Emotional intelligence and teamwork are non-negotiable skills for effective leadership and success, according to an executive who runs a global company focusing on marketing, communications, and creative services.
In speaking with a large group of students, alumni, and business leaders at Pace University's New York City campus earlier this week, R.R. Donnelley President and CEO Thomas Quinlan III ’85, a Pace alumnus, told attendees that in addition to technical know-how, trust, empathy, and self-awareness are defining characteristics of great leadership in today’s workplace.
“You can’t lead alone -- and you can’t lead without emotional intelligence,” Quinlan said during a keynote at the closing session of the inaugural Center for Leadership and Emotional Intelligence (EI), a new initiative from the Lubin School of Business. “What makes teams work is not just skill—it’s trust, empathy, and the way you show up. AI is transforming the world, but people still want to work with people who care. That is what lasts.”
The six-week fall pilot brought together students, alumni, and faculty for a research-based leadership experience grounded in emotional intelligence. Participants earned digital credentials and engaged with themes like resilience, empathy, and purpose-driven growth.
“This program changed how I think about leadership,” said Muskan Kumari ’26, a graduate student majoring in Business Analytics from Karachi, Pakistan. “It gave me real tools to manage stress, lead with empathy, and grow with purpose. I walked away more confident—not just in my career path, but in who I want to be.”
Developed in collaboration with Dr. Arthur C. Brooks, bestselling author and professor at Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard Business School, the program draws on research from his book Build the Life You Want, coauthored by Brooks and Oprah Winfrey.
Ipshita Ray, associate professor of marketing, serves as the academic lead for the program. Inspired by her personal journey through stage three cancer, she created the Center to help students develop not just professional skills, but the emotional resilience to thrive.
“This program empowers our students with the mindset and tools to thrive—not just as leaders in their fields but as people committed to building lives of meaning and joy,” said Ray. “The support we’ve seen across Pace—from faculty, alumni, and students—proves how deeply needed and valued this kind of work is in higher education.”
Built on Brooks’ research and classroom work at Harvard, the curriculum helps students master the “micro-nutrients” of happiness—enjoyment, satisfaction, and purpose—while also introducing practical strategies for resilience, self-awareness, and emotional agility.
“This is a leadership movement grounded in emotional intelligence,” said Neil Braun, Lubin dean emeritus and former NBC television network president who helped lead the initiative. “Our students are learning how to lead by example—with compassion, clarity, and the ability to turn challenge into opportunity.”
Ajay Khorana, dean of Lubin School of Business, emphasized how the program prepares students to lead with empathy and adaptability in a rapidly evolving workforce.
“Even as the workplace transforms, emotional intelligence endures as a defining strength,” said Khorana. “Your capacity to lead, adapt, and build meaningful connections will set you apart.”
Pace University President Marvin Krislov also spoke about the program’s long-term impact on students’ personal and professional development.
"This program is more than curriculum—it’s a head start,” said Krislov. “Emotional intelligence is the skill that sets great leaders apart, and what students gained here will give them an edge when it matters most.”
Following the success of the pilot, the Center for Leadership and Emotional Intelligence (EI) will expand to Pace University’s Pleasantville campus in Spring 2026.
Globally recognized and prestigiously accredited, the Lubin School of Business integrates New York City’s business world into the experienced-based education of its students at Pace’s suburban and downtown campuses, implemented by one of the region’s largest co-op programs, team-based learning, and customized career guidance. Its programs are designed to launch success-oriented graduates toward upwardly mobile careers.
Since 1906, Pace University has been transforming the lives of its diverse students—academically, professionally, and socioeconomically. With campuses in New York City and Westchester County, Pace offers bachelor, master, and doctoral degree programs to 13,600 students in its College of Health Professions, Dyson College of Arts and Sciences, Elisabeth Haub School of Law, Lubin School of Business, Sands College of Performing Arts, School of Education, and Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems.
Pace University Art Gallery is pleased to present Nuclear Injustice, a group exhibition of work by Kathy Jetñil-Kijiner, Alan Nakagawa, Michael Wang, and Will Wilson that examines the lasting consequences of nuclear testing and bombings. The exhibition opens to the public on Saturday, November 15, with a free public reception and walkthrough on Tuesday, November 18, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. It will remain on view through January 31, 2026.
The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University is proud to announce that ten policy motions led by Pace Haub Law students were officially adopted at the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Conservation Congress, held October 8–16, 2025, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. A cohort of four Pace Haub Law faculty members, five students, and six alumni traveled to Abu Dhabi for the 2025 World Conservation Congress where they negotiated revisions to motions, crafted new and urgent motions, presented at sessions, addressed the IUCN President, and continued their environmental advocacy.
A leading technology executive told Pace University students that curiosity, critical thinking, and drive are essential skills in thriving in the era of artificial intelligence and evolving technologies.