The 24th International Studying Leadership Conference, hosted by Hult International Business School at the Hult Ashridge campus, invites scholars to engage with the theme Evolving Leadership: Learning from the Past, Shaping the Future.

This year's theme challenges us to hold a dual gaze – rooted in tradition, open to emergence – reflecting ISLC’s tradition of critical inquiry while aligning with Hult’s identity as a future-oriented, practice-driven business school and Hult’s research mission to explore leadership that is ethical, inclusive, and impactful.

Leaders today operate in environments shaped by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity, navigating interconnected global challenges — from climate crises and social inequality to digital transformation and geopolitical instability. Yet many mainstream leadership theories were developed assuming predictability, hierarchical structures, and linear progress. This conference asks: What can we learn from leadership's past to navigate present turbulence and shape future possibilities?

We invite contributions that critically examine how leadership must evolve beyond the limitations of traditional models, drawing on wisdom traditions, historical precedents, and emerging scholarship.