The
North American
Forum
Philadelphia, PA USA September 5 - 9, 2001
The North American Forum is about Leadership and how
one leads in times of great change and in a global environment. While
it is primarily about the individual as leader, it is also about leadership
of companies and of countries. Some of the themes developed during this
Forum include:
The Individual as Leader: Leadership is as much about a journey inside ourselves to understand our own values and beliefs as it is a journey to the outside world to gain the perspective of many and to learn. The process of discovery about our own leadership styles and strengths comes through a variety of experiences which draw on our ability to judge, to value, to take chances and to learn. It also comes from an understanding of how we project our ideas, communicate, energize others and ourselves. The process for learning about the outside world is a continuous one. It is critical for the leader to constantly expose themselves to people and places that are different and from which they can learn new perspectives and ways of doing things.
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How do we as leaders ensure that we are constantly learning? |
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How do we ensure that those whom we lead are doing the same? |
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What lessons can we learn from those who lead in other parts of society such as science, technology, art, music, law enforcement, civil society and government? |
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How will factors such as the Internet continue to change the world, in which we live and do business? What do we need to know about what the future may look like that will influence what we do today? |
Leadership and the Global Company: American global corporations
have been successful competitors worldwide. Do they compete differently?
How? The recent "new economy" adventure underscored the perspective that
American companies' success was a result of their abilities to take risk,
to fail and to reward well those who succeeded. Do these truths still
hold? What can be learned from how American companies compete that can
be applied to other organizations? How do successful companies innovate
and create new ideas and solve problems? What clues are there in history
and culture that help us to understand why Americans view opportunities
and challenges the way that they do and act as such?
Leadership and the World: The U.S. is expected to demonstrate
leadership in the world while at the same time, being resented for the
"liberties" and stances it has taken as a global superpower. Most U.S.
citizens are not concerned with taking care of the rest of the world and
question the decisions to allocate so much of their own resources to solving
others' problems. Emerging centers of power around the world hold the
potential to challenge the U.S. value-system and position of strength.
What will become of the U.S.- China relationship? What of Europe and the
U.S.? Recent announcements on energy and environmental policies along
with debates on human rights and the position of the U.S. on capital punishment
which seems to contradict a platform for human rights - places the U.S.
in a precarious and uncertain position with respect to its image and integrity.
What will be the role of the U.S. as leader in the world in the future
and what will this mean for the global corporation? Will there be a shift
in power and where will it come from?
More Information
The North American Forum Agenda and Biographies Book
Published Resources