12TH ANNUAL
Leadership, Human Flourishing and Artificial Intelligence
LOCATION
Hilton Beachfront Resort, Santa Barbara, CA
DATE
June 4-5, 2026
A Premier Leadership Conference in Santa Barbara
Develop the clarity, courage, and conviction to lead well, wherever you are. Join a distinguished gathering of leaders, thinkers, and practitioners for a focused, high-impact conference designed to shape how you lead in a complex world.
Who Should Attend
- Executives and organizational leaders
- Nonprofit and ministry leaders
- Educators and administrators
- Emerging leaders seeking formation and direction
What You'll Gain
- A deeper framework for principled leadership
- Practical tools for navigating complexity and decision-making
- Renewed clarity in your personal and professional calling
- Meaningful connections with peers across industries
Built for leaders navigating complex challenges in today’s world.
Principled Leadership, Practically Applied
Gain actionable insight you can immediately apply across business, nonprofit, and organizational leadership.
Distinguished Voices, Meaningful Perspective
Learn directly from bestselling authors and global thought leaders shaping today’s most important conversations.
Space to Think, People to Connect With
Step away from the noise to engage deeply, while building relationships with leaders across industries and sectors.
Meet the Voices Shaping Modern Leadership
Learn from bestselling authors, global executives, and influential thinkers across business, culture, and ethics.
Gayle Beebe
President of Westmont College
Author of The Crucibles That Shape Us
David Brooks
Former NYT Columnist, Presidential Fellow at Yale University
Bestselling author of The Road to Character and How to Know a Person
Susan Cain
Popular TED Talk Speaker
NYT Bestselling author of Quiet and Bittersweet
Zack Kass
Former OpenAI Leader
Author of The Next Renaissance
Robert Tucker
Innovation Strategist
Author of Build a Better Future
Tyler VanderWeele
Director of the Harvard Human Flourishing Program
Author of The Theology of Health
Faculty Panelists
Blake Kent
Associate Professor of Sociology at Westmont College
Smaranda Lawrie
Director of Westmont’s Center for Resilience and Human Flourishing
Carmel Saad
Director of Westmont's Carol Houston Center for Justice Reconciliation and Diversity
The Human Flourishing Program
Led by Tyler VanderWeele at Harvard Human Flourishing Program, the Global Flourishing Study marks a significant shift in how we understand well-being. Rather than relying solely on economic measures like GDP, this landmark research takes a more comprehensive view of what it means to live well.
In partnership with Baylor University and Gallup, the study follows 200,000 participants across 22 countries over five years, making it the largest effort of its kind. It examines six key dimensions of flourishing: happiness, health, purpose, character, relationships, and material stability.
By identifying how these factors interact, the study equips leaders with evidence-based insights to shape stronger organizations, communities, and cultures, helping people not only navigate modern life, but truly thrive within it.
Event Overview
Pricing
Registration Fee
$495 per person before May 6, then $595
Each Attendee Receives
Post conference access to password-protected digital recordings and more.
Schedule
Click the links below for a carefully curated, multi-day experience:
THURSDAY, JUNE 4▼
| Start | End | Session | Location |
| 8:00 AM | 9:00 AM | Registration/Check In/Coffee in Lobby | Ballroom Foyer |
| 9:00 AM | 9:15 AM | Reed Sheard, Welcome and Setting the Stage for the Day. Introduce Dr. Gayle Beebe. Dr. Beebe Welcome and Introduces Tyler Vanderweele. | Ballroom |
| 9:15 AM | 10:00 AM | Tyler Vanderweele Talk 1 of 2 followed by Q&A | Ballroom |
| 10:00 AM | 10:30 AM | Gayle Beebe and Tyler VanderWeele Conversation | Ballroom |
| 10:30 AM | 11:15 AM | David Brooks Talk 1 of 3 | Ballroom |
| 11:15 AM | 11:30 AM | Break | |
| 11:30 AM | 12:00 PM | Gayle Beebe, David Brooks and Tyler VanderWeele Conversation | Ballroom |
| 12:00 PM | 1:00 PM | Buffet Lunch on the Rotunda | Rotunda |
| 1:00 PM | 1:15 PM | Welcome Back, Reed Sheard | Ballroom |
| 1:15 PM | 2:00 PM | Robert Tucker: Leading and Flourishing in an Age of Acceleration | Ballroom |
| 2:00 PM | 2:45 PM | David Brooks Talk 2 of 3 | Ballroom |
| 2:45 PM | 3:15 PM | Dr Beebe, Brooks and Tyler Conversation | Ballroom |
| 3:15 PM | 3:45 PM | Break | |
| 3:45 PM | 4:30 PM | Panel Discussion: Blake Kent, Carmel Saad, Smarandra Lawrie, Dr. Beebe, and Tyler VanderWeele | Ballroom |
| 4:30 PM | 5:30 PM | Networking | |
| 5:00 PM | 6:00 PM | VIP reception | Reagan Room |
| 5:30 PM | 6:45 PM | Buffet Dinner on the Rotunda | Rotunda |
| 7:00 PM | 8:00 PM | David Brooks Talk 3 of 3 | Ballroom |
FRIDAY, JUNE 5▼
| Start | End | Session | Location |
| 7:30 AM | 8:30 AM | Breakfast | Ballroom Foyer |
| 8:30 AM | 9:15 AM | Gayle Beebe | Ballroom |
| 9:15 AM | 9:20 AM | Introduction of Susan Cain | Ballroom |
| 9:20 AM | 10:30 AM | Susan Cain: "A Quiet Revolution: Changing How We Work, Lead and Innovate," Q&A | Ballroom |
| 10:30 AM | 10:45 AM | Break | Ballroom |
| 10:45 AM | 11:30 AM | Steve Porter | Ballroom |
| 11:30 AM | 12:15 PM | Lunch | Ballroom |
| 12:15 PM | 1:15 PM | Zack Kass: "The Next RenAIssance," followed by Panel Discussion with Gayle Beebe and Reed Sheard | Ballroom |
| 1:15 PM | 2:15 PM | Tyler VanderWeele, Talk 2 of 2 | Ballroom |
| 2:15 PM | 2:30 PM | Next Steps with Gayle Beebe | Ballroom |
| 2:30 PM | Conference Concludes |
Sponsors and Partnerships
Partner in Advancing Thoughtful Leadership
The Lead Where You Stand Conference is made possible through the support of organizations committed to principled leadership and meaningful impact. Our sponsors play a vital role in bringing together a distinguished community of leaders, ideas, and conversations that shape the future.
Why Become a Sponsor
Align with Purpose-Driven Leadership
Connect your organization with a conference grounded in integrity, thoughtful engagement, and lasting influence.
Reach an Influential Audience
Engage directly with executives, educators, nonprofit leaders, and emerging professionals across industries.
Elevate Your Brand Presence
Gain visibility through curated exposure across event materials, on-site experiences, and digital platforms.
We offer a range of partnership opportunities designed to align with your organization’s goals, from brand visibility to deeper engagement with attendees.
What Attendees Say
“Very few places offer this depth of content and caliber of speakers.”
"If you didn’t receive an invitation to Davos, the annual World Economic Forum happening now in Davos, Switzerland, don’t feel deprived....[Lead Where You Stand has become] must-attend for business and NGO leaders seeking to create greater impact..."
“A rare opportunity to step back and rethink how we lead.”
Lead Where You Stand Starts Here
Leadership is not defined by position, but by presence, responsibility, and action. This conference invites you to lead with greater intention, right where you are.