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.
Tuesday, June 23 | 1–2 p.m. PT | virtual
Leadership Spotlight: Howard Wolf
Please join us for a special edition of Manager Forums as we host Howard Wolf, vice president for alumni affairs, ahead of his retirement.
This session offers a unique opportunity for university managers to hear Howard’s reflections on 25 years of institutional evolution, his philosophy on building "the best staff in the business," and his perspective on the critical role of the university’s permanent stakeholders.
Discussion highlights:
- Building community: how the Stanford Alumni Association grew to serve alumni in 151 countries and how you can build community at Stanford
- The four-legged stool: understanding the vital relationship between students, faculty, staff, and alumni
- Leading through change: lessons from 25 years of campus leadership and multiple university administrations
- A culture of optimism: why Howard believes Stanford is the "ultimate place of optimism"
We hope you will join us to celebrate Howard’s remarkable career and to gain insights from one of Stanford’s most dedicated leaders before he begins his next chapter.
Enroll in the June 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.
- June 23, 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
Manager Forums guest speakers — all leaders in their fields — consistently provide 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:
- Job-crafting and Purpose-led Performance
- The Stanford GSB Leadership Model
- EFECT Coaching Framework
- Getting More of What you Want in your Negotiations
- The Systems Leader Framework