The PFP is the Presencing Institute’s signature in-person program to learn and practice Theory U as a technology of transformation. It is offered only occasionally throughout the year, and for the first time in five years it is being held in the US. This is a rare chance to learn directly from Theory U’s co-founders, Otto Scharmer and Arawana Hayashi.

This four-day experiential workshop is designed for individuals, leaders and teams at all levels. It introduces frameworks, tools, and practices for sensing and facilitating profound innovation and change both within organizations and across societal systems. 

The program is designed as a U-process to allow you to experience this framework in depth.

You will join many others from across the globe and have the time to slow down, connect with core intention, and draw inspiration from the collective capacity this gathering generates. Expect to connect deeply with changemakers, innovators, and leaders across sectors, generations, continents, and political sensibilities. You will leave with a meaningful long lasting network. Aside from grounding in key aspects of the Theory U framework and tools, other components of the PFP are:

• Real world stories and case studies to support you in customizing the Theory U framework to your own situations at home.
• Case clinics that provide a structured approach to work through your specific challenges and projects with peer support. You will benefit the most from this workshop by coming with a concrete project or challenge you face.
• Social Presencing Theater (SPT), Theory U’s embodiment and social arts practice, is woven throughout the four days to deepen insight and experience. 

And most importantly...

• Action confidence. The PFP is designed to help you sort out the work that is uniquely yours to do in these times of upheaval, and locate your innate confidence to act on that future.

• A shift in your “interior condition,” the place from which you operate, giving you leverage to lead from the future, rather than the past
• Specific prototypes and/or next steps to bring the insights you arrive at in Philadelphia to life 
• Application stories that translate Theory U to real life challenges in organizations and ecosystems
• Concrete tools and practices you can use with your team, your organization and yourself right away, including the newest edition of the Theory U book
• Practice in the application of awareness based systems change principles and practice for transformation
• New relationships across sectors and geographies global boundaries that you can draw on for solidarity and advice
• Deeper understanding of the underlying forces shaping our world, plus clues for finding the cracks and soft edges that invite breakthrough

 Who Is This For?

• Individuals and teams working in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors who want to lead from the emerging future, rather than reenacting patterns of the past
• People who want a supported environment to find solid ground in a time of upheaval
• People looking for frameworks and tools to guide their teams and others through transformational change
• People looking for breakthrough solutions to “stuck” situations, personally and societally
• People whose livelihoods are directly impacted by the dramatic changes in the US government and its policies
• Students, young leaders and people on one of life’s many thresholds
• People dealing with societal polarization 
• People on the Theory U Certification pathway

Ultimately, this program will be valuable to anyone feeling the tug of knowing their path is at a crossroads but hasn’t had the time to recalibrate.

Otto Scharmer will be joining as keynote presenter on day one and day two.

Pricing includes all course materials, morning meditations, breakfast, lunch, all dinners except one, coffee breaks, beginning with dinner on Monday, October 27 and ending with lunch on Friday, October 31, 2025. Wednesday night dinner is “on your own” and organized for small groups to visit local Philadelphia restaurants.