- January 30, 2020
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- May 22, 2025
On 30 January, 2020, The Aspen Institute Germany in partnership with Value for Good, and the Harvard Alumni Club of Berlin hosted a book discussion with Bina Venkataraman to discuss her latest book “The Optimist’s Telescope: Thinking Ahead in a Reckless Age”.
Observing the spread of a deadly virus, the climate apocalypse, populism, increasing polarization in society as well as the threat of violent clashes dominate the news with doomsday scenarios. Bina Venkataraman contrasts this with a focus on optimism and forward-thinking: hands-on examples show tools and strategies for effective mechanisms to provide reliable predictions of looming threats. Optimistic leadership skills can go beyond the individual and may serve to initiate sustainable change in behaviour and thinking. Thinking outside established coalitions and pattern may lead out of myopia and in connection with adequate measures and incentives, as well as lead to positive system adjustments.
Looking through the optimist’s telescope entailed a vivid discussion with a full house of guests and was moderated by Clara Péron, Alumna of the Aspen Leadership Seminar and Founder of Value for Good, and Vice-President of the Harvard Alumni Club of Berlin, and Rüdiger Lentz, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Germany.
