- June 11, 2026
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- June 14, 2026
Leadership demands more than expertise: it requires clarity of thought, steadfastness of judgment, and the ability to consciously bear responsibility in complex situations – especially in times of high uncertainty and profound transformation.
From June 11 to 14, 2026, our Aspen Germany Leadership Seminar “Philosophy and Practice” will take place at Gut Klostermühle near Berlin. In a deliberately small, international group of 12–15 leaders, we will create a confidential space for concentrated reflection and challenging exchange.
The focus is on the Aspen method of text-based, moderated dialogue. Selected philosophical, political, and literary texts serve as starting point for exploring central questions of responsible leadership. The focus is on your personal set of values: What convictions underpin your decisions? What provides orientation in the event of conflicting goals and under pressure? The structured dialogue among peers sharpens judgment and broadens perspectives – also through the intercultural exchange of different leadership contexts.
This dialogue is supplemented by deliberately interactive formats: In structured peer feedback sessions, personal leadership issues are mirrored openly and confidentially. Joint reflection walks around the lake open new thinking spaces beyond the seminar room. The seminar also includes the modern interpretation of a classic play, which the group develops and performs together. In this way, questions of role, responsibility and attitude are not only discussed but can be experienced directly.
“Philosophy and Practice” combines philosophical depth, international perspectives, and personal self-reflection in a format that goes far beyond traditional executive programs. Many of our more than 400 alumni describe the seminar as a lasting impulse for their understanding of leadership. They include Kimberly Marteau Emerson (Human Rights Watch), Cem Özdemir (former Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture), Dr. Kerstin Humberg (founder of Yunel), Horst von Buttlar (Editor-in-Chief of WirtschaftsWoche) and Esra Küçük (former Managing Director of the Allianz Cultural Foundation).
The seminar will be led by Prof. Dr. Carol Gluck (Columbia University, New York) and Ruth Girardet (The University of Edinburgh).
If you are interested in participating, please contact leadership@aspeninstitute.de
