Cultivating Presence, Purpose, and Impact: A Transformative Journey into Mindful Leadership
Starts February 2025, Limited Spots!
In a world of increasing complexity and change, true leadership begins with inner transformation.
Discover how to lead with wisdom, compassion, and clarity through Spirit Rock’s renowned Mindful Leadership Training – a profound 5-month journey that has guided hundreds of leaders to create more conscious, equitable, and thriving organizations.
Reflections from Past Participants
Why Choose Mindful Leadership?
At Spirit Rock, we recognize that today’s leaders face unprecedented challenges that cannot be solved through conventional leadership approaches alone. Leaders are struggling with unsustainable demands, overwhelming complexity, and a profound sense of disconnection within their organizations—all while navigating difficult decisions that impact the well-being of many. Traditional leadership models, focused primarily on external metrics and achievement, often lead to burnout, ethical compromise, and suffering for both leaders and their teams. Yet we know from our decades of teaching contemplative practices that sustainable, ethical leadership must flow from inner cultivation and wisdom.
The Mindful Leadership Training program is not just another set of techniques to master; it is a transformative journey that integrates personal awakening with organizational impact. By bringing together ancient wisdom traditions with contemporary leadership challenges, we create space for leaders to discover a more sustainable, compassionate, and authentically powerful way to serve their organizations and the world.
What Makes This Program Unique?
Spirit Rock's Mindful Leadership Training stands apart from conventional leadership programs by:
Emphasizing Being Over Doing
The training emphasizes cultivating your presence as a leader, highlighting that effective leadership arises from inner work and self-awareness.
Honoring the Body as a Source of Wisdom
Recognizing the crucial link between mind and body, the training incorporates mindfulness of the body as a bridge to applying mindfulness practices in real-world situations.
Leadership as Service
This training embraces leadership as service, emphasizing generosity as a foundational practice for a more expansive and selfless approach that transcends traditional efficiency-driven models.
Shifting from Power Over to Power With
The training helps reframe power from control to empowerment and collaboration, teaching you to use influence to serve others and foster a just, equitable workplace.
Course Overview
45+ hrs Online LIVE
7
5
Course Syllabus
Effective leadership requires more than just outward skills and strategies. It demands a deep connection to purpose, a commitment to ethical action, and the capacity to lead with compassion and clarity. Spirit Rock’s Mindful Leadership Training (MLT) is a 5-month live online program that empowers leaders to cultivate these essential inner qualities, transforming themselves to transform their organizations and the world.
MLT is not a quick fix or a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, it offers a spacious and supportive learning journey that guides participants to:
- Discover their ‘Why’: Explore their deepest motivations for leading and connect with their core values to ensure their actions are aligned with their aspirations for creating positive change.
- Embrace the Power of Presence: Integrate mindfulness practices into their daily lives and work to cultivate greater awareness, reduce reactivity to stress, enhance communication skills, and lead with greater intention and clarity.
- Master the Art of Compassionate Accountability: Develop emotional intelligence and compassionate communication techniques to navigate difficult conversations with skill, provide constructive feedback, and hold themselves and others accountable in a way that fosters growth and respects individual dignity.
- Unleash the Power of Teams: Experience the transformative power of peer support and collective wisdom within a diverse community of leaders, forging lasting connections that extend beyond the program.
Through a blend of live teaching, interactive exercises, guided reflections, and ongoing community support, MLT provides a unique opportunity for leaders to:
- Step into their Full Potential: Explore diverse sources of personal power, challenge limiting beliefs, and cultivate a confident and authentic leadership presence grounded in self-awareness and compassion.
- Navigate Change with Resilience: Develop tools and practices to meet challenges with greater equanimity, adaptability, and a growth mindset, fostering a culture of resilience within their teams and organizations.
- Create More Effective and Humane Workplaces: Implement practical strategies to improve team dynamics, foster psychological safety, and build a culture of collaboration, innovation, and purpose.
Join a community of leaders committed to creating a more mindful and compassionate world. Embark on your journey of transformation with Spirit Rock’s Mindful Leadership Training.
Course Sessions
This session introduces participants to the foundation of mindful leadership, emphasizing diversity, self-awareness, and setting intentions for the program.
Topics Covered:
- Welcoming diversity and setting intentions.
- Basics of mindful leadership, community agreements.
- Introduction to mindful listening and speaking.
- Values exploration and personal alignment.
Activities: Small group introductions, triad breakouts, journaling exercises on values, discussions on mindful leadership.
Participants deepen self-awareness and emotional intelligence through embodied practices, enhancing their presence and resilience in leadership.
Topics Covered:
- Emotional intelligence framework (self-awareness, self-regulation).
- Relational presence and embodied practices.
- Exploring confidence, humility, and resilience.
- Journaling on alignment and daily mindfulness practices
Activities: Mindfulness practices for awareness, journaling on embodied presence, breakouts for exploring ways of being (e.g., confidence, humility).
This session explores resilience and motivation, guiding participants to align with their values and cultivate compassion in their leadership roles.
Topics Covered:
- Setting personal values and visioning exercises.
- Resilience-building and managing failure.
- Compassion for self and others.
- Integration of kindness and compassion in leadership.
Activities: Journaling on alignment with values, improv exercises for resilience, guided compassion meditation.
Focusing on communication, participants learn to handle difficult conversations and create supportive team environments for more effective collaboration.
Topics Covered:
- Navigating difficult conversations with empathy.
- Building psychological safety and team alignment.
- Effective meeting structures.
- Journaling on team dynamics and effective communication.
Activities: Dyad exercises on difficult conversations, team meetings to discuss communication improvements, journaling on meeting culture.
Participants examine the dynamics of power in leadership, learning how to use power responsibly and coach others effectively.
Topics Covered:
- Exploring personal and systemic power.
- Power dynamics in leadership roles.
- Coaching using the ASPire model.
- Reflection on the responsible use of power.
Activities: Participants explore the complexities of power and empathy, assess their personal power dynamics across various contexts, and engage in coaching sessions using the ASPire model to enhance listening and empower others.
This session introduces compassionate accountability, emphasizing relational practices to build trust and strengthen leadership presence.
Topics Covered:
- Compassionate accountability in leadership.
- Mini-retreat practices for deep self-reflection.
- Relational mindfulness exercises.
- Building trust and goodwill within teams.
Activities: Participants practice compassionate accountability through curiosity and resilience, engage in a mini-retreat for self-awareness, and deepen relational presence through goodwill-focused discussions.
The final session focuses on integrating mindful leadership into organizational settings, equipping participants with tools for long-term mindful practice and team cohesion.
Topics Covered:
- Creating psychological safety in organizations.
- Advanced mindful communication strategies.
- Peer circles for feedback and support.
- Sustaining mindful practices in professional settings.
Nikki Mirghafori, PhD
Marc Lesser
Nikki Mirghafori, PhD, is a Buddhist teacher and Artificial Intelligence (AI) scientist. She is a lineage holder in the Theravada tradition, empowered by the living Burmese meditation master Venerable Pa Auk Sayadaw, with whom she practiced the jhanas and detailed analytical (Abhidhamma-style) vipassana. She also received empowerment from the Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Insight Meditation Society, Insight Meditation Center, and is a Stanford-trained compassion cultivation instructor.
At Spirit Rock Meditation Center, Nikki serves as a Stewarding Teacher as well as on the Board of Directors. She also teaches at the Insight Meditation Center in Redwood City, CA. Nikki’s teaching style combines clarity and warmth, and she delights in exploring deep Dharma topics with practitioners as well as mindfulness in daily life. Mindfulness of death, in particular, is one of the areas of her interest and expertise.
Additionally, Nikki has been a researcher and inventor in AI, holds multiple patents and author of scientific research articles. She has directed international research programs as the Principal Investigator, mentored postdocs and PhD students, taught graduate courses at UC Berkeley, and been a scientific advisor to Silicon Valley technology startups.
As an Iranian-American, Nikki has taught contemplative practices internationally and aspires to serve as a champion for wisdom and compassion in our world, as well as ethical AI in our zeitgeist.
Marc Lesser is a CEO, executive coach, and Zen teacher. He founded and was CEO of 3 companies, and has an MBA degree from New York University. Finding Clarity: How Compassionate Accountability Builds Vibrant Relationships, Thriving Workplaces, and Meaningful Lives, is his fifth book. His other books include Seven Practices of a Mindful Leader: Lessons from Google and a Zen Monastery Kitchen and Less: Accomplishing More By Doing Less. Marc helped develop the world-renowned Search Inside Yourself program within Google – a mindfulness-based emotional intelligence training for leaders that spread through Silicon Valley and then globally. He was the founding CEO of the Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute. He is CEO of ZBA Associates, an executive development and leadership consulting company that supports Genentech, Google, Beneficial State Bank, and other leading companies. Marc was a resident of the San Francisco Zen Center for 10 years, and director of Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, the first Zen monastery in the western world. He leads an online Zen group, Mill Valley Zen International.
Reflections from Past Participants
Sample Course Lectures
Unlocking Team Success with Psychological Safety
Unlock Your Inner Power: Transformative Leadership
Why This Course Matters
This course on mindful leadership and its approach matter significantly because they address a critical gap in how leadership is typically understood and practiced. Traditional leadership programs often focus primarily on external skills and strategies, neglecting the crucial inner dimensions of leadership. This course matters because it offers a different path, one that cultivates leaders who are not only effective but also ethical, compassionate, and committed to making a positive impact on the world. Here’s a closer look at why this course and its approach matter:
This course equips leaders with practical tools for navigating the complexities of leadership in today’s world. These tools include:
- Mindfulness Practices: The course emphasizes the importance of integrating mindfulness into everyday life and work. Mindfulness practices, such as mindful breathing, mindful listening, and mindful speaking, help leaders become more present, attentive, and less reactive to stress. Cultivating this present-moment awareness helps leaders make more conscious choices, regulate their emotions, communicate more effectively, and respond to challenges with greater clarity and skill.
- Emotional Intelligence Training: The course recognizes that emotional intelligence is essential for effective leadership. Participants receive training in self-awareness, self-management, empathy, and social skills. They learn to recognize and understand their own emotions and the emotions of others, enabling them to build stronger relationships, navigate difficult conversations with greater skill, and create more collaborative and supportive work environments.
- Compassionate Communication Techniques: The program emphasizes compassionate communication as a foundational skill for mindful leaders. Participants learn techniques for engaging in courageous conversations, addressing conflict constructively, and providing feedback in a way that is both honest and supportive. They are encouraged to practice mindful listening, creating space for others to feel heard and understood.
This course matters because it has the potential to ripple outward, creating a more mindful and compassionate world.
- As participants integrate the principles and practices into their leadership, they influence their teams, their organizations, and their broader communities.
- The program fosters a network of mindful leaders who are committed to serving others, leading with integrity, and creating positive change.
In essence, this course matters because it offers a path toward a more humane and effective form of leadership, one that benefits not only individuals and organizations but also the world as a whole.
This course focuses on developing leaders who are grounded in self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and a deep understanding of their values and motivations.
- The emphasis is on personal transformation as a prerequisite for effective leadership.
- This approach stands in contrast to traditional models that prioritize outward skills and strategies without addressing the inner landscape of the leader.
The course repeatedly emphasizes the importance of asking “why” –
- Why lead at all?
- Why take on this particular leadership role?
- What is my deepest intention for serving in this way?
This persistent questioning guides participants to connect with their core values and ensure their actions are aligned with their aspirations for making a positive impact. The course emphasizes that leadership is not about ego or personal gain but about service to others and contributing to a better world.
This course equips leaders with practical tools for navigating the complexities of leadership in today’s world. These tools include:
- Mindfulness Practices: The course emphasizes the importance of integrating mindfulness into everyday life and work. Mindfulness practices, such as mindful breathing, mindful listening, and mindful speaking, help leaders become more present, attentive, and less reactive to stress. Cultivating this present-moment awareness helps leaders make more conscious choices, regulate their emotions, communicate more effectively, and respond to challenges with greater clarity and skill.
- Emotional Intelligence Training: The course recognizes that emotional intelligence is essential for effective leadership. Participants receive training in self-awareness, self-management, empathy, and social skills. They learn to recognize and understand their own emotions and the emotions of others, enabling them to build stronger relationships, navigate difficult conversations with greater skill, and create more collaborative and supportive work environments.
- Compassionate Communication Techniques: The program emphasizes compassionate communication as a foundational skill for mindful leaders. Participants learn techniques for engaging in courageous conversations, addressing conflict constructively, and providing feedback in a way that is both honest and supportive. They are encouraged to practice mindful listening, creating space for others to feel heard and understood.
This course matters because it has the potential to ripple outward, creating a more mindful and compassionate world.
- As participants integrate the principles and practices into their leadership, they influence their teams, their organizations, and their broader communities.
- The program fosters a network of mindful leaders who are committed to serving others, leading with integrity, and creating positive change.
In essence, this course matters because it offers a path toward a more humane and effective form of leadership, one that benefits not only individuals and organizations but also the world as a whole.
Who Should Enroll?
This training is ideal for leaders who:
- Sense there’s a deeper way to lead
- Want to create more conscious organizations
- Seek to serve with greater impact
- Are ready for personal transformation
- Value wisdom and compassion in leadership
Our participants include:
- Organizational leaders and executives
- Entrepreneurs and founders
- Non-profit leaders
- Healthcare professionals
- Educators and coaches
- Change-makers and activists
Register Now
Payment Plan
- Over 45 hours of LIVE Instruction
- Online learning community
- Certificate of completion
- 4 live Q&As
Regular Pricing
11 monthly payments of $299
Early Bird Pricing
11 monthly payments of
$219
Savings of $670
Early Bird Pricing Ends December 6th
Full Payment
- Over 45 hours of LIVE Instruction
- Online learning community
- Certificate of completion
- 4 live Q&As
Regular Pricing
$2,999
Special Pricing
$2,299
Savings of $700
Early Bird Pricing Ends December 6th
- Scholarships are very limited and reserved for those who are truly experiencing financial hardship. Click here to apply.
Course Logistics
Large Groups:
Session 1: Sat, February 8 – Opening Session
Session 2: Sat, March 1
Session 3: Sat, March 22
Session 4: Sat, April 12
Session 5: Sat, May 3
Session 6: Sat, May 17
Session 7: Sat, June 7 – Closing Session
All large group sessions are 9:30am to 4:30pm Pacific time.
Q&As:
Q&A: Thursday, Feb 2nd, 10am-11am PT
Q&A: Tuesday, March 11th, 12-1pm PT
Q&A: Thursday, April 24th, 10-11am PT
Q&A: Thursday, May 22nd, 12-1pm PT
- Attendance: Participants are expected to attend all live sessions. To receive a certificate for completing the program, participants must attend at least five of the seven live sessions.
- Active Participation: Full engagement in all course activities, including discussions, breakout room exercises, and reflective practices, is essential for maximizing learning.
- Reflection Questions: These reflections are an important part of integrating the course material and are required for certificate completion.
- Personal Journal: Participants are encouraged to keep a personal journal to record their reflections, insights, and experiences throughout the program.
- Post-Course Survey: Participants will complete a survey at the end of the course to provide feedback on the program’s impact and areas for improvement.
We understand that plans can change, and we’re here to help.
- If you need to cancel before the course begins, we’ll provide a refund with just a $75 administrative fee deducted.
- For cancellations made by 5:00 PM PST on February 14th, we’ll happily refund your payment, keeping only a $300 course fee.
- To assist you with your cancellation, please reach out to us directly at courses@spiritrock.org. We’ll take care of the process for you.
- After February 14th, we won’t be able to issue refunds, so we appreciate your understanding.
If you have any questions, we’re here to support you.
Large Groups:
Session 1: Sat, February 8 – Opening Session
Session 2: Sat, March 1
Session 3: Sat, March 22
Session 4: Sat, April 12
Session 5: Sat, May 3
Session 6: Sat, May 17
Session 7: Sat, June 7 – Closing Session
All large group sessions are 9:30am to 4:30pm Pacific time.
Q&As:
Q&A: Thursday, Feb 2nd, 10am-11am PT
Q&A: Tuesday, March 11th, 12-1pm PT
Q&A: Thursday, April 24th, 10-11am PT
Q&A: Thursday, May 22nd, 12-1pm PT
- Attendance: Participants are expected to attend all live sessions. To receive a certificate for completing the program, participants must attend at least five of the seven live sessions.
- Active Participation: Full engagement in all course activities, including discussions, breakout room exercises, and reflective practices, is essential for maximizing learning.
- Reflection Questions: These reflections are an important part of integrating the course material and are required for certificate completion.
- Personal Journal: Participants are encouraged to keep a personal journal to record their reflections, insights, and experiences throughout the program.
- Post-Course Survey: Participants will complete a survey at the end of the course to provide feedback on the program’s impact and areas for improvement.
We understand that plans can change, and we’re here to help.
- If you need to cancel before the course begins, we’ll provide a refund with just a $75 administrative fee deducted.
- For cancellations made by 5:00 PM PST on February 14th, we’ll happily refund your payment, keeping only a $300 course fee.
- To assist you with your cancellation, please reach out to us directly at courses@spiritrock.org. We’ll take care of the process for you.
- After February 14th, we won’t be able to issue refunds, so we appreciate your understanding.
If you have any questions, we’re here to support you.
Course FAQ
Although our Programs are available on any device, we suggest using a computer (if possible) and Chrome or Firefox browser to log in: https://courses.spiritrock.org
Note: The login for our Online Learning Platform differs from your Spirit Rock login.
Accessing Your Program Page:
Click on it from your Dashboard after you’ve logged in. Once there, navigate through the sections on “My Courses” on the dashboard.
Are you logged in? Use the “log in” button on the top right of the page. This will give you the access you need to see all the content.
Although the Online Learning Platform works on mobile and tablet devices, for the best experience, use a desktop or laptop. This might be an easier way to find all the areas of the site as you are learning how it works.
The course is delivered LIVE online over a five month period over Zoom.
If you notice a link, content, or anything that isn’t working properly, please email us at courses@spiritrock.org
Try refreshing your browser and check your internet connection. Check another website to see if it’s just our site or something in your system.
Yes, once you’ve completed the course, you will retain lifetime access to all course materials, allowing you to revisit lectures, exercises, and meditations whenever needed.
We would love for you and your Sangha to join as a group. Please email us at courses@spiritrock.org with more details so we can help you.
If you have a question that isn’t answered here, email us at courses@spiritrock.org.
The Mindful Leadership Training at Spirit Rock empowers leaders to cultivate self-awareness, resilience, and compassion, transforming how they lead and serve. Through mindfulness and practical tools, participants learn to inspire positive change in their teams, organizations, and communities.
This training is ideal for leaders who:
- Sense there’s a deeper way to lead
- Want to create more conscious organizations
- Seek to serve with greater impact
- Are ready for personal transformation
- Value wisdom and compassion in leadership
Our participants include:
- Organizational leaders and executives
- Entrepreneurs and founders
- Non-profit leaders
- Healthcare professionals
- Educators and coaches
- Change-makers and activists
No prior Buddhism knowledge is needed.
Spirit Rock offers scholarships for those in need. If the course fees are a barrier, please complete the scholarship form HERE.
We understand that plans can change, and we’re here to help.
- If you need to cancel before the course begins, we’ll provide a refund with just a $75 administrative fee deducted.
- For cancellations made by 5:00pm PST on February 14th, we’ll happily refund your payment, keeping only a $300 course fee.
- To assist you with your cancellation, please reach out to us directly at courses@spiritrock.org. We’ll take care of the process for you.
- After February 14th, we won’t be able to issue refunds, so we appreciate your understanding.
If you have any questions, we’re here to support you.
Although our Programs are available on any device, we suggest using a computer (if possible) and Chrome or Firefox browser to log in: https://courses.spiritrock.org
Note: The login for our Online Learning Platform differs from your Spirit Rock login.
Accessing Your Program Page:
Click on it from your Dashboard after you’ve logged in. Once there, navigate through the sections on “My Courses” on the dashboard.
Are you logged in? Use the “log in” button on the top right of the page. This will give you the access you need to see all the content.
Although the Online Learning Platform works on mobile and tablet devices, for the best experience, use a desktop or laptop. This might be an easier way to find all the areas of the site as you are learning how it works.
The course is delivered LIVE online over a five month period over Zoom.
If you notice a link, content, or anything that isn’t working properly, please email us at courses@spiritrock.org
Try refreshing your browser and check your internet connection. Check another website to see if it’s just our site or something in your system.
Yes, once you’ve completed the course, you will retain lifetime access to all course materials, allowing you to revisit lectures, exercises, and meditations whenever needed.
We would love for you and your Sangha to join as a group. Please email us at courses@spiritrock.org with more details so we can help you.
If you have a question that isn’t answered here, email us at courses@spiritrock.org.
The Mindful Leadership Training at Spirit Rock empowers leaders to cultivate self-awareness, resilience, and compassion, transforming how they lead and serve. Through mindfulness and practical tools, participants learn to inspire positive change in their teams, organizations, and communities.
This training is ideal for leaders who:
- Sense there’s a deeper way to lead
- Want to create more conscious organizations
- Seek to serve with greater impact
- Are ready for personal transformation
- Value wisdom and compassion in leadership
Our participants include:
- Organizational leaders and executives
- Entrepreneurs and founders
- Non-profit leaders
- Healthcare professionals
- Educators and coaches
- Change-makers and activists
No prior Buddhism knowledge is needed.
Spirit Rock offers scholarships for those in need. If the course fees are a barrier, please complete the scholarship form HERE.
We understand that plans can change, and we’re here to help.
- If you need to cancel before the course begins, we’ll provide a refund with just a $75 administrative fee deducted.
- For cancellations made by 5:00pm PST on February 14th, we’ll happily refund your payment, keeping only a $300 course fee.
- To assist you with your cancellation, please reach out to us directly at courses@spiritrock.org. We’ll take care of the process for you.
- After February 14th, we won’t be able to issue refunds, so we appreciate your understanding.
If you have any questions, we’re here to support you.
Our Guarantee
Satisfaction Guaranteed
Please read our detailed refund policy in the FAQ above. For any questions or to request a refund, please contact us at courses@spiritrock.org.
Group Program
Join us on this transformative journey with the Mindful Leadership Training course and save 15% when you sign up with a friend or group using the link below!
Safe and Secure
At Spirit Rock, we embrace the latest technology to ensure our courses are delivered with the utmost security, allowing you to focus on your journey of mindfulness and inner peace.
