Manager Forums
Manager Forums are a way for you to gain insights from Stanford thought leaders on critical topics and issues you encounter as a people manager.
Format and participants: Live (no cost) sessions are held via Zoom. Manager Forum events are not recorded. Registering through STARS is required. All people managers from across the university are invited to participate in Manager Forums, but enrollment is limited.
Wednesday, March 25 | 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
Can (and Should) we “Own the ‘B’?”: What Managing Behavior Really Means
Join us for our March Manager Forums as Dr. Meghan Imrie, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, leads a powerful conversation on what may be the most overlooked lever of leadership: behavior.
In high-stakes environments like orthopedic surgery training, technical excellence is expected. But what truly determines trust, professionalism and team culture are the non-technical skills: the behaviors leaders model and reinforce.
Dr. Imrie will challenge us to examine:
- What specific behaviors earn and maintain the public’s trust
- Whether professionalism can truly be taught, or simply selected for
The central question: Can (and should) we own the B?
Whether you lead in a clinic, lab, classroom, or campus office, this session will push you to reflect on how behavior ultimately defines your team’s culture. If you care about accountability, credibility, and the standards you want your team to live by, this conversation is for you.
Join us for what promises to be a candid and thought-provoking session.
Enroll in the March session in STARS
Please note that when you enroll, you will receive a meeting invite from STARS.
Wednesday, Feb. 18 | 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
Leadership Demystified
Stanford Manager Forums is excited to kick off 2026 with Bob Joss, Philip H. Knight Professor and Dean, Emeritus, Stanford GSB, who will help us explore some fundamental questions about leadership.
- What is leadership?
- Are leaders born or made?
- How does one actually learn leadership?
- Is leadership transportable?
- Are there things a leader must do and cannot delegate?
Whether you are a long-time leader or new to management, join us for an engaging discussion to sharpen your perspective and develop a strategy for becoming a more effective leader.
Enroll in the February session in STARS
Please note that when you enroll, you will receive a meeting invite from STARS.
Upcoming Sessions
Topics and guest presenters are still being confirmed, but please mark your calendars so you don't miss out on this year's lineup of events. Note that the schedule is subject to change.
- March 25, 2026 | 10 - 11 a.m.
- April 22, 2026 | 10 - 11 a.m.
- May 20, 2026 | 10 - 11 a.m.
- June 25, 2026 | 1 - 2 p.m.
- August 18, 2026 | 11 am. - noon
- September 23, 2026 | 10 - 11 a.m.
- October 21, 2026 | 10 - 11 a.m.
- November 18, 2026 | 10 - 11 a.m.
Previous Manager Forums Resources
In 2025, Manager Forums provided you with insights to help you build employee motivation, frameworks to coach and optimize team effectiveness, and tools to create a culture of innovation. Review the Resources page for past session materials and get a refresher on topics such as:
- The Stanford GSB Leadership Model
- EFECT Coaching Framework
- Getting (More of) What you Want in your Negotiations
- The Systems Leader Framework