This month, Stanford Universitys Graduate School of Business announced the launch of the Stanford Executive Education Black Leaders Program, a new online offering for Black leaders and allies focused on strengthening personal and organizational leadership.

This is the only program of its kind offered by a leading business school, representatives said. At its core, the initiative is designed for promising Black leaders preparing to take on increasing levels of responsibility and challenges as they move into more senior leadership or management roles. Allies interested in collective empowerment of minority leaders are encouraged to join as well.

Not A Program About Race:

This is not a program about race, said Faculty Director Brian S. Lowery, the Walter Kenneth Kilpatrick Professor of Organizational Behavior and Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Its a program about leadership for people who will manage how others think about race.

What will its curriculum entail? The three-part program begins with live online coursework in August and ends in November, after a three-month personal leadership project. It will incorporate the foundational leadership education that Stanford Graduate School of Business is known for including how to scale your organization, Lowery said, Significant elements will examine the implications of being Black in predominantly white spaces, and how to manage identity effectively and proactively.

The format of the program lends itself to training and collaborative learning. Live faculty-led lectures, expert speakers, and group discussions will create an environment in which program participants will gain strategic toolkits to build leadership capacity. Ultimately, from a practical standpoint, these learnings will be put into action during the capstone project a personal career advancement project that kicks off during the live online sessions and continues for three months with small-group coaching and feedback from peers.

Racial Inequities Are Symptomatic Of The Need For This Program:

In July 2020, Stanford GSB released its Action Plan for Racial Equity, which signaled the schools intention to create a Black leadership executive program. One of the goals outlined in the plan is to make lasting, positive change toward eliminating bias and anti-Black racism beyond its campus.

Against the backdrop of the killing of George Floyd last year and the subsequent global call for justice for Black lives, the timing for creating this program is astute. However, the events on race relations that unfolded in the last 12 months are not the primary rationale for this launch. Weve needed such a program for decades, Lowery said, the current state of racial inequities are symptomatic of the need for such an offering.

In many ways then, this program builds on Stanford GSBs pioneering portfolio of personal leadership training focused on diversifying the top rungs of the corporate ladder.

Naturally though, only a select few individuals will be able to attend (or afford) this breakthrough program. The job does not end upon completion it is essential that Stanford equips participants with ways to disseminate the best practices they learn. Only then can the impact of this program push organizational change.

An NBA Team Stands Behind It:

The benefits of the program can be expected to extend beyond individuals professional development which is why industry leaders beyond just the realm of corporate finance have poured in support.

The Atlanta Hawks, an American basketball team that competes in the National Basketball Association, has pledged its partnership.

An NBA team coupling with a business school what are the odds? Turns out, the synchrony is impressive. Camye Mackey, Chief People, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer of the Atlanta Hawks, sees the Stanford Program as a way to strengthen individuals driven to serve the communities in which they live. This civic-minded approach to leadership development ripples beyond the individual a value that the Hawks resonate with. Just as important to us is the impact of leaders on the community. We know that diversity in our organization serves as a positive model for residents and other companies in the greater Atlanta community, Mackey said.

But perhaps the most salient feature of the Black Leaders Program is its ability to provide leaders from minority backgrounds a safe environment to tackle complex ideas that they would not otherwise confront in traditionally white spaces.

The reality is: To deal with complexity, it is imperative to embrace ones authentic self. This is not simple. Because often, authenticitys unintended consequence is vulnerability the act of expressing your true self is accompanied with letting your armor down. It makes sense then why people of color need safe spaces where they can reflect on systemic inequities, heal from trauma and empower through mutual empathy. Stanfords Black Leaders Program emulates this spirit of shared exploration.