Values in Action: How Georgetown’s Jesuit Values Ground the Next Generation of Business Leaders in Purpose

If you’re in business today, there is no shortage of disruptions – from war and geopolitics to AI and emerging technologies to social issues and economic instability. As a leader, how do you brace for these challenges while staying true to what matters most? For Paul Almeida, dean and William R. Berkley Chair, that responsibility begins with clarity of mission, the values you hold, and an understanding of the people you serve.

How do you think about values in the context of today’s world?

In a world that pulls us in many directions at once, it’s easy to lose sight of what truly matters. That’s why a values-based approach to business is foundational. In the Jesuit tradition, we see this expressed in two Latin phrases: cura apostolica, care for the work or mission; and cura personalis, care for the whole person. Cura apostolica gives leaders a compass, helping them make decisions aligned with the broader purpose of the organizations they lead. Cura personalis reminds us that, at its core, leadership is about human flourishing – for ourselves and for our community. Business leaders need to be guided by both in their decision-making, and will often need to find the balance between the two.

Why are these principles so important right now?

Our Jesuit values have always been important, but they matter even more during times of complexity and uncertainty. Business is still global – products, services, people, and ideas continue to move across borders – but the complexities of local and global politics and policies make the landscape increasingly challenging for leaders to navigate. Managers, regardless of industry, must make complex decisions with incomplete information and, in an uncertain world, a limited understanding of the implications and results of those decisions. In times like these, our values can serve as a beacon that cuts through the haze and shines light on the way forward. 

How is McDonough preparing leaders with this perspective?

We have taken a more intentional approach to our Jesuit education by more deeply embedding our values into our curriculum, co-curricular experiences, and the everyday culture of our school. To us, cura apostolica means that our students, faculty, and staff must be exposed to our values and make a journey toward reflecting them, each in their own way, through their courses, programs, events, and projects. We work continuously to ensure that our values increasingly animate everything we do, shaping leaders who are capable, compassionate, and equipped to lead across industries and across borders. In turn, we hope these values will follow our students long after graduation, influencing the organizations they join, the communities they serve, and the solutions they’re poised to create as the world inevitably evolves over time.

This story was originally featured in the Georgetown Business Spring/Summer 2026 Magazine.