History

Murray Hill Institute was founded in 2000 by a group of professional women committed to promoting the dignity of work and transforming culture through their work.

In October 2000 Murray Hill Institute held its inaugural conference, Women Transforming Culture. Over 200 women attended from the United States, Europe, South America and Asia, representing 25 different professions. The conference examined views of women within their historical context, the impact that women’s changing roles have had on society, and ways to better channel the contributions women make in the workplace. Encouraged by the enthusiastic reactions from conference participants, the Institute adopted “Women Transforming Culture” as the motto for all its future programs.

Murray Hill Institute offered a follow-up lecture series in the Spring of 2001 entitled Women in the Public Square. These talks further developed themes of special interest to women such as the complementary roles of men and women in the workplace, balancing family life and professional work, and volunteerism.

Responding to the evident crisis in corporate America for honest, upright professionals, Murray Hill Institute chose Integrity and Ethics in the Workplace as the theme for its second annual conference, held in October 2001. Prominent professionals in medicine, business, law, and education with core beliefs rooted in the Judeo-Christian ethic addressed the challenge of maintaining a just and ethical workplace in today’s highly competitive environment.

The follow-up spring 2002 lecture series featured noted New York women in law, medicine, and finance who explored the practical sides of real ethical challenges facing both men and women in the workplace.

The year 2002 marked the centennial of the birth of St. Josemaría Escrivá, founder of Opus Dei (Work of God), from whose teachings Murray Hill Institute draws its inspiration. Consequently, the theme for the third annual conference, Finding God In and Through Everyday Work, sprang directly from the revolutionary idea of St. Josemaría: the sanctifying value of all honest human work. Speakers illustrated practical ways of applying the new Saint’s thought to the professional environment.

All programs sponsored by the Institute are inspired by the thought and work of Saint Josemaría Escrivá, founder of Opus Dei (Work of God), a personal Prelature of the Catholic Church. Opus Dei strives to foster the practice of Christianity among the lay faithful working in ordinary occupations. The programs offered by Murray Hill Institute are open to persons of all races, creeds, and ethnic backgrounds.