It was fun and draining, stimulating and intimidating, inspiring and challenging...and always absolutely and unendingly - at times painfully - beautiful.
Here are my photos from the weekend.
The Aspen Institute was founded in 1950 by Chicago businessman Walter Paepcke (1896-1960) to help leaders "gain access to his or her own humanity by becoming more self-aware, more self-correcting, and more self-fulfilling."
On the Maroon Bells creek hike
The Institute, which has a variety of leadership programs and fellowships, is, of course, supported immensely by the Crown family of Chicago and its descendants, some of whom cousin Jen Gordon knows...
Here's a brief history and a timeline of the Aspen Institute.
And some of its other happenings...
I always had heard of the Aspen Institute, and then found out about its Socrates program for young leaders last summer through its Director, Melissa, who is Shai's - my friend from college (Hebrew U.) - wife.
The Socrates Society, geared towards 28-45 year olds, was founded by Gary and Laura Lauder of the Lauder family (Gary is the grandson of Estée Lauder).
There were about 150 attendees from around the country and the world.
The meadow at the Aspen Institute
Both Laura and Gary, quite witty, were there - I met them. They have played a central role envisioning the seminars over the years and were central to the weekend, introducing and MC-ing the events, eating meals with us, even hosting 10-12 attendees at their home in Aspen. They were very energetic and enthusiastic and proud of the event and the program.
The weekend schedule was three days of 8 am - 12 noon group discussion (20 in a class, Socratic method) on the chosen topic based on readings they sent us in advance. The topic I chose among the other topics offered - China and America, Islam and Politics, U.S. "soft power", Technology and Democracy - was called "The Great Conversation in a Global Society," and was led by Leigh Hafrey.
Here was the description:
"Three modules comprise this seminar: Human Nature, the Burden of Power and Leadership Strategies. In the tradition of the Aspen Institute's Great Conversation, we will move from views of humanity held by the Ancient Greeks to modern work in genetics: from the Rwandan Genocide to Virginia Woolf on women and war; from the Italian Renaissance to the American Civil Rights movement of the 1960's. The readings and discussion aim to elicit participant views on 1) what it means to be human; 2) how human nature and historical circumstance shape our behavior in a global society; and 3) the forms leadership may take."
Leigh was a great facilitator and listener. My seminar was actually a shortened version of the original "Aspen Seminar" geared for "top leaders from all walks of life who are looking for a leadership development program that focuses on questions rather than on answers" on leadership, values, and the good society.
On the Maroon Bells creek hike
At the reception before the Benefit Dinner on a sunny Saturday evening on a beautiful veranda overlooking the green hills facing Aspen, I met two of the other facilitators, Ayaan Hirsi Ali (and here and here) and, together with Niall Ferguson, who, in describing his topic - "China and America: The Case for Partnership and Competition" - at the previous night's opening dinner during which each of the facilitators gathered on stage - after being introduced by the Aspen Institute's President, Walter Isaacson and Elliot Gerson - noted that, "Since I'm an egomaniac, many of the readings for our session are by me." Among the six facilitators included Jeffrey Rosen, whose op-ed was published in that Sunday's New York Times.
Also at the reception standing near me and at the Benefit Dinner was Thomas Friedman, who was the 2009 event's featured speaker. I didn't introduce myself...
I didn't stay for it, but immediately after my seminar was the annual Aspen Ideas Festival, which is co-sponsored and being covered here by The Atlantic magazine. Tons of leaders and news people are attending it...hey it's Aspen! It's getting a lot of press (and here) in the news...
Besides the actual seminar, which featured lots of schmoozing and eating three meals a day + breaks together, I went for hikes at Maroon Bells and Hunter Creek Trail.
Maroon Bells
I hope I can attend Aspen Institute events in the future and return to Aspen again as well.
It was so beautiful there.
0 comments:
Post a Comment