The following article was written by Rising Leaders Fellow, Luke Sperrin, who represented Aspen UK at the Aspen Italia Leadership, Globalization and the Quest for Common Values Seminar at Castelvecchio Pascoli (Lucca – Italy) – Il Ciocco, April 13-16 2023.
Il Ciocco was a perfect location for the Aspen Institute Italia Seminar on Leadership, Globalization and the Quest for Common Values. This area is known locally as the ‘Living Mountain’ and has a rich story of family and tradition. In the gaps between sessions we were given the opportunity to explore the area; and hiking through it you can find traces of the knowledgeable hand of man everywhere: the chestnut groves planted for fruits and wood, the terraced vineyards and olive groves, the ruins of old metati (small stone huts built in the woods to dry chestnuts that were then turned into flour) and the picturesque villages that tell of the love for the land and of migrations.
The seminar format was five linked themed sessions packed in over four days, with each session containing the characteristic Aspen thought and discussion provoking texts. There were nineteen participants from across Italy and Europe, as well as two moderators. A particular highlight was the Friday evening dinner, which was held high up in the mountain in a converted school house with a selection of local delicacies. On the Saturday we were graced with a wonderful piano performance which culminated in a sing along to ‘Imagine’ by John Lennon.
One of the key takeaway points for myself was on the theme of common values, linking back to the title of the seminar. Are there emerging global values which might lead to a new sense of identity beyond nationality, race, culture and class? Something that became apparent to me is that it is indeed a quest and a collective responsibility to search for these. Another personal ‘a-ha’ moment was the idea of exuberance linking back to the first text of the first session. This is the idea of being so energised by your passions that it spills over and can energise others in order to motivate change. This is particularly important to me when it comes to reducing climate change, and exuberance was certainly personified through the lively discussions we had.
I could not have felt more welcomed by the organisers and other participants. The experience was intense but extremely rewarding and I would highly recommend this seminar to others. It’s only by travelling across borders and having open discussions that we can debate the strength of ideas and create positive impact.