About Wisconsin Servant Leadership
The power of empathetic leadership starts here.
Wisconsin Servant Leadership (WISL) is a community-driven organization re-energizing leadership through service, connection, and real-world impact. We’ve been building a servant leadership community since 1999, from a small gathering in Wisconsin to a statewide and global movement with 1,200+ international attendees.
At WISL, we believe servant leadership is about how you show up for others, build relationships, and create environments where people feel supported. We embrace new ideas, diverse perspectives, and understand that leadership is not linear.
Our vision is to create a safe space where people from all walks of life can grow in their servant-leader journeys. We help individuals and organizations move beyond traditional leadership models and into something more human, connected, and effective. We accomplish this through Community Conversations, Roundtable conversations, and helpful newsletter updates about community engagement opportunities.
What is Servant Leadership?
Servant leadership is a philosophy/mindset that prioritizes serving others as its core purpose. Unlike traditional leadership models that position the leader at the top of a hierarchy, servant leadership inverts this structure by prioritizing the needs of employees, teams, and communities. While servant leadership is a timeless concept, the phrase “servant leadership” was coined by Robert K. Greenleaf in The Servant as Leader, an essay that he first published in 1970.
"The difference manifests itself in the care taken by the servant-first to make sure that other people’s highest priority needs are being served. The best test, and difficult to administer, is:
- Do those served grow as persons?
- Do they, while being served, become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more likely themselves to become servants?
- And, what is the effect on the least privileged in society?
- Will they benefit or at least not be further deprived?"
- Robert K. Greenleaf
How WISL Supports Servant-Leaders
At WISL, we create intentional space for real conversations and connections because we believe servant leadership is to be practiced, not just discussed.
We host:
We bring together diverse voices through powerful storytelling and shared experiences featuring community leaders. Hosted in the Spring and Fall on a rotating campus across Milwaukee.
Join monthly small-group conversations where servant-leader values are discussed, and growth happens in real time. There are 13 active roundtables statewide (both virtual and in-person).
Our newsletter stays up-to-date with community engagement opportunities and provides a space where leaders across industries can connect with like-minded individuals.
Who Our Community Serves: Servant Leadership for Emerging & Established Leaders
Anyone can be a servant-leader! WISL brings together a wide range of people who believe leadership can look different—and should.
Our community serves:
- Emerging professionals looking to grow as leaders
- Established leaders seeking a more meaningful approach
- Nonprofit and community advocates
- Business and organizational leaders
- Anyone who believes leadership should serve others, not just outcomes
Growth happens through connection, reflection, and empathy. What makes this community different is the same thing that makes it work: everyone here is committed to leading by serving.
We hope to see you at one of our future events or Roundtables, and we invite you to reach out with any questions or comments!