Business schools play a key role in preparing future leaders, and their courses on leadership are a core part of accomplishing this. There is ongoing debate about the extent to which business schools prepare future leaders to handle challenging, ambiguous situations in a complex world. Criticism often focuses on business school curricula, perceived as overly individualistic, instrumentalist, and finance-oriented, failing to teach essential skills such as critical thinking . Many educational programs emphasize the career-enhancing and salary-increasing aspects of business education, in contrast to viewing organizational management as a profession pursued out of intrinsic interest or a sense of service—qualities more suitable for leadership in an era of social responsibility and global crisis. This raises the question: what educational approaches can enhance future leaders' ability to navigate a complex world where challenging, ambiguous situations demand new thinking and innovative solutions? We propose that an arts-based method can complement current leadership approaches commonly and assist in developing future leaders who can better deal with challenging situations. This session introduces an arts-based method that complements existing approaches to leadership education, along with preliminary insights into its application.
This session is part of the Teaching and Learning Conference (TLC@AOM). Space is limited; separate complimentary TLC@AOM pre-registration on a first-come, first-served basis is required. The TLC@AOM registration deadline is 27 July 2025, unless sold out. Register for TLC@AOM.
