Stanford Leadership Forum 2026: Opening

Ken Shotts, the new Vélez Reyes Director of the Stanford Leadership Institute, welcomed attendees to the Stanford Leadership Forum. He highlighted that while personal style and character are crucial for leadership, the rapidly changing world demands more. Leaders of major companies, governments, and organizations must navigate complex contextual forces like scientific and technological advancements (including AI), sustainability concerns, volatile markets, domestic and geopolitical tensions, and cultural shifts. Stanford aims to prepare leaders by integrating scholarly knowledge with deep practical experience. The university encourages community engagement on important societal issues, recognizing that leaders need a profound understanding of these contextual forces. Additionally, leaders must develop a principled view of their role and their organization's responsibilities within society, as they have the agency to shape how these forces impact their organizations and the world. Developing this knowledge and principled values requires engaging with diverse perspectives, even those one disagrees with. This approach better positions leaders and society to make sound decisions and build necessary institutions to face future challenges. Shotts officially launched the Stanford Leadership Institute (SLI), whose mission is to equip leaders with insights and strategies to navigate and shape the world, improving business and governance. The institute serves as an interdisciplinary hub for research, teaching, and convening, bringing together expertise from Stanford and beyond. The SLI builds upon the Business Governance Society Initiative, which has already funded over 100 research projects and hosted numerous events and conferences on topics like sustainability and AI. The institute will extend GSB knowledge to broader audiences while infusing the business school with fresh insights from outside. Shotts thanked foundational donors Andreas and Diane Halvorsen for their vision. The forum will foster conversations among participants, enabling them to become better leaders. Shotts then introduced Dean Sarah Sewell and former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for the first session.