teams, and creating more effective and sustainable solutions.

Nov. 26, 2024: Third Iteration of the Professional Development Workshop: Fostering Dignity and Belonging

a man standing and presenting in front of a group of people seated at desks
 

The Emerson Leadership Institute at Saint Louis University’s Chaifetz School of Business hosted its third Fostering Dignity and Belonging workshop as part of the 2024–2025 Dignity Based Leadership Development Series. The interactive session welcomed SLU faculty and staff to explore the role of dignity in leadership and team development. Participants examined key concepts such as dignity, dignity violations, belonging and alienation, and learned five practical meeting principles designed to foster more inclusive and respectful environments. Through guided exercises and discussion, attendees applied these principles to real-world scenarios and reflected on ways to enhance team performance and psychological safety across campus settings.

Jan. 24, 2025: Panel Discussion: A Dialogue on Dimensions of Dignity

a man sits in the middle of a row of people speaking into a microphone
 

The Emerson Leadership Institute at Saint Louis University’s Chaifetz School of Business, in collaboration with Barry-Wehmiller, hosted A Dialogue on Dimensions of Dignity as part of the 2024–2025 Dignity Based Leadership Development Series. The fireside chat brought together distinguished leaders and scholars to examine how dignity shapes workplace culture, leadership effectiveness, and individual well-being. Panelists explored the impact of dignity violations in modern organizations and discussed practical strategies for fostering a culture of respect and belonging. Featured speakers included Nickerson; Donna Hicks, author of "Leading with Dignity" and associate at Harvard University; and David Suwalsky, S.J., vice president for mission and identity at Saint Louis University. Rochelle Smith, vice president for diversity and innovative community engagement at SLU, served as moderator. The program opened with remarks from Provost Mike Lewis, Ph.D., and included time for audience engagement and discussion.

Feb. 14, 2025: Professional Development Workshop: Leading Change from the Middle

a women in the middle of two other people sits talking at a desk
 

The Emerson Leadership Institute at Saint Louis University’s Chaifetz School of Business hosted the Leading Change from the Middle workshop as part of the 2024–2025 Dignity Based Leadership Development Series. Designed for faculty and staff in midlevel leadership roles, the interactive session introduced a dignity based approach to navigating change initiatives. Participants explored how to identify relevant stakeholders, apply the CoSTS framework consisting of communications, strategies, tactics and sequencing, and build relationships that promote collaboration and reduce resistance. Through practical discussion and application, attendees gained tools to lead change more effectively while fostering a culture of trust, respect and inclusion.

March 28, 2025: Be Heard Women in Leadership Conference

A woman speaks to a crowd during the Women in Leadership Panel at the Be Heard Women in Leadership Conference.
 

The Emerson Leadership Institute and the Division of Diversity and Innovative Community Engagement at Saint Louis University co-hosted the fourth annual Be Heard: Women in Leadership Conference at SLU’s Il Monastero Banquet Center. The event brought together academics, business leaders, and students from across the St. Louis region to explore the theme of fostering dignity and belonging. The program opened with a leadership development workshop presented by Barry-Wehmiller and The Gund Company, followed by welcome remarks from university leadership. A panel discussion featured senior executives from organizations including Edward Jones, World Wide Technology, and the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Marilyn Bush, president of Bank of America St. Louis, delivered the keynote address. Participants gained insight into behaviors that support inclusive workplaces, how dignity shapes organizational culture, and the role of leadership in advancing equity and belonging. The event concluded with lunch and networking. Sponsors included the Chaifetz Center for Entrepreneurship, Mike Medart Women in Leadership Grant, and Saint Louis University School of Medicine.

April 22, 2025: Professional Development Workshop: The Power of Negotiations

a man presenting in front of a group of people sitting at desks
 

The “Negotiating Through Dignity and Belonging” workshop concluded the Dignity-Based Leadership Development Series for the 2024–2025 academic year. Hosted at the Chaifetz School of Business, the professional development session explored how leaders can approach negotiations not just to win but to create lasting value and foster dignity and belonging within their communities. Participants engaged with topics such as identifying the right issues, involving the appropriate stakeholders, and crafting agreements designed to endure. The workshop offered a fresh perspective on negotiation strategies aimed at enhancing leadership effectiveness.