MIT has a long history of turning leadership upside down, starting with the founder of social psychology Kurt Lewin and continuing with a series of foundational leadership scholars. This was formalized in the founding of the MIT Leadership Center by Deborah Ancona in 2005. We’re continuing their mission to share MIT’s brand of leadership with students who will become tomorrow’s problem solvers, tomorrow’s leaders.
Read more about the Center's history
Our Vision
A global MIT community who engages and enables others to confront and solve the world’s pressing problems.
Our Mission
The MIT Leadership Center helps students build the self-knowledge and collaborative capability necessary to make positive organizational and societal change.
Our Team
We are a small but mighty team dedicated to helping MIT students develop as dynamic leaders equipped to collaborate with others to solve the world’s most pressing problems.
Our team

Nelson P. Repenning
Management Science
School of Management Distinguished Professor of System Dynamics and Organization Studies
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Tracy Purinton
Senior Director and Lecturer, MIT Leadership Center
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Abby Berenson
Director, MIT Leadership Center
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Jennifer Montana
Associate Director, MIT Leadership Center
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Nicki Roth
Executive Coaching Lead, MIT Leadership Center
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Allison Pepi
Program Coordinator, MIT Leadership Center
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Mario Marzano
Senior Administrative Assistant
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Deborah Ancona
Founder, Seley Distinguished Professor of Management
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James Rhee
Senior Lecturer, MIT Sloan School of Management
Executive in Residence and Strategic Advisor, MIT Leadership Center
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- E52-255, 50 Memorial Dr., Cambridge, MA 02142
- mitleadership@mit.edu
- Tel: (617) 253-6222
MIT Leadership Center Community

Bridget Scott Akinc
Behavioral and Policy Sciences
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Deborah L. Ancona
Behavioral and Policy Sciences
Seley Distinguished Professor of Management
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Pat Bentley
Behavioral and Policy Sciences
Senior Lecturer, MIT Leadership Center
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Kara Blackburn
Behavioral and Policy Sciences
Senior Lecturer, Managerial Communication
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Emilio J. Castilla
Behavioral and Policy Sciences
NTU Professor of Management
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