Lead Where You Stand | Westmont College 12TH ANNUAL Leadership, Human Flourishing and Artificial Intelligence LOCATION Hilton Beachfront Resort, Santa Barbara, CA DATE June 4-5, 2026 Register to Attend Become a Sponsor Speakers 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. Register now and secure your place. 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. Speakers Meet the Voices Shaping Modern Leadership Learn from bestselling authors, global executives, and influential thinkers across business, culture, and ethics. View Full Speaker Lineup 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 As machines get smarter, how do leaders get wiser? 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. Media Title Santa Barbara Setting Caption Hosted at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort, this conference places you just steps from the Pacific Ocean. The coastal setting offers a rare combination of focus and renewal, creating space to step back, think deeply, and engage fully in the work of leadership. Book Your Stay Explore Santa Barbara 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 Register to Attend 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. Learn More about Sponsorship Opportunities and Register 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. Register Today Contact