The Vail Leadership Institute is a unique non-profit Colorado-based learning organization that convenes emerging, developing and seasoned leaders for programs, retreats and forums focused on "inside-first" leadership. It was created by leaders for leaders who want to put heart-centered leadership on the agenda.
We help leaders develop the strength and conviction to lead from the heart. We use the Vail Valley's inspiring mountain environment to facilitate rejuvenation and personal growth. We use dialogue to build trust that serves to encourage individuals, organizations, and communities. Our programs emphasize application over theory with a clear bias for action.
Perhaps the most significant leadership problem in our society today is ego-centric thinking. Our culture tends to glorify prestige and celebrity over substance; immediate gratification over the enduring; and charisma over character. This emphasis can often result in an out-of-balance ethical compass. Our society has become very self-focused, too often cynical and convinced that winning is everything. We disagree with those who say nothing can be done.
And within this context, it's interesting that many leaders today have not examined very deeply what they stand for. The Institute's experience over the past ten years shows that when questions of values, beliefs and purpose are addressed, they can have a profound impact on one's leadership perspective and approach.
We are dedicated to cultivating effective, ethical leaders.
All great human achievement begins from within. We define "inside-first" leadership as a process that starts there. Inside is where we clarify our values and discover our purpose. Inside is where we develop character. Inside is where we store our convictions, our integrity and our courage. These virtues within then guide us in our responsibilities through relationships with others.
We are spiritually oriented and believe that ethical leaders seek meaning and significance over success and self-aggrandizement. Our approach draws upon many wisdom and faith traditions and many thought-leaders. In essence, we believe that the only way to meaningfully change behavior is to change hearts. And because the future of society is profoundly affected by those in leadership positions, we are committed to encouraging empathetic, character-based leadership.
We draw upon the Vail Valley as an environment where renewal naturally occurs. And we are regularly connecting a network of leaders who apply these heart-centered principles in valuable projects at work, in their communities of interest or at home. We are financially healthy and evolve our leadership philosophy keeping it at the cutting edge to better serve our various stakeholders' needs.
By 2015, the Vail Valley will be recognized as a model community with a diverse economy, great recreational and cultural facilities, unique educational opportunities and authentic leaders. The ripples of our symbol represent both a perspective emanating from a healthy inside as well as a philosophy reaching out and influencing the world from this place. With this foundation, leaders will become more compassionate and be better prepared to make meaningful contributions to our world.