The Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics has undergone a strategic transformation to align its governance structure with a mission to develop leaders for a sustainable and equitable world. A ten-year institutional vision was co-developed and endorsed by faculty and staff, embedding the principle of using business as a force for good across all strategic and operational decisions.

This shift is operationalized through the design of Management 1000, the required introductory course for all first-year students. Developed as a central onboarding tool for Lang’s values and leadership philosophy, the course culminates in The Great Ethical Dilemma, a simulation where student teams act as corporate decision-makers facing an urgent ethical challenge. Students develop and present a strategic response to a panel of industry judges, integrating ethical reasoning, sustainability, and business theory. This initiative positions ethics as a foundational component of Lang’s academic governance.

Governance structures also reflect a deep commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. A Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) course is now a compulsory part of the core curriculum. The EDI Case Competition, developed and delivered in partnership with students, further illustrates shared responsibility in program design and delivery.

Lang’s leadership prioritizes early engagement with future students. The Lang Leadership Academy and Business Pentathlon invite over 400 high school students annually to participate in ethics- and sustainability-focused activities, strengthening alignment between external outreach and internal values.
Institutional governance at Lang is characterized by a values-based strategy, curriculum alignment, and active student participation in co-creating ethical business education. These mechanisms ensure that governance is not only top-down but also inclusive, transparent, and oriented toward long-term positive impact. They are designed to make sure that students aren’t just prepared for the future, but are empowered to shape it.