Develop Leaders and Leadership

Leadership Shapes How Progress is Made

In every community, sector, and system, the quality of leadership affects how we respond to today’s biggest challenges. It takes more than expertise to lead well—it requires courage, clarity, and a deep understanding of others. By developing leaders who act with purpose and who understand the complexity of the world around them, we help strengthen institutions, inspire collaboration, and support progress rooted in shared values.

Since our founding, the Aspen Institute has viewed leadership as a driving force of societal progress. Over 75 years, we have identified, convened, challenged, and supported thousands of leaders of all types and have earned a reputation as one of the world’s go-to organizations for both values- and practice-based leadership.

Over the decades, we have developed a distinctive array of leadership assets:

• Our Reputation: The Aspen Institute is trusted worldwide as a creative, nonpartisan leadership and convening organization. We challenge leaders of all backgrounds and worldviews to reflect upon the why and the how of leadership, and foster productive dialogue and practical action. 
• Our Methodology: Our distinctive approach—deployed in diverse ways across our programs and fellowships—is rooted in the humanistic tradition and prioritizes dialogue-based peer learning, the exploration of values, interdisciplinary thinking, and self-knowledge and discovery.
• Our Programs and Fellowships: We are the home to dozens of strong programs, fellowships, and global partners that seek to enhance individual and collective leadership across all sectors. All of these efforts deepen the will, skill, and capacities of emerging and established leaders.
• Our People and Networks: Thousands of leaders with great social capital and collective reach have benefited from our programs and convenings. Our leadership networks extend to nearly anyone and anywhere in the U.S. and around the world.
• Our Diversity and Reach: Globally, leaders in our networks come from all walks of life: corporate and community leaders, entrepreneurs and educators, government leaders, philanthropists, artists, and more. We bring together influential people who hold both formal and informal duties.