Exploring Business Ethics Through the Lens of the Holocaust: A Fellowship Program’s Impact

A group of MBA students and recent graduates from elite business schools are embarking on a unique fellowship program that tackles ethics through the lens of the Holocaust. Sponsored by the Fellowships at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional Ethics (FASPE), the program aims to use the past as a lens to consider contemporary professional ethics.

The fellowship includes a two-week trip to Germany and Poland, where participants will visit historic sites such as the Birkenau Museum, the villa in Wannsee where the Nazis planned the Final Solution, and the Auschwitz concentration camp. The program is designed to help participants reflect on the ethical dilemmas faced by business leaders in Germany and Poland during the mid-20th century.

Led by professors from top business schools like Harvard Business School and the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business, the fellowship will engage participants in daily seminars and discussions on the ethical implications of historical events. The goal is to equip participants with the tools to navigate complex ethical challenges in their future careers.

Participants in the program come from diverse backgrounds and fields, including global health, social impact investing, and combat aviation. They hope to gain a deeper understanding of ethical decision-making and to prioritize ethics in their careers.

The fellowship program also aims to build a community of like-minded professionals who prioritize ethics in the workplace. With over 830 alumni worldwide, the program has a lasting impact on participants, who continue to engage in conversations about ethics and ethical decision-making long after the fellowship ends.

Overall, the Business Fellowship Program offered by FASPE provides a unique and transformative experience for participants, allowing them to explore the intersection of business ethics and historical events like the Holocaust. Through reflection and discussion, participants gain valuable insights into the complexities of ethical decision-making in the business world.