6:00pm – 8:00pm
Welcome Dinner

8:00am – 9:00am
Arrivals and Breakfast

9:00am – 9:30am
Welcome and Overview: Leadership Foundations
An introspective session exploring personal leadership philosophies through facilitated reflection and peer discussion.

9:30am – 10:20am
Washington’s Enduring Relevance: The Integration of Strategy, Leadership, and Management
Modern leaders can learn a great deal from George Washington’s special ability to fully integrate his strategic vision with his approach to leadership and management. This program, utilizing the lessons of history, reminds modern executives of the best traits of effective leadership and management and how they should be consistently guided by the organization's strategic vision. Washington’s approach to leadership and management is as relevant today as it was 250 years ago.

10:20am – 10:40am
Break

10:40am – 12:00pm
Applying Washington’s Principles in Today’s Changing World
This workshop focuses on translating George Washington's leadership principles into modern practices. By examining Washington's strategic approach to leadership, this session aims to provide leaders with practical tools to build trust, accountability, and effective communication. Participants will learn how to foster clear and purposeful dialogue while developing collaborative frameworks to navigate today's evolving challenges.

12:00pm – 1:00pm
Lunch

1:00pm – 2:00pm
Private Guided Tour of George Washington’s Mansion and Estate
Experience Washington’s leadership and vision through a tour of his estate, a reflection of his character and values. This exploration of Washington’s home offers insights into his personal and professional life, providing a tangible connection to his leadership principles.

2:00pm – 2:20pm
Wreath Laying Ceremony at Washington’s Tomb

2:20pm – 2:30pm
Walk back to George Washington Presidential Library

2:30pm – 4:00pm
Navigating Transition as Leaders: Developing Adaptive Strategies
This session will cover strategies for adapting leadership styles to navigate change effectively, based on insights from both historical and contemporary practices. The session will culminate in a facilitated discussion where participants reflect on their own leadership styles and identify strategies to enhance their ability to lead through change.

4:00pm – 4:30pm
Closing Modality: Insight to Action
Wrap up the day by synthesizing the lessons learned into actionable strategies. Participants will engage in a reflective discussion to identify key takeaways and develop personal action plans for leading through change.

4:30pm – 5:00pm
Break and Travel to Distillery

5:00pm – 5:45pm
Tour and Whiskey Tasting
Tours begin in the Gristmill, where Historic Trades staff demonstrate how the Gristmill operates and discuss Washington’s entrepreneurship and business management of his estate operations. The tour concludes at the Distillery, where guests learn about the 18th century process of distilling whiskey and Washington’s profitable distilling efforts.

5:45pm – 6:00pm
Return Travel from Distillery

6:00pm – 8:00pm
Reception and Dinner

8:00pm
Departure

8:15am – 9:00am
Arrivals and Breakfast

9:00am – 9:15am
Welcome and Opening Modality

9:15am – 11:15am
The Situation Room: Washington’s Cabinet
Take an active role in deciding history. In Mount Vernon’s most immersive learning experience, each individual is assigned a role in the international crisis of the Genet Affair—from President Washington and his cabinet to members of the Senate and the press, to representatives of the foreign powers of Great Britain, France, and the Indian nations. Similar to Model UN or military war games, the Situation Room allows each participant to make decisions that influence the outcome of the simulation. The result is an exercise in leadership, decision-making, persuasion, teamwork, and working under pressure.

11:15am – 12:00pm
Tour of Rare Books & Manuscripts Collection
Step behind the “exhibition glass” and view firsthand authentic books and documents from Washington’s own library, learning more about the character of the leader through his own words and collection.

12:00pm – 12:30pm
Insights to Action: Leading Through Transition and Navigating Change
Participants will engage in a facilitated conversation to synthesize key learnings and determine individual commitments to implement their insights.

Speaker: Heather Soubra, PCC, Director, George Washington Leadership Institute

12:30pm – 1:30pm
Closing Lunch

1:30pm
Adjourn and Departures