Laudato Si’ in Management: Catholic Social Teaching in Practice

building tops surrounded by trees and nature in bright light

Turn ethical principles into action.

What is Laudato Si’?

Laudato Si’ is Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical urging care for the environment, addressing climate change, pollution and social justice as interconnected moral responsibilities.

Laudato Si’ in Management: Catholic Social Teaching in Practice Sessions

This micro-credential program uses case studies, role-play and discussion to help leaders navigate sustainability, inequality and complex stakeholder decisions—leaving you with practical tools you can use immediately.

May 5, May 12, May 19, and May 21
6 – 8:45 p.m. (in-person)

Cost: $500

Find out How to Enroll

Who it is for?

  • Professionals and emerging leaders interested in ethical leadership, sustainability and purpose-driven management

  • Graduate learners and adult students seeking a practical, discussion-based experience

  • Individuals working in or adjacent to sustainability/ESG, HR & culture, compliance, supply chain, strategy, nonprofits and mission-driven organizations

Session Structure, Outcomes and Takeaways

Typical session structure:

  • Surprise activity (sets up the dilemma)
  • Short framing lecture (CST + management lens)
  • Guided discussion of curated readings
  • Break
  • Role-play / simulation + structured decision discussion (participants defend a recommendation)

Participants will be able to:

  • Explain core Catholic Social Teaching principles and the main proposals of Laudato Si’ in management-relevant terms.
  • Evaluate ecological challenges as leadership and governance problems, not just technical issues.
  • Apply CST to decisions affecting poverty, inequality and vulnerable stakeholders.
  • Develop a values-grounded leadership stance rooted in the common good, subsidiarity, solidarity and human dignity.

Participant Deliverables

  • Individual Case Report (1,000–1,200 words): Analyze a real decision using CST principles and propose an implementable action plan.
  • “Letter to Your Younger Self” (1,000–1,200 words): Craft a personal leadership manifesto outlining commitments and guardrails for ethical decision-making.

Open All | Close All

  •  

    Session Highlights

    Session 1: Foundations for values-based management

    • Activity: Expectations Ice Breaker
    • Focus: CST principles, Laudato Si’ themes, and leadership judgment under real constraints

    Session 2: Cry of the Earth—commitments under pressure

    • Activity: “Zombie” Activity
    • Focus: sustainability leadership, organizational accountability, and stakeholder tensions

    Session 3: Cry of the Poor—inequality and inclusion

    • Activity: The Cubes and the Global System
    • Focus: systems thinking, inclusion, and ethical decision-making for vulnerable stakeholders

    Session 4: The common good in the firm—building durable models

    • Activity: For the Common Good
    • Focus: governance for the common good, organizational purpose, and designing for dignity and impact
  •  

    How to Enroll

    How to Enroll

    Having trouble? Email: ask-pgd@udmercy.edu

    Click here to access the Titan Professional Growth and Development

    1. Select Sign up from the navigation menu on any Course Catalog screen. If you do not see the Sign up, please click the three-line button in the upper-left corner of your screen to expand the menu. 
    2. Fill in the Create Account form. Fields marked with a red asterisk are required. 
    3. Select the Next button. A validation code will be sent to the email address you entered in the form. 
    4. Retrieve the validation code from your email and type it into the Confirmation Code field on the Create Account panel. 
    5. Select Validate. 
    6. Select Sign In in the dialog window that appears to sign in. Your username will be the email address you entered in the form. 

    Now that you have an account, you can register. 

    1. Click on Catalog 
    2. Locate the Understanding Laudato Si’: A Management Perspective tile and click Learn More.  
      Please note: The enrollment is limited to preapproved participants. 
    3. On the course page, click Enroll, then proceed through the payment screens to complete the transaction. 
    4. You will receive a confirmation email to confirm your enrollment 
    5. Course Access: Once registration closes the day before the event, you can access the course at any time through the Blackboard Institution Page. Navigate to Titan PDG, and the course will appear on your Dashboard for access.
    6. Once signed in, Click on Catalog 
    7. Locate the Understanding Laudato Si’: A Management Perspective tile and click Learn More.  
      Please note: The enrollment is limited to preapproved participants.
    8. On the course page, click Enroll, then proceed through the payment screens to complete the transaction. 
    9. You will receive a confirmation email to confirm your enrollment 
    10. Course Access: Once registration closes the day before the event, you can access the course at any time through the Blackboard Institution Page. Navigate to Titan PDG, and the course will appear on your Dashboard for access. 

Instructor

University of Detroit Mercy Professor Diego Arias is the Charles J. Fisher III Chair of Business Ethics. He teaches at the intersection of management, ethics and Catholic Social Teaching, focusing on how leaders translate moral principles into organizational decisions.

Printer-friendly