Values Propositions
All leaders encounter complex situations without easy answers, where they must navigate conflicting priorities, cultural differences, and human emotion. We talked with Yale SOM alumni about how they draw on their core values in critical moments.
The Values Propositions series is made possible by The Forrest E. Mars, Sr. Fund for Values and Ethics in Management.
The Art and Science of Delivering Impact
To take on the problems associated with poverty in New York City, Emary Aronson ’97, chief knowledge officer of the Robin Hood Foundation, takes a data-driven and heart-led approach. She describes how the organization has focused on outcomes and been able to pivot quickly to lead emergency relief efforts.
Government Can Be the Solution
For investment banker Carol Samuels ’86, a key value is helping government make a difference in people’s lives, by applying financial tools and long-term thinking.
Keeping Community in the Investment Equation
In this series, leaders tell stories about drawing on their core values in critical moments. For Lofton Holder ’90, grounding investing acumen in a connection to community builds trust and delivers returns.
How Trust Can Power Renewable Energy
Lily Donge ’97 talked with us about how building trust is critical for any kind of real innovation—and how it’s helped her develop new models for scaling renewable energy.
How Balancing Creativity and Rigor Helped Disney Build a Star Wars Vacation Experience
Architect Ann Morrow Johnson ’14 is the executive producer and executive creative director for Walt Disney Imagineering’s immersive vacation experience Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser. We talked with her about balancing innovative creativity and strategic rigor.
Suzanne Lagarde ’14 on Giving Back
We talked with Dr. Suzanne Lagarde ’14, CEO of Fair Haven Community Health Care, about delivering healthcare to those who need it most.
Jane Mendillo ’84 on Partnership
Jane Mendillo ’84, a member of the board of directors of General Motors and the former CEO of the Harvard Management Company, on how her partnership with her husband, Ralph Earle ’84, has formed the foundation for her life and career.
Curtis Chin ’90 on Navigating Right and Wrong across Cultures
Curtis Chin ’90, Asia Fellow at the Milken Institute, on finding solutions to cross-cultural ethical dilemmas.
James Robertson ’99 on the Fallout from Doing the Right Thing
James Robertson ’99, former CEO of the India HIV/AIDS Alliance, on facing the consequences of a tough ethical call—and the unexpected upside that can result.
Ranji Nagaswami ’86 on Telling Hard Truths
As chief investment adviser for New York City, Ranji Nagaswami ’86 delivered the unvarnished truth when she discovered unwelcome news about the city’s pension funds.
Ken Ofori-Atta ’88 on Going Where You Can Make a Difference
Ken Ofori-Atta ’88, finance minister of Ghana, on integrity and the risks required to strengthen society.
Danguole Altman ’85 on Career and Family
Danguole Altman ’85, founder of Vapogenix, on the choices she made as she led multiple companies and raised a family.
Colonel Rich Morales ’99 on Integrity as an Organizational Foundation
We talked to U.S. Army Colonel Rich Morales ’99 about the complexity of integrity and its roles in leadership and learning.
Neal Keny-Guyer ’82 on Serving Humanitarian Needs in Conflict Zones
Neal Keny-Guyer ’82, the CEO of Mercy Corps, on negotiating with extremist groups to provide humanitarian relief in conflict zones.
Nancy Pfund ’82 on Tradeoffs in Impact Investing
Impact investor Nancy Pfund ’82 discusses the tradeoffs that inevitably occur when you try to put values into practice.
