Leading Conversations

Cheryl Esposito welcomes Peter Barnes, co-founder of Working Assets, successful journalist, thought leader, and author of Capitalism 3.0: A Guide To Reclaiming The Commons. Capitalism needs an upgrade. Our current economic “operating system” fits the 18th century more than the 21st century. “When capitalism started, nature was abundant and capital was scarce; it thus made sense to reward capital above all else. Today we're awash in capital and literally running out of nature.” Peter points the way to a future in which we can retain capitalism’s virtues while mitigating its vices. All of us -entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, community activists, politicians, et.al- have a role to play in shaping a future for the coming generations. Are you ready? Join Cheryl & Peter for Common Wealth: Leading the Future.

Cheryl Esposito welcomes Margaret J. Wheatley, Ph.D., co-founder of Berkana Institute, a global charitable foundation dedicated to serving life-affirming leaders. Meg writes, teaches, and speaks about radically new practices and ideas for organizing in chaotic times. She is author of Leadership and the New Science: Discovering Order in a Chaotic World and Finding Our Way: Leadership for an Uncertain Time. Meg says there is “a call to fearlessness for gentle leaders.” Is there a way of leading in these times of fear that call for different qualities and behavior? Is fear really a bad thing? Is it safe to be fearless? What are the bold moves we can make that don't produce yet more fear? Join Cheryl & Meg to explore your own call to leadership in these times.

Cheryl Esposito welcomes Patricia Aburdene, author of Megatrends 2010: The Rise of Conscious Capitalism. Aburdene says “capitalism is finding its soul” and points to 7 trends that will transform the way we all work, live and invest to prove it. Aburdene has a track record of deciphering the signs of significant long-term change. In the book Megatrends more than 20 years ago, she and John Naisbitt described the birth of the Information Economy.” A decade later, they predicted a networked, technology-driven era in business. In Megatrends 2010 she shows how values, consciousness, and leadership at all levels are reshaping capitalism. She says, “we the people have the power as investors, employees, and consumers to heal capitalism.” How has this moved from being a mantra of a few radical idealists to being embraced as an emerging trend in society? Join Cheryl and guest Patricia Aburdene to explore this profound global shift and the important role you play in creating the future.

Cheryl Esposito welcomes Jeffrey Glassman, J.D., founder of RainforestMaker, a non profit organization dedicated to saving and growing back the Earth’s rainforests- one tree at a time. Jeff is a highly successful attorney – a “rainmaker”- with passion for his work. Not having much time to play, he vacations as hard as he works. He adventures to exotic lands, climbs mountains, and explores wild coastlines. In 2004, while in Costa Rica Jeff says, “I was awed by its incredible beauty and I remember feeling the Rainforest was alive! …And there were huge tracts of Rainforest land that had been completely destroyed.” With that, the seed was planted and over the next couple of years ideas sprouted - until he decided that ideas were not enough. It was time for action. Join us to hear Jeff share the most important adventure of his life that takes him from a childhood love of trees to a passionate mission to effect change in the rainforest and make a difference for the planet.

Cheryl Esposito welcomes Stewart Emery, entrepreneur, executive coach and leader; he served as the first CEO of est, and is considered one of the fathers of the Human Potential Movement. Author of several books, his latest bestseller is a collaborative effort with Jerry Porras and Mark Thompson, Success Built to Last: Creating A Life That Matters. What are the secrets of lasting success? And what’s love got to do with it? The answers – and the research - may surprise you. Join us to hear Stewart share stories of some of the most successful leaders of our time, a new definition of success, and why this matters to you.

Cheryl Esposito welcomes Craig Neal, co-founder of Heartland Inc., founder of the Conscious Business Alliance, a founding board member of Business for Social Responsibility, and former publisher of Utne magazine. A passionate change leader, Craig creates networks of authenticity and essential conversations with intent to shape societal, organizational, and individual transformations needed in these times. Heartland produced the first Thought Leader Gathering for 40 change leaders in 1998 and he has guided thousands of leaders in the Essential Conversations Process. Craig writes: “We live in a time where the need for understanding is great, where the need to be efficient with our time and resources is equally great…The circle as a form of human gathering is a ‘technology’ borrowed from the past that can produce enduring outcomes… [It] is a social technology that has withstood the test of time.” He is currently writing The Art of Convening: A Field Guide to Essential Conversations.

Cheryl Esposito welcomes Therese Poulsen, Founder and Director, Breath of Hope Foundation, Inc & internationally recognized yoga master and holistic healer. In the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami, Therese realized that her unique background in teaching and holistic healing might give her the means to make a difference in the shattered lives and their distressed communities. She knew that material relief efforts, however vital, would never address the inner devastation caused by the tsunami and the forever-changed world it would leave behind. Her mission became clear: to rebuild shattered hope – to help repair distressed bodies, psyches, souls, and lives – from the inside out. In July 2005, drawing on her leadership skills & her passion for making a difference in the world, Therese established numerous Breath of Hope program sites at schools, orphanages and community centers in Sri Lanka and Indonesia. The results have been phenomenal.

Cheryl Esposito welcomes Adam Kahane, international mediation & scenario planning consultant, In the 1990’s Adam facilitated the groundbreaking Mont Fleur Scenarios, in which a diverse group of South African leaders worked together to effect the transition out of apartheid. Since then he has led similar processes around the world in Colombia, Guatemala, Paraguay, the Middle East, and Northern Ireland. Adam says that this process “…gets people who have never talked to each other to think about alternative pathways to their future. Adam authored Solving Tough Problems: An Open Way of Talking, Listening, and Creating New Realities. Nelson Mandela said: “This breakthrough book addresses the central challenge of our time: finding a way to work together to solve the problems we have created.” Join us as we explore the path to world changing conversations.

Cheryl Esposito welcomes Richard Leider, founder and Chairman of The Inventure Group, and ranked by Forbes as one of the Top 5 most respected [executive] coaches with thirty years experience in coaching people to live and work on purpose. He is a best-selling author of Repacking Your Bags and Claiming Your Place At The Fire. How do we find our place in the world? Richard Leider says “it is not a place we find but a life we create…when we commit ourselves to something larger than ourselves.” Join us as we explore the power of leading a life on purpose.

Cheryl Esposito welcomes Richard Strozzi-Heckler, Ph.D. co-founder & President of Strozzi Institute, author of several books including In Search of the Warrior Spirit and The Leadership Dojo to be released this year. Richard crosses borders and boundaries in war zones and boardrooms to teach global leaders that the mind and the body are inextricably linked: to develop one, you must cultivate the other. Can embodied leadership change the direction of business and the future of the world? How does a warrior lead with heart and meaning? Join this inspiring conversation of courageous action and commitment to making the world a better place.