NDLR is an annual, interactive, invitation-only conference that brings together scholars whose work advances the understanding and practice of leadership. For over a decade, the conference has rotated among the campuses of its five organizing schools: Darden School of Management (UVA), Duke University, Michigan Ross, INSEAD, and Rotterdam School of Management (Erasmus University). This year, the conference will be held on the Erasmus University campus in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, on June 25 and 26, 2026.
Conference dates
2024 – INSEAD, Fontainebleau, France
2025 – University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan USA
2026 – Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University, the Netherlands
2027 – Duke University, Durham, North Carolina USA
2028 – University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia USA
2029 – INSEAD, Fontainebleau, France
Conference Partners
- Fuqua/Coach K Center on Leadership and Ethics, Duke University
- Erasmus Centre for Leadership, Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University
- The INSEAD Global Leadership Centre, INSEAD
- Darden School of Business, University of Virginia
- Ross School of Business, University of Michigan
Conference history
Building on its mission, Duke University’s Fuqua/Coach K Center on Leadership & Ethics (COLE) pioneered the New Directions in Leadership Research Conference (NDLR) in May 2008. The 2008 and 2009 academic conferences presented interesting, novel, and generative research on leadership, and fostered knowledge exchange among leading scholars.
In 2008, Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM) joined Duke to establish the NDLR Conference as a cross-continental partnership. In 2009, this partnership expanded to include INSEAD and the University of Pennsylvania. This consortium of schools further broadened the perspectives and resources available, establishing the NDLR Conference as a global leader in leadership and ethics scholarship.
In June 2019, the University of Pennsylvania completed its 10th and final year as part of the consortium. In its place, the University of Virginia joined the consortium of schools and will be hosting the 2028 conference.
The newest member of the consortium of schools is the University of Michigan which joined the group in 2022 and hosted NDLR in 2025.
Prof. dr. H.L. (Hannes) Leroy
Professor in Leadership Development
Prof. dr. D.A. (Daan) Stam
Professor of Innovation Management
Prof. dr. S.R. (Steffen) Giessner
Professor of Organisational Behaviour and Change
Event managers
Preliminary programme overview
08.30-09.00: Welcome and coffee
09.00-09.15: Introduction
09.15-12.00: Leadership Development at RSM
12.00-13.00: Lunch
13.00-17.00: Future of Leadership Development
18.00-20.00: Dinner
Date: 24 June (Wednesday)
Location: Bayle Building
08.30-09.15: Welcome
09.15-10.45: Research Keynotes
10.45-11.15: Break
11.15-12.30: Research Pitches
12.30-13.30: Lunch
13.30-15.00: Flipchart/Poster Session
15.00-15.15: Break
15.15-16.45: Big X of leadership
16.45-18.00: Refresh and transition to dinner
18.00-20.00: Dinner in City
Date: 25 June (Thursday)
Location: Mandeville Building
08.30-09.00: Welcome and coffee
09.00-11.00: What is your LD Theory?
11.00-11.15: Break
11.15-12.15: Research pitches
12.15-13.15: Lunch
13.15-14.15: Hot debates
14.15-14.30: Break
14.30-15.30: Outlook & agenda
15.30-16.00: Closing remarks
16.00-18.00: Open reception
Date: 26 June (Friday)
Location: Mandeville Building
The registration fee for this conference is €250.
For practical information about Woudestein campus, including the campus map, parking, accessibility, and other visitor details, please visit this page. You can also find route and travel directions to campus here.
We recommend staying at the James Hotel or Novotel, both of which offer discount promotions.
Please register here for the NDLR Conference 2026 in Rotterdam.
Office Manager
Management Assistant