Agenda:Philosophy

Aspiration events are convened with a bias in the agenda towards focused “break-outs” and small-group discussion rather than larger groups sessions. The larger the session, the less each participant gets to contribute to the exchange, and the less value each individual gains from the broader and sometimes haphazard course of the session. Smaller groups enable more focused discussion and a better opportunity for each participant to voice their perspective. No one knows everything, and each person knows something useful to offer to the mix; small sessions allow for more serendipitous discovery when the “airtime” is shared evenly among all present.

In particular, we discourage panel models where “experts” sit at the front of a room and make a series short presentations or small discussions, followed by audience questions. While certainly useful and traditional, such formats stifle dynamic conversation and exchange while perpetuating the real and perceived differences between those “who know” and those “who don't”.