Aspen is a place for leaders to lift their sights above the possessions which possess them. To confront their own nature as human beings, to regain control over their own humanity by becoming more self-aware, more self-correcting, and hence more self-fulfilling.
Walter P. Paepcke, Aspen Institute Co-Founder
Aspen Institute
In Focus: Igniting Leadership
About this Project
Leadership is at the heart of our collective future. In times of profound change, the need for thoughtful, courageous, and innovative leaders is more pressing than ever. That’s why, at the Aspen Institute, we’re dedicating the coming months to exploring the many dimensions of effective leaders and leadership through our In Focus Series on “Igniting Leadership.”
From our earliest days, the Aspen Institute has been a space for leaders to gather, learn, and grow. Seventy-five years ago, in the aftermath of World War II, our founders recognized the need for a new kind of leader—one who leads with humanity, who understands the power of dialogue, and who can navigate complexity with a sense of purpose. These values remain central to our mission today, and they are the foundation of the series.
In the months ahead, you’ll find content that draws on the wisdom and experience of some of the most insightful voices in leadership today. Our new video series, In Session, will take you behind the scenes with leaders from across the Aspen network. You’ll hear about their personal journeys, pivotal moments, and the essential skills they’ve honed along the way. These conversations are designed to provide you not just with theory, but with practical insights you can apply in your own leadership path.
“True leadership can come from anywhere, and, thus, must be accessible and inclusive—a social, even communal, pursuit.” writes Aspen Institute President & CEO Dan Porterfield. “In short, we need more effective leaders, and we need more people stepping up to the challenge of leadership.”
It’s human to have a short term view, but we recognize the investment of leadership is to be able to take the long view, even it’s not immediately apparent.
