Congratulations on being nominated for the 2026 AI Leadership Retreat Series - offered in partnership by Leaders in Tech and the Golden Gate Institute for AI.
This is a private retreat for 12 senior leaders playing an influential role in shaping the course of AI and its impact on the world. Nominees have been individually chosen by the Leaders In Tech and Golden Gate Institute for AI communities.
This program is by personal invitation only and your invitation is not transferable. If you’re interested in participating, please complete the brief application form below.
"My experience is that LIT accomplishes in four days what truly seems impossible: it both deeply develops leaders and builds the kind of trust-based alliances that make hard work possible." Sabrina Ross, California Chief Privacy Auditor
This program begins with an intensive 4-day retreat, followed by three 2-hour application sessions where participants can get help applying retreat learnings back into their work. It is designed to advance your leadership, communication, and self-understanding skills and help you play a positive, impactful part in shaping the future.
The program curriculum is based on T-groups, the same learning format as the legendary Interpersonal Dynamics ("Touchy Feely") program – the most popular course at the Stanford GSB for over 30 years. It will be led by experienced facilitators from that program. T-groups are small, deeply intimate groups in which participants discover for themselves how and when they are most influential, how their behaviors impact others and gain a richer toolkit for building trusting and powerful professional and personal relationships.
Participants in Leaders in Tech retreats routinely describe the experience as having a profound impact both professionally and personally (testimonials).
For clarity: while participants will all be drawn from the broader AI community, this retreat will NOT focus on discussions of AI. Instead, it is designed to build general skills that you can bring back to your daily life, helping you to navigate conversations about AI with greater self-awareness, interpersonal fluency and the ability to connect with others across differences – skills critical to both individual and collective success in navigating these complex topics.
This is a private retreat for 12-13 influential leaders who have a role in shaping the course of AI and its impact on the world. Nominees have been chosen by the Leaders In Tech and Golden Gate Institute for AI communities, and include technology and product leaders working on AI, security experts, funders, academics, thought leaders and policymakers, and those taking AI leadership roles in media and civil society groups.
$0 (originally $9,450)
The full cost of this program for those selected (including room and board) has been covered by our donors and past participants.

All LIT programs are steered by LIT’s co-founder and world-class teacher Dr. Carole Robin. Carole most recently served as the Faculty Director of the Interpersonal Dynamics for High Performance Executives Program at the Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB). She received the MBA Distinguished Teaching Award for her work in numerous courses, including Interpersonal Dynamics – the most popular elective course at the GSB for over 45 years. She is the co-author of “Connect: Building Exceptional Relationships with Family, Friends and Colleagues,” based on the course, published by Penguin Random House.
Our AI Leadership Retreats will be taught and facilitated by our expert, Stanford-trained LIT facilitators in close collaboration Carole.
Leaders in Tech (LIT) is a 501c3 non-profit backed by a who’s who of industry leaders including Reid Hoffman, Accel, Greylock, Y Combinator, Lightspeed, Spark Capital, First Round, August Capital, Shasta Ventures, Foundry Group, Techstars, Evolve Foundation, and more. LIT helps founders and executives of high-growth tech companies develop the essential interpersonal skills needed to build effective and purposeful organizations that can have a positive impact in the world. Read more alumni testimonials >>
The Golden Gate Institute for AI is a think tank dedicated to addressing the most critical challenges of the transition to a world with powerful AI. We envision a future where institutions and experts across domains collaborate with urgency and humility to meet these oncoming challenges and opportunities, promoting security, democracy, and shared prosperity.
Our mission is to support leaders as they navigate this high-stakes period by bridging disciplines, convening experts, and publishing accessible analysis of AI’s toughest questions. When conflicting perspectives emerge on crucial questions, we serve as the organization you can turn to for clarity and insight.
October 10-13th
Retreat
(
Scotts Valley, CA
)
Nov 5th, 9-11am PT
Zoom Session
Dec 3rd, 9-11am PT
Zoom Session
Jan 7th, 9-11am PT
Zoom Session
December 1st-4th
Retreat
(
Scotts Valley, CA
)
Dec 9th, 12-2pm PT
Zoom Session
Jan 6th, 12-2pm PT
Zoom Session
Jan 27th, 12-2pm PT
Zoom Session
Please take a few minutes to complete the application below. All information will be kept confidential.