About Socrates

The Aspen Institute Socrates Program provides a forum for emerging leaders (approximately ages 28-45) from various professions to convene and explore contemporary issues through expert-moderated dialogue. Socrates also provides the opportunity for participants to enter into a diverse professional network, and into the broader range of the Aspen Institute's programs. 

Socrates seminars enable participants to explore current, pressing leadership challenges. Discussions are built around contemporary texts, and are led by expert moderators who engage and encourage participants to share their views. Seminars are designed to be values-based Socratic explorations to facilitate an exchange of ideas. At the core of Socrates is a remarkable group of emerging and recognized leaders including entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, representatives of government, international, nonprofit and non-governmental organizations, academics and journalists. Participants are provided ample time for interaction, relationship-building and outdoor activities outside the seminars.

Socrates programs include: weekend-long seminars in Aspen (one in the winter and one in the summer); day-long salons in major U.S. cities including New York, Washington, Boston, San Francisco, and Los Angeles; and custom seminars which include the Senate Socrates seminars at the Institute's Wye River campus in Queenstown, Maryland. Past seminars topics include the US economy, bioethics, energy security, technology and privacy, the future of Afghanistan and Pakistan, religious fundamentalism, education innovation, globalization, health reform, China and America, sports and society, green investing, immigration, and sustainable communities.

Click the photo above to see more about the Socrates Program.

The Socrates Program Steering Committee provides strategic guidance and oversight to the program. This year's Committee members are:

James Beldock, President, International, Shotspotter
San Francisco, CA

Tarek Farouki, Managing Partner and Co-Founder, AFI Partners LLC
New York, NY

Adam Frisch, Managing Partner, H. Roark & Associates
Aspen, CO

Eric Henderson, Artist, ericjhenderson
Brooklyn, NY

David Hernand Partner, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
Los Angeles, CA

Neil Jacobstein, President, Singularity University
Mountain View, CA

Jane Kang, Counsel, Boeing Defense, Space & Security
Seattle, WA

Laura Lauder, General Partner, Lauder Partners, LLC
Atherton, CA

Adib Nasle, founder and CEO, Xendee Inc.
San Diego, CA

Scott Sillers, Member, Board of Trustees, Health Professions Education Foundation
San Francisco, CA

For more information, please contact:

Melissa Ingber
Director, Socrates Program