The center is a research platform for the development of theoretically driven leadership practices in contexts where ethical, cultural, and accountability dilemmas are prominent. Research and activities focus on how business leadership is expected to address current societal and environmental challenges as contemporary organizations are increasingly made accountable and expected to act in responsible and sustainable manners. This quest for betterment is almost without exception directed towards a renewal of leadership and organizational practices.

Collaborative research with partner organizations is leading to rich empirical fieldwork and is therefore encouraged at CRL. The center also aims to emphasize the communication of findings and results to a broad outreach.

The center draws on the research portfolio of Center for Advanced Studies in Leadership (CASL) expanding it with a stronger focus on responsible leadership in business and society.

CRL is a research center at SIR, Stockholm School of Economics Institute for Research. The SIR Foundation is a national research institute for the economic sciences, with a focus on Business Administration in the broadest sense.