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Goff Strategic Leadership Center becomes the Goff Strategic Leadership Institute

The David Eccles School of Business and the University of Utah are proud to announce that the Goff Strategic Leadership Center has officially been elevated to the Goff Strategic Leadership Institute. This name change reflects the institute’s expanded scope, impact and vision for the future of leadership education.

Supported by a robust endowment and a recent $10 million gift from Gregory J. Goff, the Goff equips individuals and organizations with the skills to tackle real-world challenges, embrace ambiguity and challenge the status quo.

Founded on the belief that leadership is for everyone, the Goff Institute has grown into a premier hub for strategic leadership development. Since 2020, the institute has experienced a 700% increase in demand for its undergraduate programs, engaging students from nearly 80 majors and 13 colleges across the University of Utah. This includes over 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students, along with over 1,000 local business professionals.

“I have a fundamental belief that we can all make a difference, but many people simply don’t know how,” said Goff, who is a U alum (B.S. ’78, MBA ’81) and the former CEO of Andeavor (formerly Tesoro Corporation). “I continue to invest in the institute because I believe that we are providing valuable experiences that help people to be even more successful—faster.”

Showcasing the value of higher education, the Goff Institute sets itself apart with its innovative approach to curating the right real-world experiences for students—at the right time. This includes matching first-time interns to organizations and training them on sought-after skills, to transform how professionals and organizations engage with strategy through the Goff Lab.

In the Goff Institute’s most intensive undergraduate course, students spend two semesters consulting with four organizations—ranging from local nonprofits to multi-billion-dollar companies—on their strategic challenges. These projects span industries and topics, from creating unique and comprehensive market entry strategies for international tech startups to developing new pricing models and product marketing plans for local small businesses.

At the core of every Goff experience is a foundation of care, trust and confidence-building, ensuring students are equipped to tackle ambiguous, high-stakes challenges. By gaining hands-on experience and building strategic thinking skills, Goff students are uniquely prepared to make an immediate impact in their future careers.

“The elevation to an institute represents an exciting milestone in our journey,” said Ruchi Watson, managing director and CEO of the Goff Strategic Leadership Institute. “We’re committed to empowering individuals to transform knowledge into action and aspirations into impact. This change will allow us to deepen our engagement with students, alumni and community partners.”

Goff undergraduate alumni earn on average $12 thousand more annually than their business student peers (as of 2022). Goff alumni have begun their careers at companies such as Microsoft, Bain and Company and Goldman Sachs; and have pursued higher education at Yale Law, Northwestern University and even Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar.

Business and community professionals who participate in the Goff Lab learn through interactive sessions how to identify the right problems to address and craft actionable strategies to move their organizations forward.

“The University of Utah has a bold vision for the future of higher education, and the Eccles School is proud to be at the forefront of this movement, driving student success and societal impact,” said Kurt Dirks, dean and professor of leadership at the David Eccles School of Business. “The elevation of Goff to an institute underscores the transformative experiences and unparalleled opportunities that are uniquely available to students at the Eccles School and the University of Utah.”

For more information about the Goff Strategic Leadership Institute, visit goff.utah.edu.