The most effective leaders often hold deep moral conviction paired with a willingness to revisit their beliefs. As global perspectives narrow and change accelerates, leaders must cultivate ideological humility — the ability to distinguish enduring values from temporary strategies and evolve without losing their core purpose.
Speaker Details:
- John Deasy, President, Bezos Family Foundation (Pahara Fellowship)
- Ruchi Gupta, Executive Director, Future of India Foundation (Kamalnayan Bajaj Fellowship)
- George McGraw, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, DigDeep (Civil Society Fellowship)
- Vanessa Xu, Executive Chairman & CIO, VS Partners (Hong Kong) Co.,Ltd. (China Fellowship Program)
- Moderated by: Kaya Henderson, Executive Vice President and Executive Director, Center for Rising Generations, Aspen Institute (Pahara Fellowship)
Through personal stories of missteps, course corrections, and renewed clarity, panelists explored how leaders stay rooted while adapting to change.
“You can’t lead a transformation if you’re too proud to transform yourself,” said Gupta.
Together, they shared the importance of recognizing blind spots, reflecting honestly, and staying open to growth. At a time when the world often demands certainty, this discussion asked: How do we lead with unwavering principles, and the humility to keep learning?