Leadership Under Pressure

Abstract

This analysis case highlights leadership in critical situations and is an account of Midwestern University’s Foundation. Responsible for procuring scholarship dollars, the Foundation had been impacted by two urgent situations: the economic downturn in 2009 which resulted in a 34% decline in its endowment plus recent political upheaval in the state government. Bill Davidson, director of the Foundation, had been challenged in managing the impacts of both situations. Ultimately he focused his efforts on building a strong team and developing a simple yet powerful message that was shared with donors.