Aspen NZ’s Inaugural Leadership Seminar with Todd Breyfogle

The inaugural Aspen New Zealand Seminar titled ‘Leadership, Sustainability and the Good Society’ was held at Millbrook Resort earlier this month. Todd Breyfogle, the Aspen Institute’s Managing Director of the Executive Leadership Programme, moderated the sessions over four days which embodied classical, humanitarian and leadership issues as well as current tensions and consequences. Dialogues were frank, moderated and supported by historical and current readings, from John Locke’s ‘Second Treatise of Government’ to Arapera Hinera Blank, ‘ Rangitukia, Soul Place’.

The seminar began Thursday evening with dinner at the Clubhouse, followed by an opening discussion on ‘Wants and Needs’.  On Friday morning, the seminar began in earnest and for the next three days explored often conflicting interests of individuals, market and state, and the intended (and unintended) consequences of decisions.

The cohort of 22 were a group of leaders, young and senior, from a wide variety of sectors: government, education, finance, farming, business, law and property.  This is what they had to say:

‘Fantastic to step out of the routine, incredibly genuine and open, brings humanities to the day to day … really affirms my day job.’

‘It’s been a real privilege with such a diverse and successful group, an incredible few days …  challenged my thinking to be more open to other points of view.’

‘Todd was truly outstanding - the outsider's perspective was very useful combined with including many NZ related texts’.

‘It’s been so valuable to hear differing views, debate values, with no pre-conceived agenda or outcome …  leave our baggage behind.’

‘It has real value … never been to anything like this before …  learned more about the kiwi perspective on world isssues in three days, than I had in 16 years of visits to the country.’

‘It has made me become conscious of the separation between many leaders and society as a whole, and for me to keep in touch with others wants and needs, rather than what I think they need.’

‘To place greater emphasis on the morality of leadership and the importance of  ‘doing the right thing’, plus leading by example consistently - not only in the work-place in assigned leadership roles but in all aspects of life.’

‘The seminar taught me that leadership is less about intellect and more about staying true to a core set of values. It was also an incredible opportunity to meet a wide range of people with differing perspectives, and have them all in one room!’

For more photos, click here.