Business and Society Program

The First Movers Fellowship Experience

Innovation. Leadership. Community. Reflection.

Over the past 12 years, Aspen BSP has convened leadership development experts from around the world to consider what kind of leaders we need to ensure that companies integrate social and environmental value with financial success. And we have studied how we can develop leaders with this vision and ability. The First Movers Fellowship program transforms what we have learned from this decade-long inquiry into practice.

The year-long Fellowship includes three seminars: July 2012 in Aspen, Colorado; November 2012 in Wye River, Maryland and April 2013 in New York, New York. It is structured around four core components we have learned are essential for developing First Movers who can envision and implement game changing innovations within their firms. Innovation. Leadership. Reflection. Community. Members of our “Design Team” – who design and facilitate the seminars – are leading experts in each of these areas.

Each four-day seminar weaves together a program that includes skill building in innovation and leadership, time and tools for reflection, intensive project work, and collaboration with a community of innovators.

By the end of the program each Fellow has:

1) Envisioned and implemented a game-changing innovation within their firm

2) Developed skills to socialize innovative ideas within complex systems

3) Connected to a community of innovators who will remain a lifelong source of encouragement, collaboration and support

4) Developed strategies for tapping in to their personal passions and purpose to fuel their commitment as change makers.

Project: Individuals selected to be First Mover Fellows commit to undertake a project within their companies during their year as a Fellow that reflects their commitment to social innovation in business. The scope for these projects is very broad. 2009 Fellows’ projects ranged from working toward zero waste manufacturing, to developing financial products for underserved markets, to implementing experience-based, global leadership development programs. (See additional information about Fellows’ projects at www.aspeninstitute.org/firstmovers.)

Participation: Fellows are required to participate in all three of the seminars: July 29 - August 1, 2012 in Aspen, Colorado; November 13 - 16, 2012 in Wye River, Maryland; and April 23 - 26, 2013 in New York, New York. Between the seminars, they work on implementing their ideas for products, services processes, or business models in their companies. They also continue to connect with other Fellows and Aspen staff via conference calls, interviews and meetings.

Partners: Fellows identify at least two colleagues to serve as Thought Partners during their Fellowships and support their efforts to turn their projects into reality. Ideally, one of these partners comes from the leadership development or human resource department of their companies to help ensure that the leadership lessons learned by the Fellows are shared widely amongst other high potential employees.

The Fellows' Financial Commitment

The Fellowship is a self-funded program of the Aspen Institute Business and Society Program. Fellows pay a $19,500 participation fee to cover program planning and facilitation and room and board for three seminars. Fellows also pay their own travel expenses to attend the seminars in Aspen, Wye River, and New York. Fellows’ fees and costs are covered by their companies.