CLARITY THROUGH COMPLEXITY: LEADERSHIP AND STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION IN A CHANGING WORLD
Senior leaders operate in a world of relentless complexity. Markets shift, organizations evolve, stakeholders multiply, and the variables that shape decisions seem endless. Yet the best leaders cut through this complexity with remarkable clarity—in their thinking, their decisions, and their communication.
Admired Leadership Institute® Porto brings together a select group of senior executives for an intensive exploration of how exceptional leaders achieve clarity when it matters most. Over four days in one of Europe’s most captivating cities, participants will engage in rigorous dialogue around decision-making, propelling change, and strategic implementation—all while experiencing Porto’s unique blend of tradition and innovation.
This institute uniquely spans both pillars of CRA | Admired Leadership’s expertise. Participants will learn the universal routines of leadership excellence that drive results and build authentic relationships, alongside the strategic communication principles that enable leaders to cut through organizational noise and mobilize action. Together, these create a powerful framework for leading with clarity in complex environments.
Porto itself embodies this theme. For centuries, winemakers in the Douro Valley have achieved precision within complexity—navigating unpredictable weather, diverse terroir, and global markets to produce wines of exceptional clarity and character. The city’s architecture layers Roman foundations with medieval structures and modern design, each era building on what came before. These experiences will serve as rich metaphors for the work senior leaders do every day.
Time & Location
May 18-22, 2026
Porto, Portugal
Who Should Attend
The Admired Leadership Institute® Porto is designed for senior executives who lead in environments of significant complexity and ambiguity. The ideal participant holds substantial organizational responsibility—whether leading large teams, driving enterprise-wide initiatives, or shaping strategic direction—and seeks to sharpen their ability to make quality decisions and communicate with precision when the stakes are high.
This program welcomes leaders from diverse industries, geographies, and functional backgrounds. The cohort is intentionally international, drawing executives primarily from Europe, the Middle East, and Africa who value the opportunity to learn alongside peers facing similar leadership challenges in different contexts.
Participants should come prepared to engage in substantive dialogue, challenge their own thinking, and leave with practical routines they can immediately apply. This is not a theoretical program—it’s designed for leaders who want to get better at the craft of leadership and strategic communication.
Enrollment is limited to ensure depth of conversation and meaningful connection among participants.
Topical Agenda
- Making Great Decisions
- Propelling Change
- Strategic Implementation and Execution
- The Axioms of Leadership Communication
- Communicating Strategic Direction
- Leading Through Symbolism
- What the Best Leaders Know About Building Relationships
- Making the Time to Lead
Faculty
Diana Hong coaches leaders and teams to lead change, elevate performance, and align support across complex organizations and efforts. With more than 20 years of professional experience, Diana advises on strategic communication, change management, executive visibility and presence, and stakeholder relationships. She has worked across public and private sectors in operational and business leadership roles. Her clients have included the American Psychological Association, Bank of America / Merrill Lynch, Borg Warner, the Town of Cary in North Carolina, Dell Technologies, Fannie Mae, McDonald’s, Morgan Stanley, Tory Burch, and the World Bank Group. Diana holds a BA in International Studies from the University of Pennsylvania, a BS in Economics from the Wharton School, and an MS in Information Science from Pennsylvania State University. She is a frequent speaker at world conferences for IABC, PRSA, PMI, Oracle, and other international stages. Diana is based in Washington, DC, and Los Angeles, enjoys supporting the performing arts, and has traveled to more than 60 countries to date. She is fluent in Spanish and Korean.
Megan Kronen advises senior executives and leadership teams in Fortune 500 companies, helping them connect personal and professional priorities, increase efficiencies, define meaningful objectives, create actionable plans, and drive impactful results. With more than 15 years of professional experience, Megan has worked with firms such as Broadridge, Fidelity, Heritage Financial, Morgan Stanley, and Northwestern Mutual, among others. She began her career in the financial industry, recruiting and coaching financial advisors and overseeing an award-winning internship program. Megan has delivered keynotes on leadership, coaching, and purpose at multiple regional and national meetings. Before joining CRA | Admired Leadership, Megan led her own coaching and consulting practice, working with executive leaders, teams, sales professionals, and entrepreneurs in the financial services, medical, and real estate industries. Megan holds a BA from Saint Louis University and is a Certified Master Coach. She lives outside of Philadelphia with her husband and three children and spends most of her free time coaching or cheering for her kids and volunteering at their events. Megan is also an accomplished cook, wine enthusiast, reader, and two-time triathlete.
The Porto Experience
Porto offers a rare combination of cultural richness, historical depth, and contemporary vitality. The city sits at the mouth of the Douro River, where centuries of trade, winemaking, and craftsmanship have created a distinctive character that honors tradition while embracing innovation. The program includes an immersive day in the Douro Valley at Quinta do Seixo, one of the region’s premier vineyards.
Participants will learn about wine production, sustainability practices, and global distribution strategies from experts who have mastered the art of achieving consistency within complexity. A lunch prepared by a Michelin-starred chef will showcase the precision and creativity that define Portuguese cuisine.
A guided walking tour of Porto will reveal the city’s layered history—from Roman ruins to medieval quarters to contemporary architecture—offering insight into how great cities, like great organizations, build on their foundations while adapting to new realities.
The program culminates in a wine blending workshop at one of Porto’s historic port cellars, where participants will experience firsthand the decision-making process that transforms diverse elements into something exceptional. This hands-on experience serves as a powerful metaphor for the strategic work leaders do when they must integrate competing priorities, diverse perspectives, and limited resources into coherent direction.
Throughout the program, participants will stay at Forte de Gaia – a 5-star hotel which offers comfort, sophistication, and the elegance of Nini Andrade Silva’s signature design. Forte de Gaia Hotel stands as a contemporary icon of elegance and style in Porto City Center. If you’d like to extend your travel in Porto or the surrounding region before or after the session, we are happy to make recommendations and assist with travel plans.
Accommodations
Forte de Gaia, Autograph Collection
Rua de Serpa Pinto 60
Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal, 4400-307
Next Steps
Enrollment is limited and we encourage you to make your plans now. The investment, which includes all accommodations, activities, meals, materials, and an annual subscription to Admired Leadership Digital (ALD), is €9,500. If you’re an existing ALD subscriber, the cost is €8,500.