The Viennese Masters: Unlocking Leadership Through the Art of Attention

Overview

In today’s world of endless noise and distraction, true leadership requires more than quick decisions—it requires the power of presence. The ability to listen deeply, absorb complexity, and find meaning amid distraction is rapidly eroding—yet it remains a cornerstone of effective leadership.

This Executive GlobeTREK Summit Sabbatical experience in Vienna invites junior executives to step away from the constant pull of the urgent and immerse themselves in the city where Mozart, Beethoven, and Brahms mastered the art of sustained creation. Through guided experiences and reflective practice, executives will transform the way they listen, interpret, and uncover meaning where others see only chaos. This is not simply a journey—it is a symphony of attention restored, presence rediscovered, and the enduring truth that great leadership, like great music, lives on because it is alive in the now.

Why Vienna and Salzburg?

Vienna and Salzburg’s timeless concert halls and rich musical heritage provide the ideal setting to train the practice of sustained attention and deep focus. Just as great composers organized complex ideas across long works, leaders today must cut through noise, synthesize vast amounts of information, and distill clarity from complexity. Salzburg is not only Mozart’s birthplace, but also the setting for “the Sound of Music, while Vienna is where these masters spent their mature composing careers.

This experience takes place during the festive season, when Austria’s famed Christmas markets fill the city with light, music, and tradition. From open-air concerts to intimate ensembles performing among the market stalls, these venues become a living laboratory for listening. Complementing these festive settings, the Vienna State Opera and the world-renowned Vienna Philharmonic provide a more refined stage for exploring how music can sharpen attention and deepen leadership presence.

What You’ll Experience

Guided by master class-style experts and inspired by one of the world’s great musical cities, you will:

Sharpen focus and mindfulness through daily listening practices that build sustained attention.

Apply active listening tools directly to your leadership and mentoring for greater impact.

Translate complexity into clarity by exploring how great composers structured long-form works—parallels to today’s business strategies and negotiations.

Immerse yourself in Vienna’s musical legacy with live performances, intimate piano sessions, and historic site visits.

Celebrate the season with cultural richness as Vienna’s Christmas markets and open-air performances become a living laboratory for listening.

Objectives

By the end of this journey, participants will:

• Rejuvenate their capacity for focus in a digitally fragmented world.

• Strengthen leadership presence through mindful and active listening.

• Learn how to mentor teams to communicate—and listen—with greater depth.

• Build resilience and clarity to navigate complex decisions with confidence.

In Vienna, music becomes more than art—it becomes a leadership laboratory. You’ll return with not only a renewed appreciation for timeless works, but with sharper skills to filter complexity, recognize patterns, and lead with clarity in an age of distraction.

“Where Music Sharpens Leadership, and Focus Becomes Your Greatest Instrument.”

Location: Vienna and Salzburg, Austria
Dates: December 4-12, 2026; and early December 2027
Ideal for: Junior Executives
Program Leader: Dr. Ian Moschenross