Itay Talgam on Inspiring Brilliance

‘I learned more about leadership in that half an hour [with Itay Talgam], than in my entire career’ Al Gore

A conductor in front of an orchestra is an iconic symbol of leadership and creativity – but what does a maestro actually do in order to create glorious harmony? And what does that mean for the rest of us?

Itay Talgam spent ten years conducting prominent orchestras around the world. And he believes that his art can teach us about inspired leadership in all spheres of creativity. Great conductors make room for the passion of their musicians; they respect the gap between the baton and the instruments; they embrace their own ignorance; and they focus more on listening than speaking. Great leaders need to do the same.

Itay is the author of The Ignorant Maestro (Penguin) and his TED talk ‘Lead like the great conductors’ has been viewed more than 2 million times. Now in a rare visit to the UK, he tells us what the great conductors can teach us about inspiring unpredictable brilliance in ourselves and others. With anecdotes from the lives of the great conductors, including Strauss and Bernstein, and from his own work with everyone from military generals to schoolteachers, Itay will provide the keys for exceptional leadership and harmonious cooperation in business, government, education and even family.

ABOUT SUNDAY MORNINGS
Since 2008 The School of Life has presented strictly secular Sunday Sermons exploring the values we should live by today. We ask maverick cultural figures to give us their take on the virtues to cling to or the vices to be wary of in our complex world. Expect persuasive polemics, pop-song hymns and tea and biscuits.

Itay Talgam trained under Leonard Bernstein and has conducted orchestras around the world, including the St. Petersburg Philharmonic, the Israel Philharmonic, and the Leipzig Opera House. Talgam now teaches leadership to Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits and universities, and at conferences around the world, including TED, Google’s Zeitgeist, and the World Economic Forum at Davos. He also founded the Maestro Program, to help everyday people develop a musician’s collaboration and a conductor’s leadership. He is the author of The Ignorant Maestro.
10.30 Doors open
11.00 Sermon starts
12.30 Refreshments served
13.00 End