The Jesuit leadership model, ingrained with values dating back to 1540, permeates many modern MBA programs. Explore how the Jesuit MBA network harnesses these principles to sculpt leaders of tomorrow.
The International Association of Jesuit Universities (IAJU) is the umbrella organization for Jesuit universities around the world. Francisco de Borja Martin Garrido is the Director of International Relations at Loyola University Andalusia, which is the only private, non-profit Jesuit university in the south of Spain.
Borja was part of the committee that founded the association. He says that although the organization transcends borders, they are bound together by the shared Jesuit values of faith, and justice. “What brings us all together is the values that we stand for,” he says. “Of faith and justice and promoting opportunities to transform the people to be the men and women for others that we want them to become.” (04:03)
But Borja says that doesn’t mean Jesuit universities only welcome Catholic students. Jesuits are well known for engaging in religious dialogue, collaborating with other faiths, and being open to discussions encompassing all kinds of cultures. Openness has always been a key Jesuit value, and these universities are simply continuing that tradition. (04:47)
The Society of Jesus, commonly called the Jesuits, are a religious order within the Catholic Church. Founded in 1540 by the Saint Ignatius of Loyola, the Jesuits were established to promote the Catholic faith. Historically, the Jesuits focused on establishing missions around the world. Jesuit priests would spread the word of Christianity and act as soldiers of God.
While the focus on establishing missions to far-flung lands isn’t quite as strong nowadays, the Jesuits continue to promote their values in other ways. One of those is through education.
There are now around 180 Jesuit universities across the globe. Although not always overtly religious, these institutions build their core principles on traditional Jesuit teaching.
By working together, these universities are popularizing new approaches to teaching and learning. This even extends to the world of business.
One may not typically associate the teachings of a traditional religious order with a world-class business degree. But the Jesuit MBA network is proving that Jesuit teachings are also relevant to modern MBA programs.
Loyola University Andalusia is in the process of joining the Jesuit MBA network, which brings together 30 MBA programs from around the world. Students who complete a program belonging to the Jesuit MBA network have a number of advantages, including:
These programs also have a shared approach to teaching. For example, the program at Loyola Marymount University embraces the Jesuit ideal of “educating the whole person.” It is centered around growing students both personally and professionally.
Meanwhile, MBA students at the Quinlan School of Business are allowed to visit the career centers of other Jesuit-accredited programs around the country. This close collaboration gives students within the Jesuit MBA network a unique advantage.
According to Borja, the Jesuit leadership model can be summarized in four guiding principles:
These four principles are all based around valuing people. “We promote a principle that means cura personalis, which is people at the center,” says Borja. “We train and we work with our students and our university community in all senses, not just only as professionals but actually as individuals, as people with belief, and people that want to have a meaningful life.” (05:56)
The Jesuit leadership model is about inspiring people to seek greater meaning in life and to achieve greater things. It aims to inspire people to make a difference in the world, inside and outside of business.
What’s more, Borja says the Jesuit leadership principles reflect modern management styles. “All these new management styles are also based on who you are and what you can accomplish, not solely as an individual but actually as a group,” he says. As Borja summarizes, “you cannot lead others if you don’t lead yourself.” (10:53)
Business schools today are starting to incorporate Jesuit ideas that began hundreds of years ago. After all, the Jesuit values of faith and justice are just as relevant now as they ever were.
Reach out to an MBA ambassador if you’d like to find out more about studying at a Jesuit institution.
