The third annual Flourishing @ Work Conference hosted in collaboration with Lx Partners, Harvard Human Flourishing Program and Sovereign's Capital from April 23-24 was a key gathering at the intersection of leadership, purpose, and well-being.

One aspect of this year’s conference was the opportunity for Rick Goossen, Chair, ELO Network, to introduce the ELO Oxford Leadership Program. Goossen presented an overview of the program and shared an introductory video, generating interest among attendees eager for deeper leadership development rooted in purpose and character.

The conference featured a rich lineup of speakers who explored the foundations of human flourishing across multiple domains.

The Role of Rest and Rhythm

Steve French, founder of Lx Partners and a strategic partner of ELO, opened the conference with reflections on the importance of rest in leadership. Drawing from spiritual and practical insights, he emphasized that sustainable leadership requires intentional rhythms of renewal. Even in high-performance environments, rest is not optional—it is essential. His remarks set the tone for a conference focused not just on productivity, but on holistic well-being.

Character at the Center of Flourishing

Brendan Case, Associate Director for Research, Human Flourishing Program, Harvard, offered a compelling framework for understanding the role of character. He argued that true flourishing begins with virtue—not as a tool for achieving outcomes, but as an end in itself.

Case challenged a common modern tendency to “instrumentalize” character, where virtues are valued only for their practical benefits. Instead, he defined virtue as “a deliberate habit of pursuing the good,” highlighting four key aspects:

It is an enduring trait It applies broadly across life It is oriented toward the good, not merely the useful or pleasurable It is intentional and cultivated over time

In this view, character is not a strategy—it is the foundation of a flourishing life.

Agency and the Next Generation

Educator Ian V. Rowe, Founder, Vertex Academy, Brooklyn, NY, brought a powerful perspective on young adults and the importance of agency. Focusing on ages 14 to 24 as a defining decade, Rowe emphasized the need to cultivate self-determination in an era marked by rising pessimism.

He described agency as “the force of one’s free will guided by moral discernment,” while acknowledging that individuals never act in isolation. Rowe outlined four pillars essential to developing agency:

Family Religion Education Entrepreneurship

He also challenged two dominant cultural narratives—“blame the system” and “blame the individual”—arguing instead for a balanced view that empowers responsibility while recognizing context.

Culture and Purpose in Business

From the corporate world, Shane Benson, VP – Field Operations – Restaurant Services, Chick-fil-A, shared insights from his company which is widely recognized for its strong culture. Founded by Truett Cathy, Chick-fil-A has long emphasized that it is “not in the chicken business, but in the people business.”

Benson traced the company’s growth and highlighted pivotal moments, including challenges in the 1980s that led to a renewed focus on corporate purpose. He also addressed more recent hardships, noting how the company seeks to support its operators through difficult circumstances. At its core, Chick-fil-A’s philosophy remains grounded in the belief that a strong culture—centered on care, excellence, and integrity—drives long-term success.

The Formation of Virtue

Andrew Abela, Dean, Busch School of Business, Catholic University of America, Washington, DC, explored how character is formed over time. Moving beyond basic habits like diet and exercise, Abela emphasized the uniquely human capacity for moral development.

He identified four cardinal virtues as central to flourishing:

Practical wisdom Justice Courage Self-discipline

Unlike skills, which are external and task-specific, virtues are internal and require ongoing cultivation. Developing them takes years, but they ultimately shape who we become.

Why Leaders Self-Destruct

Finally, Nona Jones, CEO, Inside Out Leadership, addressed one of the most pressing leadership questions: why do seemingly strong leaders fail?

Her talk, “The Architecture of Character,” emphasized that character is not simply about outward behavior—it is rooted in one’s inner life. Failures of leadership, she argued, often stem from a misalignment between identity and action.

Jones introduced the acronym “REPAIR” as a framework for building deeper integrity:

Reveal your motive Examine your beliefs Probe the gap between private and public life Anchor identity in truth Integrate inner beliefs with outward habits Reproduce a healthy identity in others

Her message was clear: lasting leadership depends on inner alignment, not just external performance.