Diversity on Display at Aspen Ideas Festival

The Aspen Ideas Festival is a gathering of some of the world’s brightest minds and biggest thinkers who come together to engage in conversations and debates on the ideas and issues shaping our lives and world. Attracting forward-thinking leaders from across the country and globe, the 2019 Festival featured panels and events with over 1,000 speakers on hundreds of topics. One of the biggest takeaways from the Aspen Ideas Festival each year is the importance of diversity, which is on full display throughout the Festival.

From panels on leadership and politics, to discussions on the latest technologic development and scientific innovation, the world’s most important topics and pressing issues are explored each year at the Festival. Morning to evening, each day is filled with thought-provoking panels and discussions, comprised of diverse speakers with different backgrounds, experiences and areas of expertise. These speakers each have differing views, perspectives and ideas, which leads to healthy debates and discussions.

Diversity is key to the success of businesses and organizations, and our democracy. For example, in the field of public affairs, diversity is important when developing a successful public affairs campaign. Teams with diverse members craft winning strategies that successfully tell a client’s story in a way that resonates with their target audience and meets their goals. Furthermore, here in the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., diversity among lawmakers bring different ideas and perspectives to debates in Congress and helps Members of Congress craft good policy.

Without hearing diverse viewpoints, ideas can’t be fully explored and formed, and challenges can’t be addressed and solved. The Aspen Ideas Festival celebrates diverse ideas and encourages leaders from across the world to work together to solve the challenges of today and tomorrow. It is a welcome reminder, especially here in D.C., in today’s political climate.

-Gloria Story Dittus, Chairman, Story Partners