Character & Transformative Leadership

12:00 PM ET Mon., Feb. 17, 2025

Nathan Hatch served as the president of Wake Forest University for 16 years and previously served as Provost at the University of Notre Dame. He recently published The Gift of Transformative Leaders. We will discuss this book and his lifelong commitment to making character central in higher education.

This event was recorded on February 17, 2025 at 12:00 pm ET. Learn more at the Virtues & Vocations website.

In this candid and insightful conversation, Dr. Nathan Hatch reflected on a lifetime of leadership in higher education—from the history classroom to the presidency of Wake Forest University. Hosted by Suzanne Shanahan as part of the Virtues & Vocations series, the webinar explored Hatch’s vision of character-driven leadership, drawing on his recent book The Gift of Transformative Leaders.

Tracing his journey from aspiring historian to accidental administrator, Hatch emphasized how character, humility, and visionary ambition can shape institutions for the better. He recounted formative moments from his time at Notre Dame—where he served as dean and provost—and Wake Forest, where his 16-year tenure led to the expansion of diversity, infrastructure, career support, and character education.

Hatch’s leadership philosophy centers on recruiting people “better than yourself,” building diverse and empowered teams, and balancing tradition with innovation. He spoke candidly about hiring mistakes, navigating institutional resistance to change, and the importance of empathy, gratitude, and listening—especially in moments of moral or social crisis.

Through stories of transformative hires like Carolyn Woo and Michael Lamb, and initiatives such as Wake Forest’s Leadership & Character program and downtown innovation hub, Hatch made a compelling case for values-based leadership that serves not ego, but the common goo

Great leadership begins with character, not charisma.
Humility, integrity, and purpose matter more than polish. A true leader seeks institutional flourishing—not personal acclaim.
Hire people better than you.
Hatch champions bold, strategic hiring—even when it’s risky or politically difficult. Great hires transform cultures and raise institutional standards.
Vision without care is hollow.
Sustainable leadership requires deep respect for people—especially long-serving faculty and staff whose unseen labor undergirds the university.
Transformative leadership balances tradition with innovation.
Rather than radical reinvention, Hatch advocates “radically traditional and radically creative” leadership that honors institutional identity while adapting for the future.
Culture change requires trust and persistence.
From revitalizing Wake’s medical ecosystem to creating a campus culture of character, lasting impact came through patient coalition-building and belief in people.
Moral leadership demands vulnerability.
Hatch encouraged transparency during crises and rejected “institution-speak” in favor of authentic engagement—even issuing public apologies when needed.

On visionary ambition and humility
“Any significant leader has an appropriate amount of ambition—but what matters is whether that ambition is for the good of the organization or for themselves.”
— Nathan Hatch [00:19:10]

On transformative hiring
“I’ve often commented that one of the most surprising things in higher ed is how few people actually want to hire others more gifted than themselves.”
— Nathan Hatch [00:12:00]

On building effective leadership teams
“You need people with a strong ego and a weak ego—strong enough to have conviction, but humble enough to defer when someone else has a better idea.”
— Nathan Hatch [00:15:33]

On real institutional culture
“If you’re telling students to live a life of care, you better create a culture where care is visible—starting with how you treat custodial staff and security.”
— Nathan Hatch [00:43:00]

On recruiting for character
“Character is hard to measure. But if you talk to people who worked for someone—ask: do people prosper under their leadership? Do they build trust?”
— Nathan Hatch [00:21:00]

On what young people should do
“Try to be good at something. Don’t worry if it’s not your dream job. Do it well, go the second mile, and people will notice. That’s what opens doors.”
— Nathan Hatch [00:55:47]