About the AGLN

01 Our Purpose

We ignite a global community of values-driven leaders with the moral courage, clarity of purpose, and transformative vision to drive lasting positive change in the world.

02 Our Vision

A world where an interconnected community of values-driven leaders collaborate across differences to address humanity’s greatest challenges — ensuring that as human capabilities advance, our wisdom and values grow alongside them, creating a society where everyone thrives.

03 Our Mission

We provide leaders with a lifetime community for deep reflection and bold action. Through meaningful dialogue and ongoing support, we transform accomplished individuals into catalysts for meaningful impact.

Our Approach

At the core of our work is nurturing a global network of Fellows who embody values-based leadership. These diverse leaders share a commitment to addressing humanity’s greatest challenges. Our approach equips them with the clarity, community, and courage to navigate complexity while creating transformative change in their organizations, communities, and beyond.

Each Fellow commits to using their passions, skills, and resources in new and creative ways to solve the world’s most pressing problems. Fellows have used their platforms to close educational achievement gaps, improve access to health care, raise financial literacy, create new jobs, fight domestic violence, build new pipelines of ethical leadership, and much, much more.

We understand leadership as a lifelong journey, not a destination. Our comprehensive approach supports Fellows at every stage—from their initial Fellowship experience through ongoing renewal, connection, and action. Through transformative gatherings, catalytic capital, and trusted community, we provide leaders with the resources they need throughout their evolving journey.

What sets AGLN apart is our proven approach to leadership development. Through text-based dialogue, global perspective, and our commitment to bringing together the “like-hearted but differently-minded,” we create transformative experiences and community. We’ve learned that the most creative solutions emerge from dialogue across difference—the sweet spot where values-based leadership builds both trust and impact.

Our Story

Our story is one of evolution, building on the Aspen Institute’s 75-year legacy of igniting leadership. What began as a revolutionary idea — that leaders need not just technical knowledge but deep wisdom — has grown into a global community spanning continents and sectors.

This timeline highlights key milestones in our growth, from our origins starting with the Henry Crown Fellowship to our present network of more than 4,000 Fellows across 62 countries. Each step reflects our ongoing commitment to cultivating values-driven leadership and action. The AGLN is stewarded by the Board of Trustee’s Leadership Committee, ensuring its continued integrity and impact.

As we look to the future, we continue to expand into critical domains shaping humanity’s next chapter for the better, ensuring that as human capabilities grow, our wisdom and values grow alongside them.

1997

Henry Crown Fellowship Founded

In 1997, the Henry Crown Fellowship was established to develop the next generation of community-spirited leaders, providing the with the tools necessary to meet the challenges of business and civic leadership in the 21st century.

2002-2003

Africa Leadership Initiative – Ghana, East Africa, and Mozambique (not active), and South Africa Launched

Henry Crown Fellow Peter Reiling laid the foundation for what would become the Aspen Global Leadership Network with the co-founding of the Africa Leadership Initiative as his Fellowship venture.

2004

Liberty Fellowship Launched in South Carolina

2005

Rodel Fellowship in Public Leadership Launched

2006

India Leadership Initiative (now Kamalnayan Bajaj Fellowship) Launched

2007

More Fellowships Founded and First Cross Fellowship Program Gathering

Nigeria Leadership Initiative Launched (not active), Catto Fellowship (not active), and Pahara Fellowship launched. Act II, a precursor to the Aspen Leaders Action Forum held in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Henry Crown Fellowship

2009