SYLA Leadership Retreat

Event:

SYLA Leadership Retreat: Building the Next 70

date:

November 15, 2026

TIME:

1:00–5:30 PM

LOCATION:

ALLIANT UNIVERSITY
San Diego Campus
Green Hall

DRESS CODE:

Smart Casual or
Traditional Attire

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

Where Leadership Becomes Global Impact

The inaugural San Diego–Yokohama Leadership Academy (SYLA) Leadership Retreat brings together leaders, changemakers, innovators, educators, students, and professionals from Japan, the United States, and beyond.

Through leadership talks and panels, collaborative team-building, nature-based reflections, mind-body activities, a Japanese tea ceremony, and cross-cultural engagement, participants will build relationships, exchange ideas, and explore how leadership can create meaningful impact across communities and borders.

Grounded in people-to-people diplomacy, SYLA connects current and emerging leaders across academia, government, industry, and community to strengthen collaboration and build a more peaceful and connected world.

Connect. Collaborate. Lead.

DEVELOP
LEADERS

Leadership talks, panels, mentorship, and global perspectives.

BUILD
CONNECTIONS

Collaborative experiences connecting academia, government, industry, and community.

FOSTER
COLLABORATION

Cross-cultural engagement, talent exchange, global learning, and strategic partnerships.

CREATE
IMPACT

Turn purpose into action through innovation, sustainability, and social impact.

What You’ll Experience

More than a conference. A highly interactive half-day experience built around conversation, connection, reflection, and collaboration.

01 | LEADERSHIP TALKS & PANELS

Explore leadership through global, cross-cultural, and interdisciplinary perspectives, with conversations designed to challenge assumptions and inspire new approaches to leadership.

02 | COLLABORATIVE TEAM-BUILDING

Work alongside participants from academia, government, industry, education, nonprofit, and community organizations through activities designed to build trust, connection, and collaboration.

03 | NATURE-BASED REFLECTION & MIND-BODY PRACTICES

Step outside the traditional conference format through guided reflection, nature-based experiences, and practices drawn from the Yoga for Leadership framework.

04 | STRUCTURED NETWORKING

Build meaningful relationships through facilitated conversations and networking circles designed to encourage genuine connection, cross-cultural understanding, and future collaboration.

SYLA Leadership Team on KUSI TV

What makes SYLA Leadership Retreat Unique? In this interview, SYLA leadership team- Dr. Leila Naderi and Steven Sigafus – share what participants can expect from the SYLA Leadership Retreat. What makes this retreat different is its intentional design: not another leadership seminar or conference, but a gathering where a small group of participants can engage in meaningful conversations and build deeper connections in a welcoming, relaxed environment.

Participants will experience curated networking circles, cross-cultural discussions, a Japanese tea ceremony, and nature-based reflection and activities. They will also learn from distinguished executives, experts, and leaders from the U.S., Japan, and beyond, representing government, academia, industry, and the community. Topics will include cross-cultural leadership, peace-building initiatives, sustainability, Yokohama’s 2027 Green Expo, and opportunities to build bridges between industry and academia across borders.

Featured Speakers

Meet the Experts

Meet the leaders, innovators, and changemakers shaping the future of international collaboration. Our featured experts bring diverse perspectives from government, business, and community leadership, sharing insights and experiences to inspire the next generation of global leaders.