A New Way to Teach Business

Rooted in a deep commitment to intellectual rigor and spiritual formation, the Jesuit tradition has always sought to educate individuals to lead with both skill and compassion.

In a world facing profound economic, environmental and social challenges, this can be especially challenging in business education. While Jesuit business education models continue to evolve, one of the most compelling recent developments in this area is the Inspirational Paradigm (IP) initiative. Through the integration of Ignatian traditions in business classrooms, the initiative aims to prepare students not only for financial success, but to lead with justice, compassion and a commitment to the common good.

“Business, done well and ethically, can be a force for good and an instrument in making the world a better place for all,” says Fr. Nicholas Santos, SJ, a professor at Creighton University’s Heider College of Business and an Inspirational Paradigm global taskforce member since 2020.

Launched in 2019, in collaboration with the International Association of Jesuit Universities (IAJU), the Inspirational Paradigm seeks to reimagine business education to address pressing global challenges like inequality, environmental degradation and social injustice. Inspired by Pope Francis’s Laudato Si’ encyclical and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, the initiative asks a simple yet profound question: How can Jesuit universities better prepare future business leaders to solve the urgent issues of our time?

The Inspirational Paradigm operates through a collaborative and open process where individual faculty members submit proposals for projects that align with the program’s goal. Once funded, the projects and accompanying pedagogical materials are made freely available, ensuring that educators across the globe can implement and benefit from the IP’s innovative open-source curriculum.

Over the past five years, 131 faculty members have received funding for their projects from 51 institutions worldwide, nearly half of which are in the United States.

“Real change regarding business education takes place in the classroom,” Fr. Santos says. “So, it is encouraging to see a growing number of faculty who have generated pedagogical materials aligned with the Inspirational Paradigm.”

A cornerstone of the Inspirational Paradigm is its emphasis on interdisciplinary projects and community-engaged learning.

RAMP-Up, a program run through Seattle University’s Albers School of Business and Economics, is a perfect example of IP principles at work. Managed by Janie Ng, director of community impact at the university, and Dr. Joseph Phillips, dean of the Albers School and co-chair of the Inspirational Paradigm taskforce, RAMP-Up pairs graduate students with underserved local businesses. The students act as client account managers—essentially consultants— to the businesses and use their classroom knowledge to aid in any way necessary, including business coaching, financial planning, project management assistance and other technical support.

This bridging of classroom education to real world application has led to numerous success stories, from the reopening of a once-closed family restaurant to securing $100,000 and $750,000 public grants for a community staple Black-owned barber shop. Students also helped a minority women-owned daycare center with grant application assistance. The student-business pairings last as long as needed for the businesses to feel confident in their long-term sustainability, typically six months to a year. “We like to walk the journey with them,” Ng says.

For students, the experiences are transformative. It’s one thing to learn about business ethics and social responsibility in theory, but another to witness the direct impact that thoughtful, compassionate leadership can have on a community.

“Being a part of RAMP-Up has been one of my most rewarding experiences at Seattle University,” says Thao Le Korchemniy, who secured a $100,000 grant for a client, dedicating her spring break to finalizing and submitting the proposal on her own time. “The program has given me a platform to apply my skills, make positive impacts in the community, and build meaningful connections with professionals.”

The ongoing success of the IP relies heavily on the enthusiasm of faculty and students, and that has come easily, says Cristina Gimenez Thomsen, a professor at Escuela Superior de Administracion y Direccion de Empresas (ESADE) Business School in Barcelona and co-chair with Phillips of the IP taskforce. “There is an appetite for these collaborative learning techniques from both students and faculty alike,” she says. Students are looking for more from their careers, not only financial success, but the tools and ability to put others first and effect lasting change.

In 2025, Dr. Tina Facca-Miess will host the 2025 Colleagues in Jesuit Business Education meeting at John Carroll University, where she is an associate professor in the Boler College of Business. She is excited to highlight the many successes IP has enjoyed in just five years. “It bridges the gap between one’s faith and their business life,” she says.

By fostering a new generation of business leaders who are both skilled and committed to the common good, Jesuit universities are shaping the future of business education in a way that aligns with Ignatian values. In the words of Pope Francis, “Business is a noble vocation, directed to producing wealth and improving our world.”

Through the Inspirational Paradigm, Jesuit business schools can ensure that this noble vocation is pursued not just for profit but for the greater good of humanity and the planet, addressing extreme poverty and the lack of access to the goods and services that are essential to survival and thriving—things like nutrition, healthcare, education, good jobs, clean water, sanitation, affordable housing and clean energy.

In this way, the Jesuits continue their long-standing tradition of improving educational models, ensuring that students emerge not just as capable professionals but as men and women for others who are ready to lead, serve and make a difference in the world.