Business Case Studies & Business Publications

Confucian Thinking for Global Leaders: A...

Chen, Ming-Jer, Ra...

Technical Note

Confucian Thinking for Global Leaders: A Primer on the Timeless Wisdom of the Analects

Chen, Ming-Jer; Radovanovic, Alex

S-0454 | Published May 30, 2025 | 7 Pages Technical Note

Collection: Darden School of Business

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Business schools seek to instill fundamental management and leadership skills through courses in disciplines such as finance, accounting, strategy, and economics. While these essential disciplines prepare students to become future business leaders, today’s globalized business world demands leadership that transcends companies, industries, and countries. The ancient Chinese philosophy of Confucianism offers a timeless perspective on cultivating the essential qualities of a leader, and this technical note serves as a primer for understanding and applying the Analects of Confucius to the business world. The note first outlines the history of Confucian philosophy, then considers how its four key concepts—li, junzi, ren, and yi—apply to the MBA curriculum, concluding with reflections from MBA students on their own Confucianism independent study course at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business.