Investing in Emotional Intelligence Cultivates Mindful Global Leaders

10 MSU students completed the Open Mindset Project this spring thanks to alumna Stephanie Wright’s donation. Stephanie’s global career inspired her to invest in the Spartan community, allowing future leaders to learn the value of emotional and cultural intelligence in an international business context.

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“We are defined by the experiences we live,” shares Stephanie Wright about her global career and how it inspired her to sponsor 10 students from Michigan State University’s Eli Broad College of Business through the Open Mindset Project. She founded Agora Leadership to expand her passion for human-centric leadership by coaching executives to leverage emotional intelligence and culture for success. As Board Director and a Global Guru for the Open Mindset Project, she shares her lived experience to inspire and challenge the next generation of innovators to think globally and lead with heart.

What inspired you to sponsor Michigan State University students’ participation in the Open Mindset Project?

Stephanie: The Open Mindset Project is fundamentally changing what the next generation of leaders learn and what their careers will look like. This program teaches young people a global mindset in a way that is foundational and grounding; they’ll carry it into everything they do. As a third-generation Spartan, I have a deep connection to MSU’s principle of advancing the common good. Similarly, the Open Mindset Project challenges students to reflect on how they show up in the world. Helen Dashney, the namesake faculty advisor and one of my mentors, has guided me over the past 5 years, so sponsoring students in the Dashney Women’s Leadership Accelerator felt like more than just giving back. It’s giving forward so these young women leaders have the opportunity to develop with integrity and share their values with the world. They are incredible women and deserve a catalyst.

What do you hope the students will learn through their experience?

I hope they don’t come back with answers, but with different questions. I’ve always believed that emotional intelligence is the infrastructure of leadership. And in my career working across cultures and beliefs, emotional intelligence has been integral to my success. Open Mindset creates conditions for leaders to experience difference, confront their assumptions, and expand their viewpoints. You don't grow in safe and predictable environments. You grow when you're challenged. Leadership isn’t about certainty; it’s about the capacity to hold different perspectives. I want them to finish the program as people who approach the world with curiosity. 

How has having a global mindset impacted your career?

I spent much of my career working across cultures, functions, and belief systems. I realized that my relationship-building skills were more important for day-to-day success than my technical skills. There’s a humility that comes from learning that it’s less about where you come from and more about how you show up and contribute meaningfully. Getting out in the world and building that mindset and humility changes how you approach challenges and handle discomfort. 

You’ve traveled and worked all over the world; what was a memorable moment where you had to navigate difference?

I was the first female Head of Procurement leading the Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Russian region. The Russian team was the largest and was undergoing significant transformation and stress. When I met the team in Moscow, I thought I would walk in and tell them how I was going to help. I quickly learned that it didn’t matter what title was on my badge if I couldn’t connect and empathize with them. I needed to find common values in this big ball of difference. American kids are taught that raising their hands and being loud are rewarded, but that didn’t connect with my Russian team. I had to unlearn: to practice listening, prioritize relationship-building, and be consistent in my behavior. By building trust and showing up with humility, I was able to create an atmosphere where they could stay open-minded and creative to solve the challenges we faced. 

What guidance would you give leaders who want to make a tangible impact with their donations? 

Invest in young professionals rather than only focusing on talent problems or generational gaps. Directly supporting students makes the outcomes that you care about happen. There’s a compounding value when you support initiatives that challenge people rather than comfort them. Engaging with difference accelerates their growth. These MSU students will have the emotional intelligence, connections, and mindset to achieve great things. I gain as much from being a Global Guru as the students. Talking to my mentees, I learned what the next generation sees and needs. That gave me an understanding of the challenges they face and fueled me to show up as an individual, not just a donor and a professional. I hope more Gurus get involved in the Open Mindset Project so we can reach more young people looking for inspiration. They’re seeking the same momentum and a supportive network to guide them through that we are.