Socrates Seminars – Aspen Institute
Saturday, December 13, 2025
We ignite human potential to build understanding and create new possibilities for a better world.
We were founded in 1949 as an experiment—as a place to reflect on values and lead with purpose in a complex, changing world.
The Aspen Institute is powered by a dedicated community of leaders working together to advance our mission with purpose and care.
We bring people together, develop leaders, and enable solutions to today’s challenges by fostering dialogue and collaboration.
We tackle society’s most complex challenges through programs, leadership initiatives, and convenings that turn ideas into action.
Our Impact Areas
We convene diverse voices to explore complex challenges and spark ideas and foster relationships that lead to real-world impact.
We were founded in 1949 as an experiment—as a place to reflect on values and lead with purpose in a complex, changing world.
Our U.S. locations foster connection, reflection, and dialogue—serving as hubs for ideas, leadership, and impact.
Our network of 13 international partners and 1 initiative advance dialogue, civil discourse, and practical solutions to important challenges within their societies. They are distinct nonprofit organizations affiliated with the Aspen Institute.
Aspen Institute employees bring diverse backgrounds and a unique blend of knowledge, skills, and experience. We value their passion, insight, and commitment as our most vital resource.
If you are interested in a career with the Aspen Institute, please explore our open positions.
The Aspen Institute offers internships that build skills, provide hands-on learning, and connect you with professionals in your field.
Our programs tackle complex challenges across policy, society, and culture, creating space for dialogue, innovation, and practical solutions.
From global convenings to local forums, our events bring together diverse voices to exchange ideas and explore solutions to critical issues.
Discover the ways you can fuel our impact and help us advance our mission.
Our signature leadership seminars create transformative experiences that challenge participants to reflect deeply, think critically, and grow as purposeful leaders.
Aspen Institute Centers provide focused platforms for advancing specific fields of inquiry, public understanding, and leadership development across disciplines.
Our research, reports, and commentary share knowledge, surface insights, and inform policy and public discourse.
We recognize and celebrate individuals and organizations making exceptional contributions to society, leadership, and the public good.
We cultivate communities of high-impact leaders committed to values-driven leadership and positive change in their sectors and communities.
We elevate climate solutions through practical, collective action that protects our planet and our future.
We advance strategies, policies, and ideas that catalyze the change needed to build an inclusive economy—one that ensures financial security, opportunity, and resilience.
We connect and develop leaders across sectors, geographies, and generations, creating networks of individuals committed to solving our greatest challenges.
We ignite the potential of young people of all backgrounds by developing their leadership, amplifying their voices, and enabling productive dialogue across differences.
We strengthen democracy and our social fabric by building trust and solving problems in partnership with individuals, institutions, and communities.
Dan Porterfield is President and CEO of the Aspen Institute. He has been recognized as a visionary strategist, leader, and advocate for young people and purpose-driven leadership.
The Board of Trustees includes distinguished leaders from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Trustees provide counsel to the President and CEO, oversee the management of the Institute’s assets and affairs, and guide the organization in fulfillment of its purpose and mission.
The Executive Team advises the President and CEO on strategy and operations, ensures alignment across the Institute, and advances its mission internally and externally. Members represent key programs and functions.
Our experts focus on an array of relevant critical issues and ideas. They come from a diverse range of backgrounds and have made it their mission to further the ideals of the Aspen Institute
Your values-based legacy gift to the Aspen Institute can be a powerful testament to shared beliefs and provide essential support towards our impactful work.
The Aspen Institute is proud to partner with leading companies in our mission to solve the greatest challenges of our time through dialogue, leadership, and action.
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