Salt Lake City — The David Eccles School of Business and the University of Utah are proud to announce that the Goff Strategic Leadership Center has officially been elevated to the Goff Strategic Leadership Institute. This name change reflects the Institute’s expanded scope, impact, and vision for the future of leadership education.

Supported by a robust endowment and a recent $10 million gift from Gregory J. Goff, the Goff Institute offers leadership programs for students, alumni, and professionals, equipping individuals and organizations with the skills to tackle real-world challenges, embrace ambiguity, and challenge the status quo.

Founded on the belief that leadership is for everyone, the Goff Institute has grown into a premier hub for strategic leadership development. Since 2020, the Institute has experienced a 700% increase in demand for its undergraduate programs, engaging students from nearly 80 majors and 13 colleges across the University of Utah. This includes over 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students, along with over 1,000 local business professionals.

“I have a fundamental belief that we can all make a difference, but many people simply don’t know how,” said Gregory J. Goff (BS’78, MBA’81, University of Utah alumnus and former CEO of Andeavor — formerly Tesoro Corporation). “I continue to invest in the Institute, because I believe that we are providing valuable experiences that help people to be even more successful — faster.”

Showcasing the value of higher education, the Goff Institute sets itself apart with its innovative approach to curating the right real-world experiences for students — at the right time. This includes matching first-time interns to organizations and training them on sought-after skills, to transforming how professionals and organizations engage with strategy through the Goff Lab.

In the Goff Institute’s most intensive undergraduate course, students spend two semesters consulting with four organizations – ranging from local nonprofits to multi-billion-dollar companies - on their strategic challenges. These projects span industries and topics, from creating unique and comprehensive market entry strategies for international tech startups to developing new pricing models and product marketing plans for local small businesses.

At the core of every Goff experience is a foundation of care, trust, and confidence-building, ensuring students are equipped to tackle ambiguous, high-stakes challenges. By gaining hands-on experience and building strategic thinking skills, Goff students are uniquely prepared to make an immediate impact in their future careers.

“The elevation to an institute represents an exciting milestone in our journey,” said Ruchi Watson, Managing Director and CEO of the Goff Strategic Leadership Institute. “We’re committed to empowering individuals to transform knowledge into action and aspirations into impact. This change will allow us to deepen our engagement with students, alumni, and community partners.”

Goff undergraduate alumni earn on average $12K more annually than their business student peers*. Goff alumni have begun their careers at companies such as Microsoft, Bain and Company, and Goldman Sachs; and have pursued higher education at Yale Law, Northwestern University, and even Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar.

Business and community professionals who participate in the Goff Lab learn through interactive sessions how to identify the right problems to address and craft actionable strategies to move their organizations forward.

“The University of Utah has a bold vision for the future of higher education, and the Eccles School is proud to be at the forefront of this movement, driving student success and societal impact,” said Kurt Dirks, Dean and Professor of Leadership at the David Eccles School of Business. “The elevation of Goff to an Institute underscores the transformative experiences and unparalleled opportunities that are uniquely available to students at the Eccles School and the University of Utah.”

For more information about the Goff Strategic Leadership Institute, visit Goff.Utah.Edu.

About the David Eccles School of Business

The Eccles School provides a world-class business education with a unique, entrepreneurial focus on real-world scenarios where students put what they learn into practice long before graduation. Founded in 1917 and educating more than 6,000 students annually, the University of Utah David Eccles School of Business offers nine undergraduate majors, four MBAs, nine other graduate programs, a Ph.D. in seven areas and executive education curricula. The School is also home to more than 20 institutes, centers and initiatives, which deliver academic research and support an ecosystem of entrepreneurship and innovation. For more information, visit Eccles.Utah.edu.

About the Goff Strategic Leadership Institute The Goff Strategic Leadership Institute empowers individuals to create meaningful impact by redefining leadership as action and influence rather than titles or authority. Open to all majors and career stages, Goff Institute bridges the gap between knowing and doing through research-backed education and real-world experiences. With a foundation of trust, feedback, and care, our programs equip students and professionals to leverage their strengths, navigate complexity, and drive change for the greater good. Join us at the Goff Institute and discover how to create real value as a leader. Learn more at Goff.Utah.Edu.

*As of 2022