On Purpose: An Introduction to Leadership, Decision-making, and Culture

This course will use readings, lectures, class discussion and class exercises developed from UVA law graduate Ted Mathas’ career beginning as an associate attorney at Debevoise & Plimpton to leading New York Life Insurance Company for fourteen years as Chair and CEO. You will be presented with real-life case studies to digest and debate, and you will be engaged in class exercises that place you in individual and group settings where you are being called upon to lead. The law school teaches you how to analyze cases, distill the key principles involved in an area of the law, and shape, weigh and debate arguments in writing and in constructive dialogue. These skills will be extremely valuable whether you pursue a career in a law firm, a governmental or public service organization, or a business enterprise. To be most effective in any of these settings, however, you will also have to learn to lead yourself and lead others in pursuit of the mission of your organization. In doing so, you will develop your own intuitive judgment and unique leadership style as you are challenged to build relationships and trust, actively read a room and understand the cultural context, and influence and inspire others to act with integrity and passion to drive positive outcomes.