The Mark Initiative

The Reuben Mark Initiative for Organizational Character and Leadership leverages the intellectual capital of Columbia Law School and Columbia Business School to design courses and programs that teach the leadership skills and strategies necessary to create an optimal organizational culture. The Mark Initiative was established through a generous gift from Reuben Mark, former chairman and chief executive officer at the Colgate-Palmolive Company.

Jointly, Columbia Law School and Columbia Business School provide cross-listed curricula and unique programming that bring together students, alumni, and the greater Columbia community focused on highlighting real-world examples of exemplary leadership and the principles of organizational culture. 

At Columbia Law School, the Mark Initiative takes the shape of seminars, research, and programming that teach and explore issues surrounding ethical leadership of major public institutions and corporations, as well as the In-House Counsel Program, which offers curricula, experiential learning opportunities, research, and programming designed to teach students the legal subjects and professional skills pertinent to the practice of law within an in-house setting. At Columbia Business School, the Mark Initiative is centralized within The Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. Center for Leadership and Ethics, which integrates organizational culture into the Business School’s leadership development curriculum, programming, and research.

Columbia Affiliations