Written by Colin McEvoy | June 9, 2025 | SHARE
Lehigh University’s Iacocca Institute has partnered with global leadership firm Stanton Chase to expand career pathways, leadership development, and global citizenship opportunities for students, alumni, and professionals worldwide
The Iacocca Institute, a distinguished global educational community within Lehigh University that is developing the next generation of global leaders, and Stanton Chase, a leading global leadership advisory firm, have announced a strategic partnership focused on leadership development, global citizenship competencies, and career pathways..
The academic-practice partnership will foster career readiness, leadership growth, and intercultural competencies for Lehigh University students and alumni and for Stanton Chase clients. It will also create thoughtful civil discourse on global leadership and work-related topics, and support purpose-driven activities to meet personal and professional challenges.
“This partnership reflects our shared commitment to preparing the next generation of global leaders,” Iacocca Institute Executive Director Scott Koerwer said.
"This partnership reflects not only our shared commitment to developing and preparing emerging and current global leaders,”said Iacocca Institute Executive Director Scott Koerwer, “But, by joining forces with Stanton Chase, we’re also providing our combined communities with unparalleled access to global career insights, executive mentorship, and leadership development resources that are both timely and deeply relevant.”
To support administrative and educational oversight, Mickey Matthews, Global Chair, Governance Committee and Managing Director at Stanton Chase, will join the Iacocca Executive Fellows Advisory Board. Matthews has held international leadership roles in Stanton Chase for more than 20 years, including six years as International Chairman of the firm.
“We’re thrilled to partner with the Iacocca Institute, whose values of leadership, service, and global engagement align so naturally with our own,” Matthews said. “Together, we can help cultivate leaders who are ready to make meaningful contributions at every level.”
Through the new partnership, the Iacocca Institute will connect Stanton Chase with its network of global partners and collaborators, and also offer global conference opportunities for Stanton Chase to contribute content on employment trends, leadership, and more.
Stanton Chase will provide the Institute with employment trend insights at local, national, and global levels, including industry-specific expertise. It will also offer career coaching, assessments, and mentoring to members of the Iacocca Institute community.
Additionally, Stanton Chase will share corporate employment opportunities for the Institute’s leadership development services, support placements for global internships, and create engagement opportunities for alumni and learners in global citizenship and career networking. As part of the partnership, Stanton Chase will provide f global leadership and citizenship, research, white papers, and presentations about the future of work, global spheres of influence, gig economy impact, interviews with global practice leaders, and more.
“This innovative partnership will create lasting value for our learners and alumni,” Koerwer said. “It will establish career pathways for Lehigh and Iacocca alumni, Iacocca International interns, degree and non-degree learners, and global academic partners.”
Stanton Chase is a Top 10 global executive search and leadership advisory firm with 76 offices in 45 countries. With more than 350 specialized consultants worldwide, the company seeks to create a more personalized and collaborative approach to executive recruitment.
During Matthews’ tenure as International Chair from 2014 until his term ended in 2020, Stanton Chase saw explosive growth in revenues, key global clients, and—most importantly—international referrals, joint work, and collaborations.
“We look forward to contributing to the intellectual and professional development of the Iacocca Institute community through thought leadership, career coaching, and collaboration on global initiatives that reflect the evolving nature of work,” Matthews said.
As part of the partnership, Stanton Chase will deliver content in the form of global leadership and citizenship, research, white papers, and presentations about such topics as the future of work, global spheres of influence, gig economy impact, interviews with global practice leaders, and more.
Launched in July 2024, the Iacocca Institute Executive Fellows foster a rich exchange of diverse perspectives that enhances cultural competency and global awareness among the Iacocca Institute community, helping its learners, alumni, and extended network to develop a more nuanced understanding of national and international affairs and operate effectively in a globalized world.
By regularly providing insights into emerging trends and best practices from various industries, the network seeks to create a dynamic forum that enables rapid dissemination of new knowledge and the cross-pollination of ideas that encourage innovative solutions to complex problems across different contexts.
Visit here for a list of current Executive Fellows, which includes representatives from such companies and organizations as AACOM, AAMC, Evolution Advisors, Iberia, Kerning Strategies, Muhlenberg College, PBJ People Consulting & Coaching, Stanton Chase, Three Hills Capital, and Think Creative.