Leading with High Purpose
The MBA International Capstone Experience is built around a central idea: leadership is not only about performance—it is about purpose.
As part of the 2026 capstone in Rome, students were challenged to think beyond traditional definitions of business education. Rather than focusing solely on technical knowledge or career advancement, the experience invited deeper reflection:
For what high purpose am I called to lead?
Throughout the week, students engaged with this question across a series of immersive experiences that connected history, global business, and ethical leadership.
Walking through the ruins of ancient Rome, students examined how leadership decisions shaped the rise and fall of entire civilizations. Inside Vatican City, they encountered one of the world’s most enduring institutions, an example of leadership grounded in mission, tradition, and global influence.
The experience also brought students face-to-face with modern challenges. Discussions on artificial intelligence, human dignity, and the future of work highlighted the responsibility leaders carry in shaping systems that serve not just efficiency, but the common good.
Through seminars on Catholic social teaching and conversations with leaders from academic, diplomatic, and religious institutions, students explored how principles such as justice, prudence, fortitude, and temperance are not abstract ideals but practical foundations for effective leadership.
This integration of reflection and real-world exposure is what defines the capstone as more than an international trip. It is a formative experience, one that challenges students to align their professional ambitions with a broader sense of responsibility.
As the program concludes, students are left with a question that extends far beyond Rome:
What kind of leader will you choose to become, and for what purpose will you lead?
