FBI Director Robert Mueller at Kellogg during the leadership training.

Kellogg School delivers custom leadership insights to FBI executives

Continuing its mission to extend its leadership training to the highest levels of government as well as business, the Kellogg School has designed and delivered an accelerated executive education program to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The custom leadership sessions took place earlier this year, garnering an overwhelmingly positive response from the FBI, according to Joseph Hannigan, associate director of Executive Education at the Kellogg School and at Northwestern University's School of Law.

"The quality of the program was outstanding," said Hannigan, citing customer satisfaction measures of 9.76 on a scale of 10. He added that participants described the week-long Kellogg experience as "incredible," and in their formal assessments called the program "the most relevant and timely instruction I've received since new agents' training" and "a huge step forward for the FBI."

The idea for the course originated when the FBI contacted Professor Albert Isenman, director of custom Executive Education programs. The FBI was seeking a world-class management school to address the Bureau's unique needs. The FBI extended the same invitation to five other top-tier business schools, and selected Kellogg after a rigorous process that included onsite visits to each campus.

The Kellogg program --- designed by Professor Isenman to address challenges facing the FBI as it focuses on its antiterrorism priorities --- helps the Bureau meet one of its commitments made to the U.S. Congress by FBI Director Robert Mueller (pictured at Kellogg during the leadership training). Mueller advised Congress that the FBI would broaden the leadership skills of Bureau management. The Kellogg School program makes available to FBI executives learning opportunities in leadership, teamwork and strategic management.

"There are few organizations whose successful achievement of their mission is so crucial to the safety of millions of people," Hannigan added. "We were impressed with the enthusiasm with which they approached this learning opportunity and were gratified by their appreciation of our staff and faculty."

— MG