Past Dialogues - 2005

Since The Presidio Dialogues began in late 2000, conversation starters have graciously donated their time and knowledge for which The Presidio Dialogues is very grateful. The names of these people are in bold below.

November 22, 2005
The Nature of Reality: Past, Present and Future

In the hurly burly of dealing with everyday issues, we seldom take a wider view of the reality in which we function. It's crucial to get beyond our individual, unexamined points of view to a deeper appreciation of the context that underpins all our endeavors. Pulling back to see this "pattern that connects us" is more than a trival theoretical concern; it is essential to our individual, relational, organizational and social futures.   Conversation Starters: Peter Kingsley, internationally recognized for his groundbreaking work on the origins of western spirituality, philosophy, and culture; author, Reality and In The Dark Places of Wisdom; David Berenson, MD, innovator in family treatment of alcoholism, theorist of fundamental change and creator of the "Map of Emotions" and "Domains of Reality"

October 25, 2005
Fatal Fundamentalism: How Our Thinking Could Be Leading Us To Extinction

Fundamentalism is rampant in all of humanity's institutions, not only in religion but in business, medicine, politics, law and education. And it appears to be growing! What makes people resort to this rigid way of thinking? Why is this epidemic of extremism spreading so wildly across the world and causing so much divisiveness? Is fundamentalism a counterfeit short-cut to the real thing? Are people trying to eat the menu instead of the meal? These are some of the questions that will be included in this evening of dialogic inquiry. Join in this exploration of what is behind this alarming trend that is dividing humanity among all walks of human endeavor.   Conversation Starters: The Very Reverend Alan Jones, Dean of San Francisco's Grace Cathedral (since 1985); past professor at the General Theological Seminary in New York City; John Renesch, businessman-turned-futurist, who's authoring a new book on conscious evolution tentatively entitled The New Human: Beyond the Naked Ape; Len Saputo, MD, co-founder, The Health Medicine Institute, and advocate of "Health Medicine" -- integrative, holistic, person-centered, preventive care; author, radio show host, fitness expert; Tim Tosta, Esq, partner, Steefel, Levitt & Weiss, a San Francisco law firm; prominent SF Bay Area land-use attorney who's represented numerous development projects across California

September 27, 2005
Turning the Tide: Taking on Large Scale Change

In this inquiry, we'll delve into what it takes to "turn the tide" in taking on large scale change. In any serious shift, there seems to be a tipping point, where the old ways finally lose ground. What does it take personally, and what does it take from a group to move through this scale of change? What are the critical success factors for leaders of large scale change? How can one tell how far there is to go? What preparation can be made before undertaking such efforts? Where is the leverage and what is really key to successfully steering fundamental change at the level of the enterprise, region, an entire industry or for government?   Conversation Starters: Michael Doyle, Advisor, Pivot Point, apprenticing on collaborative strategic planning and large scale change across the globe for the last 30 years; David Sibbet, President and Founder, The Grove Consultants International, an organization development firm focused on visualizing change; Vivian Wright, Internal Strategy and Organization Consultant, Hewlett-Packard, a founder of the "Work Innovation Network," which became a community for exploration of innovative work practices across the company

August 23, 2005
Creating an Environment for Creativity

Being creative is a superstition. Maybe it’s just a cliché, and we don’t really know what it is. The boss might say, "I want you to be more creative." The word has been so commonly used, and it gets mixed up with being innovative, but what does it mean? A Zen Buddhist would say it's when you’re being. Are there different expressions? Clever or innovative, smarter, productive, or more results? Compared to what? Can we articulate the idea of creativity in a way that noone’s ever discovered? How does one create an environment where people can be creative? Is it even reasonable to have creativity as a performance criteria? Conversation Starters: Betsy Burroughs, President, Future Catalyst- Bringing Your Insight Out; Bob Muson, Fine Artist, Creator, The Painting Seminar; Steven Pritzker, Ph.D. Director of The Creativity Studies Certificate and The Consciousness and Spirituality Concentration at Saybrook Graduate School, former network television writer-producer; Editor-in-Chief of The Encyclopedia of Creativity.

June 28, 2005
Social Healing Toward a United World

The unprecedented alignment of 191 nations in the UN Millennium Development Declaration promises to produce a massive improvement in the quality of life across the globe by 2015. But what will that take? What challenges of awareness and cooperation will we need to take on, locally and globally? For what past damage must we take responsibility to clear the pathway for this great work? A coherent vision of healing has begun to emerge, weaving together a diversity of approaches to address both individual and collective wounding. What are the new imperatives for business? What shifts are required to make this dream a reality? Conversation Starters: Jette Winckler Jensen, Board Member, United Nations Association San Francisco chapter James O'Dea, President, The Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS); co-author, Social Healing for a Fractured World (SHIFT Magazine, June-Aug 2005); former Director, Washington office, Amnesty International Belvie Rooks, writer, educator and executive producer of programs such as Watts Up! Demaria's Journey from Watts to the Frontiers of Consciousness, Courage and Hey! Listen Up, Board Member, The Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS); Vice-President of Project Development, Danny Glover's Carrie Productions

May 24, 2005
Thinking Together: When Everyone is Smarter than Anyone

As our awareness and reach grows geographically, socially and in all other ways, we're clearly being challenged to learn to “think together.” Teams of people everywhere are dealing with messy problems or trying to inquire into complex topics that may polarize ... or may expand and resolve with broader participation. More than ever, business relies on the work of virtual and diverse groups engaging difficult business and social issues and exploring unknown territory. What does it take to amplify our "thinking together", to generate transformative insights and difference-making solutions that can be successfully implemented? How can we foster and support conversations that matter so the results include the best contributions of all who participate ... and are also useful further on? What do new technologies for collaborative thinking actually provide? What practices really work, and what gets in the way? What hinders useful structures for collaboration from coming into more prevalent use? Conversation Starters: Juanita Brown, Founder, The World Cafe ; Fellow, World Business Academy; Bob Horn, Visiting Scholar, Stanford University; Distinguished Consulting Faculty, Saybrook Graduate School; author Visual Language: Global Communication for the 21st Century; Tom Portante, Social Anthropologist, Wiki guru, Strategist for business knowledge and organizational change

April 26, 2005
Beyond Succession Planning: Leveraging Wisdom Across the Generations

Nearly fifty million Americans were born to the “Silent Generation” in America between 1925 and 1942. Before them were the so-called “G.I. Generation” and after them the “Boomers”, then came Generation X, and now the Millennials. Each has its own distinct concerns, language, pacing and culture. And more and more, the young and uninitiated are coming into power without the benefit of the continuity and guidance from elders. We’re clearly missing the societal structures that continue to effectively support “traditioning”, and the passing on of the “charism” (as in faith communities). Beyond just “filling the job” what is needed to ensure the integrity and continuity of a founder’s vision? What’s possible in mentoring and apprenticeship? What new structures can work best for cross-generational learning and support? This program welcomed the perspective of youth, middles and elders to explore the impact of a breakdown in our cultural systems and each generation’s responsibility to carry and share learning and vision among all the generations. Conversation Starters: Dr. Richard Gray, Founding President, World College West; Board Secretary, Presidio World College Joshua Holcomb, Policy Consultant, The Politics of Trust Network, An initiative of The John Vasconcellos Legacy Project; Consultant, Council for Humanistic and Transpersonal Psychologies Dr. Allyson Washburn, Director, The Vital Seniors Project, Saybrook Graduate School and Research Center

March 22, 2005
Reinventing Culture Through Business: Developing 2020 Foresight Everywhere we see the impact of business on culture and quality of life. But we each have the opportunity and responsibility to first imagine, and then create, a future that works for all — including our children’s children and all of Nature. Just as Silicon Valley accelerated global movement into the Information Age, so the Greater SF Bay Area has taken a leadership role in accelerating our movement into the Age of Consciousness and Accountability. At this evening's Dialogue we'll explore the role that business can play in creating and reinventing culture. Conversation Starters: Elliot Hoffman, co-founder of Just Desserts in San Francisco; Executive Director of Business Leaders for Sensible Priorities in Northern California; Gail Horvath, co-founder (with her husband Elliot Hoffman) of Just Desserts; Communications Consultant with Beam Inc. an SF based International Management Company focusing on breakthrough strategies, winning brands and and creative cultures; Walter Link, chair Global Academy, former chair Social Venture Network Europe, co-founder Empresa; core faculty and co-chair for sustainability of Presidio World College's MBA for Sustainable Management; Bill Veltrop, a leading "architect of generative initiatives" in the fields of leadership development, organization design, learning and change; www.theinfinitegames.org.

February 22, 2005
Our Human Potential: From Personal, Organizational to Societal Transformation

How do we learn from the human potential movement and transform our organizations and our society? How do we expand the principles that enhance personal lives and create workplaces and communities that support evolving consciousness? Conversation Starters: Bob Dunn, former Vice President for Corporate Affairs, Levi Strauss & Co.; Chairman, Business for Social Responsibility Robert White, human potential movement pioneer; former president, Mind Dynamics Inc.; founder, Lifespring; Chief Learning Officer, Balance Point International

January 25, 2005
Balanced Leadership: Integrating the Masculine and the Feminine

At this fourth annual program in our 'Women in Leadership' series we looked for the best of both the feminine and the masculine qualities that find expression in men and women so that powerfully conscious leaders can emerge. How can leadership practices be more inclusive of the strengths of both? If leaders were strong and integrated in both, what difference could it make in these times of leadership crisis in our world? Men and women are invited to participate in this evening of inquiry. Conversation Starters: Beata Lewis, leadership coach; creator, Collaborative Leadership workshops; John Renesch, author, Conscious Leadership and The Conscious Organization; Dr. Howard Teich, Clinical Psychologist; Managing Partner, Quadrix Partners (transition change management and executive leadership development); Lynne Twist, Vice Chair, Board of Directors, Institute of Noetic Sciences; co-founder, The Pachamama Alliance; author, The Soul of Money.