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Hendrickson Institute for Ethical Leadership Forum

Once a year, an internationally recognized speaker comes to the Twin Cities to engage Saint Mary’s faculty, staff, and students, and the local business community in conversation.

From global migration to microfinance, world-altering events to the new world order, Saint Mary’s University’s annual Hendrickson Forum is a venue for thought-provoking information and discussion. Also at the forum, a local leader receives the Hendrickson Institute Medal for Ethical Leadership and speaks briefly about their professional experiences.

2026 Keynote: Joanne Ciulla, Ph.D.

Details:

  • Date: April 10, 11 a.m.
  • Location: Saint Mary’s Event Center, 2540 Park Ave.
  • Parking: Complimentary valet parking is available, and free nearby parking is available off of Oakland Avenue.
  • Registration: Check back for information in February.

Joanne Ciulla, Ph.D.

Professor of, pioneer, and renowned author on the topic of leadership ethics

Joanne B. Ciulla, Ph.D., is professor and director of the Institute for Ethical Leadership at Rutgers University Business School and a pioneer in the field of leadership ethics.  

Dr. Ciulla’s research focuses on the ethical challenges of leadership — a topic that matches perfectly with the mission of the Hendrickson Institute and its annual public forum.

She has also written extensively on topics in business ethics such as meaningful work, business ethics, international leadership, and the philosophy of work. Before joining Rutgers, she held the Coston Family Chair in Leadership and Ethics at the Jepson School of Leadership Studies (at the University of Richmond), where she was one of the school’s founders. She also has held academic appointments at Harvard Business School, The Wharton School, and LaSalle University.

Dr. Ciulla has received Lifetime Achievement Awards from The Society for Business Ethics, the International Leadership Association, and the Network of Leadership Scholars at the Academy of Management. In addition, she is the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award for Service to the field of business ethics from the Society for Business Ethics among many other awards.

She sits on the editorial boards of “The Business Ethics Quarterly,” “The Leadership Quarterly,” and “Leadership” and edits the “New Horizons in Leadership Studies Series” (Edward Elgar), one of the largest collections of books from the humanities and the social sciences on leadership. She has served as president of The Society for Business Ethics and The International Society for Business, Ethics, and Economics. She has been an expert witness, consulted, and given lectures and seminars to business, government, and non-profit organizations worldwide.

Past Keynote Speakers and Videos

  • New York Times bestselling author — and renowned expert on human happiness — Arthur C. Brooks is the Parker Gilbert Montgomery professor of the Practice of Public and Nonprofit Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School, and professor of Management Practice at the Harvard Business School, where he teaches courses on leadership and happiness.

    Focusing on his best-selling book, “Love Your Enemies,” Brooks explains America is afflicted with a “culture of contempt.” It is increasingly common for people to view those who disagree with them as worthless, insteadof just misguided or incorrect. This is fomented by an “outrage industrial complex” in media and politics. Through ancient wisdom and cutting-edge behavioral science, Brooks provides a roadmap to the prosperity that comes when we choose to love one another – gaining strength from our differences.

    No video available.

  • Jon Clifton, CEO of the Gallup Organization,  discussed his Wall Street Journal Best Seller, “Blind Spot: The Global Rise of Unhappiness and How Leaders Missed It.”

    He explained that while leaders pay close attention to measures like GDP or unemployment, almost none of them track their citizens’ wellbeing and that the implications of this blind spot are significant and far-reaching.

    No video available.

  • David Brooks, bi-weekly op-ed columnist for the New York Times and regular analyst on PBS NewsHour and NPR’s All Things Considered, talked about his New York Times bestseller, “The Road to Character” — explaining why selflessness leads to greater success and describing how we can all strive to build rich inner lives, marked by humility and moral depth.

  • Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist widely considered to be one of the world’s leading experts on the psychology of morality, specifically addressed the ethics of capitalism, which requires that we first understand why the left and the right disagree so sharply about what it is and what its effects are.

    No Video Available

  • Nicholas A. Christakis, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., director of Yale University’s Human Nature Lab and co-director of the Yale Institute for Network Science, addressed how certain kinds of social artificial intelligence (AI) might best be used to enhance our society.

  • Renowned journalist, Cokie Roberts, named a “Living Legend” by the Library of Congress (2008), is one of the most esteemed and brilliant broadcast journalists of our time.

  • International best-selling author and global consultant Jackie Freiberg is dedicated to helping companies and organizations foster work environments where innovation is a product of risk taking, facing failures and seizing opportunities, all while empowering employees to do their best work.

  • As The Economist’s editor-in-chief and former Washington editor, economics editor, and business affairs editor, Zanny Minton Beddoes delivers unmatched insights and global perspective on the various economic elements at work in presentations that are constantly evolving along with global economic conditions and circumstances.

     

  • Jon Huntsman, Jr., former Governor of Utah (2005–2009) and former United States Ambassador to China (2009–2011) presented “Global Leadership: Our Future with China.” Huntsman shared his keen insights behind modern news headlines—from China and the economy to business abroad, as well as intellectual property protection.

  • James Stavridis, former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO and Retired U.S. Navy Admiral,  presented “The Ethics of Cyber Security.” He brought to light how in our increasingly connected world, we digitally share more and more of our personal information, the security risks that brings, and what can be done at the business, national, and international levels to ensure our data security.

  • Sheila Bair, former chair of the FDIC, presented “Main Street vs. Wall Street and the New Financial Paradigm.” Named second most powerful woman in the world by Forbes, Bair challenged “too big to fail” institutions on behalf of “Main Street.” Bair addressed turning short-term gratification into long-term economic stability, producing value to generate meaningful economic gains, and looking toward global challenges.

  • Dr. Ian Bremmer, president, of Eurasia Group, presented “Rocking the World Order: How Changing Politics, Economics, and Geography Impact Us.” He addressed the seismic shifts taking place in the world order that affect the global economy and rise (and fall) of nations. He shared what experts track and also precautions people can take.

  • Sue Gardner, executive director of Wikimedia Foundation, presented “Why Wikipedia Matters.” With nearly half a billion readers at the time, Wikipedia’s regarded as the most popular encyclopedia in human history. Gardner discussed how Wikipedia has changed access to information and what the future might hold.

  • Jacqueline Novogratz, CEO of Acumen Fund, presented “Social Capitalism: An ‘App’ to Fight Poverty.” Novogratz reported on Acumen’s progress in addressing practical health, food, and business issues based on her extensive international experience. Her empowering approach brought about change in global aid and development in the U.S. and abroad.

  • Dr. Marcelo Suarez-Orozco, professor of globalization and education at New York University, presented “Global Migration: Best Practices for Business and Society in a Changing World.” At the time, one in every 35 people traveling via plane were working, living, or moving across national borders. Suarez-Orozco discussed modern migration and the profound implications for individuals, businesses, and society.

  • John Howard, former Prime Minister of Australia, presented “Leadership in a Global Economy.” Howard discussed the role of world leaders in a new century, events addressing the growing concerns of globalization and global economics, the environment, and threats to international security. He explained ways and the degrees to which China, India, and the Pacific Rim may participate.

  • John Micklethwait, editor-in-chief of The Economist, presented “Globalization and the Economy of the Future.” He provided a briefing on the world’s economy with commentary on globalization, where it’s headed, and opportunities for positive impact.

Hendrickson Medal for Ethical Leadership

  • 2025

    Corie Barry, CEO of Best Buy Co., Inc.

    2024

    Mary Jo Copeland, Founder and Director of Sharing and Caring Hands in Minneapolis

    2023

    Alan Page, former Minnesota Viking and State Supreme Court Justice (retired)

    2022

    Tony Sanneh, decorated professional soccer player and local nonprofit founder

    2020

    Mary Jane Melendez, Chief sustainability and social impact officer for General Mills President of the General Mills Foundation.

    2019

    Brad Hewitt, former CEO of Thrivent Financial

    2018

    Rhoda Olsen, Vice chair of the Great Clips, Inc. Board of Directors

    2016

    Inge Thulin, Chairman of the Board, President, and Chief Executive Officer of 3M

    2015

    Mary Brainerd, president and CEO, HealthPartners

    2014

    Chris Policinski, president and CEO of Land O’Lakes

    2013

    Doug Baker, Jr., chair and CEO of Ecolab, Inc.

    2012

    Yvonne Cheung Ho, CEO of MEDA (retired)

    2011

    Richard Davis, president of U.S. Bancorp

    2010

    Dr. Eric J. Jolly, president of the Science Museum of Minnesota

    2009

    Charles Denny, president and CEO of ADC Telecommunications (retired)

    2008

    Warren and Mary Lynn Staley, CEO of Cargill (retired) and philanthropists

  • AWARD CRITERIA

    Nominees for the award will be ethical leaders that reflect and have demonstrated the following principles noted in Doing Right in a Shrinking World by Brother Louis DeThomasis and Neal St. Anthony:

    • An attitude that embraces diversity, differences, and ambiguity;
    • An appreciation for the gift of globally diverse cultures including our own;
    • A creative imagination that leads not to change, but to transformation;
    • The language of stewardship and abundance that transcends ideology;
    • An acceptance of and enthusiasm for the positive integration of faith and finance;
    • An unwavering commitment to do good and to give more; and
    • Faith that the outcome of giving more is that we receive more for ourselves, and for all of humankind.

    Nominees should demonstrate one or more of the following:

    • Makes a significant contribution to the community
    • Employs ethical approaches that are innovative or creative, whether for a business or the community
    • Provides an example of an ethical decision that was in some way transformational for others (employees, customers, volunteers, the community) and the resources and influence used to accomplish this
    • Serves as a role model for young and emerging ethical leaders
    ELIGIBILITY

    The medal may be presented to any individual who is an ethical business leader and lives in the 11-county Twin Cities metropolitan area (Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Washington, or Wright counties) or the three-county Winona area (Olmsted, Wabasha, or Winona counties).

    Those not eligible for this award include employees, current students, and those involved in governance, on a paid or volunteer basis, of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.

About the Hendrickson Institute

 

The Hendrickson Institute for Ethical Leadership is a center for excellence at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota for the formation of ethical leadership skills in our students and our community. By providing a forum for the exploration of ethical issues, the institute supports the university’s mission to “awaken, nurture, and empower learners to ethical lives of service and leadership.”

Through intense inquiry on issues of ethical leadership and by fostering personal relationships, the institute is a resource for our students and our communities to explore, examine, and discover the truths in the world around us and the character within each of us.

Hendrickson Forum Sponsors:

 

For information on sponsorship opportunities for the 2026 Hendrickson Forum, please contact Kevin Ebben, director for strategic partnerships, at 612-238-4573 or kebben@smumn.edu.