Garrison Institute Launches Compassionate Leadership in Finance (CLIF)

    NEW YORK, NY, August 26, 2022 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The Garrison Institute, a not-for-profit, non-sectarian organization exploring the intersection of contemplation and engaged action in the world, has launched a new initiative, CLIF (Compassionate Leadership in Finance), that aims to develop the wellness, resilience and leadership skills of senior financial services executives based on mindfulness and compassion training through a four-month immersive and impactful executive leadership development program.

CLIF aims to educate and empower experienced and rising finance leaders to utilize compassionate leadership to strengthen the shared purpose between employees, businesses, and society. CLIF helps participants develop self-compassion, compassion for others, and compassion for the social and environmental context on which the sector depends, to better manage teams, drive change, develop and retain talent, reduce stress, create an inclusive culture, and increase performance while realizing the ESG and DEI goals adopted by their organization.

Earlier this year, a CLIF pilot program was launched. The well attended and very successful program included more than a dozen executives from several leading financial institutions including Bank of America, Ford Foundation, Morgan Stanley, MUFG, and TD Securities.

The next CLIF program takes place October 2022-January 2023, and includes 4 webinars and 4 work group sessions, as well as a two-day retreat at the Garrison Institute. Additionally, CLIF participants will become part of the CLIF Community of Practice, a closed and trusted network of peers for ongoing learning and confidential experience sharing. For more information and to apply for this fall's program, please visit: https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/initiatives/programs/compassionate-leadership-in-finance-clif-program/

"The financial services industry is an extraordinary leverage point to address the most significant issues facing our planet," said Jonathan F.P. Rose, Founder & President, Jonathan Rose Companies, and Co-Founder, Board Chair, The Garrison Institute. "Its investments can either degenerate or regenerate the wellbeing of the world's inhabitants and systems. Degenerating ecological, political, and cultural systems deeply undermine the health of financial systems, too. And thus, more than ever, financial leaders need training in wisdom and compassion to steer their institutions and investments through the complex times ahead. The CLIF program was created to address this need, providing insight, expert guidance, and a confidential setting in which to explore participants' aspirations and concerns."

Faculty members include:
· Sander Tideman, Executive Director, CLIF, Garrison Institute International
· Annemieke van der Werff, Program Director CLIF Americas, former CHRO MUFG
· Matthias Birk, Dr, Adjunct Professor for Leadership NYU

"The many challenges facing leaders today cannot be effectively addressed without compassionate leadership," says Tideman. "The quality of compassion is instrumental in connecting with diverse groups of people dealing with multi-faceted problems. Your employees demand such leadership, your customers expect it and the planet needs it!"

"This is the right time and place for CLIF. A new paradigm of leadership is emerging that clearly recognizes profits and compassion are not mutually exclusive and are more correlated than most believe," said Nathan Romano, President of Atalaya Capital Management and CLIF Strategy Board member. "CLIF gave me the opportunity to be my authentic self with other leaders in finance and focus on the resources we can bring to improve the world. This is not fluff, it is very real and being implemented at leading companies."

"CLIF is a program to help you better understand how compassion can be used as leaders in our organization, communities, and personal lives," said Susana Mendoza, Managing Director, Private Capital Markets – ECM, TD Securities. "You'll learn very useful models and frameworks and meet like-minded professionals."

"Climate change, systemic racism and the decline of democracy are amongst the major challenges of our time. If the leadership of Wall Street led with compassion first, big strides towards solutions could be achieved," said Howard Fischer, CEO of Basso Capital Management and CLIF Strategy Board member. "I began the journey to this practice several years ago and then attended the CLIF cohort in the fall of 2021. The program deepened my understanding and commitment to the role of compassionate leadership in facilitating positive change. Importantly, it also blessed me with a community of like-minded leaders to support and further this growth."

About Garrison Institute
Founded in 2003, the Garrison Institute is a not-for-profit, non-sectarian organization exploring the intersection of contemplation and engaged action in the world. The mission is to apply the transformative power of contemplation to today's pressing social and environmental concerns, helping build a more compassionate, resilient future. We seek to create conditions for positive, systemic social and environmental change through a collaborative endeavor of science and spirituality. For more information, please visit: www.garrisoninstitute.org.

Contact:

For Program Inquiries:
Sander Tideman
[email protected]

Annemieke Van Der Werff
[email protected]

For Media Inquiries:
Bill Haynes
[email protected]

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