RLI Experiment (RLIx)
RLI Experiment (RLIx) is a learning community that is co-created with students.
- RLIx leads in thought.
- Students help each other advance their leadership development through positive engagement, active experimentation, and disciplined reflection.
- Together they foster a culture of mindful engagement at Michigan Ross.
Inspired by Research
RLI co-director Scott DeRue and colleague Susan Ashford, both members
of the management and organization faculty at Michigan Ross, have
published extensively on mindful engagement — a path to
leadership development that relies on personal agency and
self-direction.
To develop as leaders, individuals must:
- approach experiences with a learning orientation
- actively experiment and seek feedback
- methodically reflect to learn from experiences
Shaped by Students
RLIx is co-created and led by students. The RLIx community —
structured around fixed, four-person teams — fosters the trust and
affection needed to prioritize learning over performance.
Weekly, peer-facilitated team meetings encourage active experimentation,
while a series of reflective exercises increase self-awareness and
learning.
Each participant is responsible for producing a reflective artifact
(written or recorded), and all engage online and in full-community
forums to synthesize learning, share stories, and celebrate success.