Esalen was started in the 1960’s when the two founders, Michael Murphy and Dick Price, realized that the exploration of human potential was being constrained in the academic world and there needed to be a place where people could explore the edge of what was possible for humankind. Today Esalen has a long legacy of exploration, creation and research on the edge of what is possible. Names like Abraham Maslow, Alan Watts, Joseph Campbell, Ida Rolf and Fritz Perls have birthed ideas and movements at Esalen.
Esalen continues to be a place where ideas can grow unencumbered by the social norm. In a digital world where we communicate faster and more easily than ever before Esalen will continue to ask the question: How do we become more connected as human beings; to ourselves, to our friends and to our communities? How do we realize our full human potential?
Terence Gilbey is the General Manager and CEO of the Esalen Institute. The former Chief Operating Officer of Wikimedia Foundation and Executive Director of Technology Infrastructure at Kaiser Permanente, Terence brings over 20 years of experience as an accomplished executive and change agent who helps organizations stabilize, mature and realize their full potential. He joined Esalen in 2016 as a Resident Scholar and supported the management team through Esalen’s six month closure in early 2017.
After helping to restructure and re-open the institute he became General Manager. In 2018 he took on the role of Chief Executive Officer. With a passion for developing leaders and teams, enabling change and driving for results Terence has developed a management approach for Non-Profits built around Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Having lived and work on four continents he brings a world perspective of how to integrate cultures and diversity into everyday life.
In this keynote talk offered at our Forum in China in November 2018, Terry explores the human potential movement and Esalen’s role, past, present and future.
Hi Terry: I was a resident administrative assistant, gestalt therapist and personal intuitive with Dick Price and Julian Silverman from 1974-1978 and was so excited to hear that our CEO Durga Das and Baba Rama had connected with you. I subsequently moved to Kashi Ashram some 40 years ago. But I will never forget those halcyon days there and consider Esalen still part of my family. You don’t forget a place where you have expressed so much of yourself in such a personal and deep way. Along the way I experienced one of my first deep healings, perhaps not in the way I would have thought, having attended a myriad of workshops, but nevertheless, Esalen was a beacon of hope for someone who longed for connection with similar souls. And you’re so right, it is all about reconnection and connection. Thank you for the work you continue to do. If I can be of any assistance, you can email me. Respectfully, Uma Simon
Thank you so much for your heartfelt words Uma, I loved meeting you at Kashi and value your deep connection with Esalen.