13TH ANNUAL
Leadership, Human Flourishing and Artificial Intelligence
LOCATION
Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort
Santa Barbara, CA
SAVE THE DATE
June 3-4, 2027
Principled Leadership, Practically Applied
Gain actionable insight you can immediately apply across business, nonprofit, and organizational leadership.
Distinguished Voices, Meaningful Perspective
Learn directly from bestselling authors and global thought leaders shaping today’s most important conversations.
Space to Think, People to Connect With
Step away from the noise to engage deeply, while building relationships with leaders across industries and sectors.
Meet the Voices Shaping Modern Leadership
Learn from bestselling authors, global executives, and influential thinkers across business, culture, and ethics.
Gayle Beebe
President of Â鶹avÓ³»´«Ã½
Author of The Crucibles That Shape Us
David Brooks
The Atlantic, Presidential Fellow at Yale University
Bestselling author of The Road to Character and How to Know a Person
Susan Cain
Popular TED Talk Speaker
NYT Bestselling author of Quiet and Bittersweet
Zack Kass
Former OpenAI Leader
Author of The Next Renaissance
Robert Tucker
Innovation Strategist
Author of Build a Better Future
Tyler VanderWeele
Director of the Harvard Human Flourishing Program
Author of The Theology of Health
Steve Porter
Senior Research Fellow and Executive Director of the Martin Institute
Steve L. Porter, longtime professor of spiritual formation, theology and philosophy.
2026 Faculty Panelists
Blake Kent
Associate Professor of Sociology at Â鶹avÓ³»´«Ã½
Smaranda Lawrie
Director of Â鶹avÓ³»´«Ã½â€™s Center for Resilience and Human Flourishing
Carmel Saad
Director of Â鶹avÓ³»´«Ã½'s Carol Houston Center for Justice Reconciliation and Diversity
The Human Flourishing Program
Led by Tyler VanderWeele at Harvard Human Flourishing Program, the Global Flourishing Study marks a significant shift in how we understand well-being. Rather than relying solely on economic measures like GDP, this landmark research takes a more comprehensive view of what it means to live well.
In partnership with Baylor University and Gallup, the study follows 200,000 participants across 22 countries over five years, making it the largest effort of its kind. It examines six key dimensions of flourishing: happiness, health, purpose, character, relationships, and material stability.
By identifying how these factors interact, the study equips leaders with evidence-based insights to shape stronger organizations, communities, and cultures, helping people not only navigate modern life, but truly thrive within it.
Event Overview
Pricing
2026 Registration Fee
$595 per person
Each Attendee Receives
Meals, sessions, post conference access to password-protected digital recordings.
2026 registration is closed. Contact us at lead@westmont.edu to learn more about the 2027 conference.
Schedule
Thursday, June 4, 2026
8:00 - 9:00 AM Registration Check-in and Coffee
9:00 AM Welcome with Reed Sheard and Gayle Beebe
9:15 AM Tyler VanderWeele: “Human Flourishing and the Global Flourishing Study," a high-level overview of the project with several implications noted, including academic flourishing, religious communities and flourishing, and forgiveness and flourishing, followed by a discussion and audience Q&A with Tyler VanderWeele and Gayle Beebe
10:45 AM Break
11:00 AM David Brooks: “How Culture Change Happens,†followed by a discussion and audience Q&A with David Brooks, Tyler VanderWeele and Gayle Beebe
12:00 PM Lunch
1:00 PM Welcome Back and Overview with Reed Sheard
1:15 PM Robert Tucker: “Leading and Flourishing in an Age of Accelerationâ€
2:00 PM David Brooks: “How to Fall in Love,†followed by a discussion and audience Q&A with David Brooks and Gayle Beebe
Break
3:45 PM Panel Discussion on Human Flourishing: Blake Kent, Carmel Saad, Smaranda Lawrie, Gayle Beebe and Tyler VanderWeele, followed by audience Q&A
4:45 PM Break and Networking
5:30 PM Buffet Dinner
7:00 PM David Brooks: “What Christian Humanism Offers the World and Why It Mattersâ€
Friday, June 5, 2026
7:30 AM Breakfast
8:15 AM Welcome with Reed Sheard
8:30 AM Gayle Beebe: “Intelligence, Creativity and Moral Imagination: Cultivating the Dispositions That Lead
to Personal Effectiveness and Enduring Impactâ€
9:15 AM Susan Cain: “A Quiet Revolution: Changing How we Work, Lead and Innovate,†followed by a discussion and audience Q&A with Susan Cain and Gayle Beebe
10:30 AM Break
10:45 AM Steve Porter: “Why A Good Person Is So Hard to Find: Virtue, Human Flourishing and the Hidden Benefit of Faith.â€
11:30 AM Lunch
12:00 PM Zack Kass: “The Next RenAIssance: AI and the Expansion of Human Potential,†followed by a discussion and audience Q&A with Zack Kass, Gayle Beebe and Reed Sheard
1:15 PM Dallas Willard Research Center Book Award
1:30 PM Tyler VanderWeele: “A Theology of Health: Wholeness and Human Flourishingâ€
2:15 PM Gayle D. Beebe: Â鶹avÓ³»´«Ã½â€™s Next Steps with the Human Flourishing Program
Thanks to Our 2026 Sponsors
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THE FLETCHER JONES FOUNDATION |
THE HUGH E. AND MARJORIE S. |
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Partner with Us
Partner in Advancing Thoughtful Leadership
The Lead Where You Stand Conference is made possible through the support of organizations committed to principled leadership and meaningful impact. Our sponsors play a vital role in bringing together a distinguished community of leaders, ideas, and conversations that shape the future.
Why Become a Sponsor
Align with Purpose-Driven Leadership
Connect your organization with a conference grounded in integrity, thoughtful engagement, and lasting influence.
Reach an Influential Audience
Engage directly with a room of more than 300 executives, educators, nonprofit leaders, and emerging professionals across industries.
Elevate Your Brand Presence
Gain visibility through curated exposure across event materials, on-site experiences, and digital platforms.
We offer a range of partnership opportunities designed to align with your organization’s goals, from brand visibility to deeper engagement with attendees.
2026 Registration is closed. Contact us at lead@westmont.edu to learn more about sponsoring Lead Where You Stand 2027.