“Let’s travel with the monsters. Don’t think of the monster as the evil. Think about the monster about how our cultures have always understood transformation. The monster is the thing that shows up and refuses our claims to finality. The monster is the world’s way of saying there’s still something else to do that you don’t know anything about.”
–Bayo Akomolafe, Posthumanist Thinker, Philosopher, Aspen Global Leadership Network Scholar-In-Residence
How do we break the cycle? How do we stop history from repeating itself?
Bayo Akomolafe answers this question simply: “I have no clue. But that’s the point. If I had a clue, it might just be modernity repeating its thesis.”
In his insightful presentation at the 2024 Resnick Aspen Action Forum, Bayo emphasizes the importance of embracing the unfamiliar and untapped aspects of life to redefine leadership, aiming to transcend conventional dichotomies and categorizations ingrained in our systems. He also highlights the necessity for creativity and playfulness—our worldview extends beyond simplistic binaries like “good versus evil” or “darkness versus light.” Our environment and future are far richer, more dynamic, and varied, offering a plethora of color and diversity to appreciate, celebrate, and look forward to exploring.
More from the Action Forum: Watch more talks on leadership, bridging divides, and driving positive impact from the 2024 Resnick Aspen Action Forum.
