About the Warren Bennis Leadership Institute

Established in 2023, the Warren Bennis Leadership Institute impacts students from all disciplines on UC’s campus, continues to be a pioneer in the field of leadership research, and works with executives and community leaders across the greater Cincinnati area to empower and equip trailblazers in the region.

While founded and supported by the Carl H. Lindner College of Business, the Warren Bennis Leadership Institute is proud to be an interdisciplinary institute for all students from any college and major, as well as individuals and groups from all industries, sectors and disciplines. WBLI’s location on the third floor of the 1819 Innovation Hub allows it to be at the intersection of industry and UC’s talent and resources. The Institute is firmly rooted in the teachings of Warren Bennis and simultaneously seeks to develop new and innovative leadership development approaches.

Throughout the 2023-2024 academic year, the Warren Bennis Leadership Institute has collected data to measure its impact on UC students. Over 1,000 students have engaged in WBLI extracurricular leadership experiences, workshops and events. This impact reaches all parts of campus and includes students from all 16 colleges at the University of Cincinnati, including UC online and both branch campuses (Clermont and Blue Ash).

Students impacted include undergraduate students (first year through fifth year), master’s students, and PhD students. Twenty-seven students were chosen for leadership positions within the Institute, serving as Student Fellows, Bennis Student Ambassadors and members of the Warren Bennis Leadership Experience student organization.

This year, the Institute has offered the annual Warren Bennis Leadership Experience reaching hundreds of students, facilitated over 15 workshops, piloted a four-month program to empower women in leadership, delivered six additional WBLI-specific programs, offered comprehensive mentorship training through coaching skill development, and taught two credit-bearing undergraduate honors seminar courses, for a total of over 25 experiences and opportunities for students to engage in.