A Global Initiative
Leadership
in the AI era.
The Premise
Exploring purpose, principle and human agency in a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.
01 — The Brief
Leadership in the AI era
Exploring purpose, principle and human agency in a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence.
Stage i
The Partnership
The Menzies Leadership Foundation is partnering with the Aspen Institute Socrates Program on a global initiative exploring what effective, purpose-led leadership looks like in the AI era.
Stage ii
The Challenge
As AI becomes more deeply embedded in organisations and everyday life, leadership requires more than an understanding of the technology — it requires judgement, responsibility, ethics and a clear sense of what must remain distinctly human.
Stage iii
The Programme
Through a series of expert-moderated seminars, cross-sector leaders will examine how AI is reshaping the environment in which leadership is exercised — and how to work with intelligent technologies while retaining purpose and accountability.
Five questions in focus.
The seminars don’t seek easy answers. They sit with the questions that matter most.
What changes when artificial intelligence becomes an active participant in analysis, decision-making and organisational life?
Which aspects of leadership can be strengthened by AI?
What must remain grounded in human judgement and responsibility?
Where does accountability sit when decisions are increasingly mediated by machines?
How can leaders retain purpose, principle and ethical clarity through rapid technological change?
03 — The Method
A different kind of conversation — almost thirty years in the making.
The Socrates Model
Rather than presentations or predetermined answers, participants engage with carefully selected readings, case studies and shared experiences — examining complex questions from different perspectives.
Space for reflection, debate and collective sense-making — strengthening relationships and developing new ideas for leadership in the AI era.
04 — The Series
The Next Frontier of Leadership.
Five seminars convening leaders from different sectors, disciplines and backgrounds — who may not ordinarily be in the same room.
Purpose, Principle, and the Animate–Inanimate Divide.
- 0133.8688° S
Sydney
Australia
- 0231.2304° N
Shanghai
China
- 0351.5072° N
London
England
- 041.3521° N
Singapore
Singapore
- 0539.1911° N
Aspen
United States
05 — A Premise
The aim is not to replace human dialogue or judgement,
but to explore how AI might scaffold without displacing the human responsibility at the centre of leadership.
Synthesizing technological capability with the irreducible nature of human wisdom.
06 — The Experiment
AI as a participant, not a presenter.
In an experimental dimension of the initiative, the Menzies Leadership Foundation and the ANU School of Cybernetics are developing an AI system to participate in the dialogue.
The system will capture, interrogate and develop perspectives emerging from the discussions — giving participants the chance to examine firsthand the possibilities and implications of working alongside intelligent technologies.
07 — Outcomes
From conversation to action.
Insights from the seminars will inform future research, writing and potential leadership initiatives — and help build a global community of practice around human and AI-enabled leadership.
Seminar reflections
Forthcoming
Articles & essays
Forthcoming
Research outputs
Forthcoming
Announcement
What does it mean to lead in the AI era?
Read the full announcement on the partnership and the questions shaping the next frontier of leadership.
Read the announcement08 — Stay Connected
Follow the initiative.
Emerging questions, reflections and outputs as they take shape.