Testimonials

“The Shambhala Institute combines in-depth cultivation of personal leadership with the organizational issues that are critical in today's global environments. Few other leadership programs create such a dynamic, living laboratory of personal and collective learning.”

—Peter Senge, author, The Fifth Discipline
2001-2004, 2006, 2007, presenter

“The people at the Institute talk about creating a container in which powerful experiences can occur. And they do this extremely well. This was among the richest experiences of my life—insightful, provocative, deep, invigorating.”

—Barry Oshry, author, Seeing Systems and Leading Systems
2003-2004 module leader

“What I learned and what I experienced continues to bring value into my life. The people I met were astounding. Never before had I the privilege to share space with so many like minds—minds that feel the urgency to bring a state of well being into their organizations. I urge anyone who senses that the invitation sounds ‘right’ to them to respond to that inner whisper and attend!”

—Mary Ann Kahl, Superintendent, Alden Hebron School District, Illinois
2002, 2003, 2007 program participant

“As the challenges facing leaders grow more complex and challenging, the Shambhala Institute provides one of the very few places where leaders can develop sufficient clarity and courage about their work, and find a community of colleagues who willingly support one another through the dilemmas of leadership.”

—Margaret Wheatley, author, Leadership and the New Science, Turning to One Another, Finding Our Way.
2001-2008 module leader or presenter

“The diversity of talent and sophistication of thought went far beyond any group I had experienced in my 35-year career as a senior executive. It was an experience that opened new horizons for my work and deeper meaning in my life.”

—Thomas Kaney, Senior VP, Human Resources, GlaxoSmithKline, Pennsylvania
2006 Transition Retreat participant

“Many conferences are like a restaurant; you go and sample the menu. This event is more like a cooking class.”

—Paul Hollesen, Social Development Manager, AngloGold, South Africa.
2002, 2003, 2007 program participant

“The program has had a very real impact on me, and therefore on my organization. I came away with a deepened understanding that leadership is about creating a space for other people to grow.”

—John Roy, Vice Chair, Summit REIT, Halifax, Nova Scotia
2001-2007 program participant

“Attending the Shambhala program was a great experience as it helped me open up my mind to new possibilities and helped me understand how we create new realities.”

—Anil Nayar, Director - Chairman's Office, Bharti Airtel Limited, New Delhi, India
2006 program participant

“The program helped to deepen my sense of clarity about what's important in the work I do and gave me a whole new direction for helping to develop new leadership in our agency. By working across several modalities I found the learning to be deeper and longer lasting—not just the more common experience of new buzz words or fads that are superficial and short term in their impact.”

—Leslie Tremaine, Executive Director, Jefferson Parish Human Services, Louisiana
2001, 2002 program participant

“This program is for anyone who is genuinely interested in making a difference. It leads you outside the box and builds the courage to leave your comfort zone.”

—Tom Soehl, Director of Negotiations, Office of Aboriginal Affairs, Government of Nova Scotia
2006 program participant

“The Authentic Leadership program is an extreme learning experience that shakes up the way that we think, act and are with each other and ourselves. Participation in the program has changed the way that I am, and that is pretty powerful.”

—Barb Allen, Managing Director, Resource Opportunities Centre, Terrence Bay, Nova Scotia
2006, 2007 program participant

“My ability to look at the world with new eyes, to look for possibilities in the challenges and to share with other like-minded learners has allowed me to return to my workplace with energy and conviction. How could my renewal not have a profound positive impact in my workplace?”

—Ann Flynn, Manager Organizational Development, City of Fredericton, New Brunswick
2006, 2007 program participant

“I have made so many important connections through the Institute. Going to the Summer Program is like throwing a handful of sacred pebbles in the water and watching the overlapping ripples move out in all kinds of ways.”

—Jane Masters, Cincinnati, Ohio
2003 - 2007 program participant