Act III: Leadership and Legacy Laureates Program

From Success to Significance to Consequence

“The difficulty of our time is a difficulty of the human spirit.”

These words, shared during the Aspen Institute’s founding 75 years ago, marked a world damaged by division, in need of recovery and renewal, yet committed to confronting the challenges ahead. The moment called for humanistic leadership that encouraged self-reflection and self-critique, inspired dialogue and connection, and expanded the possibilities for a better future.

Today, as ever, we urgently look to those lessons.

Many proven leaders—who have transformed markets and industries, discovered technological and scientific breakthroughs, and shaped policy and public discourse—find themselves at this pivotal moment in our history asking deeper questions. They are compelled to channel their purpose, experience, and resources toward bold, enduring impact at scale. But today’s challenges cannot be solved in isolation. The complexity of our time demands cross-sector collaboration, cross-cultural understanding, and a steadfast commitment to values-driven, human-centered leadership.

The Act III: Leadership and Legacy Laureates program—a new initiative of the Aspen Global Leadership Network (AGLN)—answers that call.

The Act III program is designed for distinguished leaders from varied sectors, cultures, and geographies, convening a select cohort—drawing on AGLN Fellows, Nobel Peace Prize recipients, and other exceptional changemakers—to exchange with one another as they build on lessons learned to shape legacies of deep consequence.

Through two immersive Aspen seminars, ongoing engagement, and lifelong fellowship, Laureates will revisit and recommit to their values and stretch themselves in daring and courageous ways, using their talent and resources to forge pathways to address the most pressing and systemic issues of our time.

Stay Tuned

As the 2025–2026 program unfolds, we will share reflections, insights, and breakthroughs from the Laureates—capturing the evolution of their leadership and the catalytic ideas and actions taking shape.

The Act III: Leadership and Legacy Laureates program is generously supported by the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, which works to ensure the equitable benefits of a growing economy extend to everyone, everywhere.