Our History

Alma Mater

 

The Bernstein Center for Leadership and Ethics

The Bernstein Center acts as the character backbone of Columbia Business School by bringing leadership and ethics out of theory and into real, lived conversations and experiences.

Founded in 2003 through a generous gift from the Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. Foundation, the Center reflects a longstanding commitment to principled leadership. The foundation was affiliated with the firm established in 1967 by the late Sanford C. Bernstein. Today, the company is known as AllianceBernstein—one of the world’s leading independent investment management firms, widely recognized for its rigorous research and high professional standards.

A Letter From Our Faculty Director, Modupe Akinola

Welcome to the Bernstein Center for Leadership and Ethics.

For more than two decades, the Bernstein Center has prepared students to lead with integrity and purpose. Through our curriculum, experiential programming, and research, we challenge students to think beyond short-term outcomes and consider the impact of their decisions on their teams, organizations, and society.

Business today demands leaders who can navigate uncertainty, manage competing stakeholder interests, lead teams through complex challenges, and create meaningful impact. The Bernstein Center helps students practice these skills through leadership development programs, candid dialogue, and engagement with top executives, faculty, and alumni.

Modupe Akinola interviewing Ed Bastian

 

At the core of our work is values-based leadership. From the start of their Columbia Business School experience, students are asked to identify the values that guide them and understand how those values shape their decisions, especially under pressure. This is aligned with our belief that leaders who are grounded in their values are better equipped to navigate difficult choices, act consistently, and build trust across differences.

In an environment often defined by performance and achievement, we create space for reflection and growth by encouraging students to think critically about how they lead, not just what they accomplish. This work is made possible by the students, faculty, staff, and network of supporters who believe ethical leadership is essential to the future of business.

We look forward to supporting you throughout your leadership journey at CBS and beyond.

Modupe Akinola
Barbara and David Zalaznick Professor of Business, Columbia Business School