THE NEED.
Everywhere we look today we see failures in leadership. Rarely are these breakdowns due to lack of intelligence, information, qualifications, or understanding. Mostly, what marks them is a profound disconnect with the values that, though timeless, are far too easily ignored in our fast-paced culture. Left unaddressed, the societal implications of this "values gap" are sobering.
THE SOLUTION.
The Aspen Institute bridges this values gap through seminars in which today’s leaders step back to reflect and learn from history’s greatest thinkers. The Aspen Seminar – for more than 60 years our premier leadership and professional development roundtable – invites participants to examine the values they find important and how those values affect the organizations they lead. The Aspen Seminar has inspired other offerings, including the Justice and Society Seminar (founded by Justice Harry Blackmun), the Racial Equity and Society Seminar, and others. The Socrates Program provides a forum for emerging leaders (approximately ages 28-45) from a variety of professions to explore contemporary issues through expert-moderated dialogue. The Socrates network includes over 3,000 participants from more than 30 countries.
SUCCESS STORIES.
The significance of his seminar experience came into sharp relief for Cairo architect and professor Dr. Amr Attia, who attended the Aspen Seminar in August 2010. With a group of North American and international leaders, Dr. Attia explored the contemporary relevance of the tensions among democratic values like liberty, equality, justice, and the rule of law. In 2011, he shared his reflections on how his Aspen experience shaped his understanding of the events in Tahrir Square.
 | "My concern, involvement, and judgment of Egypt’s march to democracy have been directed by the thoughts and discussions during our fascinating Aspen Seminar. Together, we read and discussed democracy, but it seemed to me a historic and Platonic – and far-fetched – blessing. Now it seems that your wisdom was transferred to all young Egyptians. A miracle indeed." |
 | Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen, founder of the S2 venture fund, and Bob Gallucci, president of the MacArthur Foundation, at a seminar hosted by the Institute’s Program on Philanthropy and Social Innovation. |
