Established in 2000 with the generous support of the Wexner Foundation, we are the newest of the various research centers at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. We are committed to advancing the intellectual frontiers of the burgeoning field of Leadership Studies, setting new standards of excellence in the practice and teaching of leadership, and preparing new generations of public leaders. It is not the exclusive sphere of Presidents and Prime Ministers, or indeed of elected officials of any sort. Public leadership is exercised by those with and without formal titles, with and without formal authority.
Public leaders are anonymous and conspicuous.
Public leadership exists on the world stage and just around the block. Clearly, the world is now on the cusp of a new age offering opportunities unimaginable only a few decades ago. The end of the Cold War has unleashed powerful democratic forces that are extending the boundaries of freedom across the globe. Capitalism is also surging as never before, linking peoples and nations in a new system of globalization that is rapidly evolving. Revolutions in technology and science are accelerating the forces of change, allowing instantaneous communication and perhaps one day producing an era of unparalleled abundance.