The NYU Stern Initiative on Purpose and Flourishing

The NYU Stern Initiative on Purpose and Flourishing is a community of business scholars, leaders, and thinkers who seek to advance the understanding, discovery, and pursuit of authentic purpose.

The timeless – and newly urgent – question at the core of our work is “What should I do with my life, and why?” 

Our mission is to help individuals find their unique answers to that query, in the belief that lives of meaning are to the betterment and flourishing of those living them, families, communities, organizations, and society as a whole.   

To that end, the Initiative focuses its efforts on three main activities: 

  • Program development: Creating curricular materials for both academic and organizational settings that can be used to support and guide individuals as they seek to discover their authentic selves and career paths.

  • Conferences and events: Organizing large and small gatherings where scholars and business professionals can discuss contemporary issues around meaning, identity, work, career formation, and employee care and engagement.

  • Research, publications, and outreach:  Supporting a public profile for IPF’s work across various platforms, from academic journals, to op-eds, to podcasts, in hopes of widening and deepening the conversation around purpose and flourishing.