WRAP is an exclusive leadership retreat for talented leaders and their families, significant others and colleagues to enjoy building a global and talented community, and expand their knowledge and skills.

We believe that only through cross pollination of ideas from leaders from many different sectors can we make the personal and career breakthroughs necessary to achieve successful lives. We believe that you can have a great time enhancing your skills while enjoying time with family and making friends.

WRAP retreats are inter-generational and invitation-only for illustrious authorities, emerging leaders, and their families — celebrating ideas and relationships.

Participants are great innovators in business and finance, public policy and government, education, religion, law and medicine,  the media, science and technology, sports, non-profits and film, television and the arts.  WRAP's ground-breaking, off-the-record exchanges — including panels, one-on-one meetings, lectures, seminars and dicussions — build bridges across traditional divides and silos of professions and politics, geography and generations, religions and philosophies.  We emphasize civility, encourage bi-partisanship and prohibit solicitation.



WRAP's Challenge

Would you like to learn from other successful leaders in many different fields, and make a difference in the world? As a leader yourself, would you like to use your great talent and experience to exchange leadership and problem solving strategies and help others be successful and change the world? And at the same time be hosted by great companies and academic institutions around the world, welcomed by international renowned leaders eager to exchange ideas, leadership and problem solving strategies for your career and personal success?

For the last five years Weekend Renewing America’s Promise (“WRAP”) has brought together a broad spectrum of exceptional leaders and their families to exchange leadership and problem solving strategies, to commune with others from around the world, and enjoy a unique retreat experience.  WRAP is both an opportunity to build your skills as well as commune with others with similar interests and have a wonderful time in a glorious location in the world.  “Renewing America’s Promise” became the theme of Barack Obama’s Democratic National Convention in which he became the candidate for President of the United States.

WRAP was founded by Maxim Thorne, who has managed business success with an extraordinary commitment to philanthropy and the service to others.  He is a Yale University and Yale Law School graduate, and credits Yale with supporting this vision of bringing talented leaders from around the world together to exchange ideas, problem solving strategies and leadership development. He currently serves on the Executive Committee of Yale Law School and the Board of Governors.

WRAP retreats are held in Martha’s Vineyard, New York City, Washington, DC, Hong Kong, Thailand, South Africa, Havana and many other places, allowing participants to take advantage of both holiday and work time.

You have the unique opportunity to explore with experts a wide range of strategies as well as the secrets of our host city and country. As leadership participants WRAP helps to build new bridges for global talent, build cultural awareness, university partnerships, and many other connections for our participants.

Through our WRAP program, you have the opportunity to use your gifts of time and talent in this extraordinary global leadership exchange retreats.  You will also see countries as no tourist possibly could, because as an official WRAP participant you will be given remarkable inside glimpses to our host countries culture through the eyes of our local leader participants and hosts.

Our upcoming WRAP retreats will include the exciting island nation of Cuba, New York City, The Kingdom of Thailand, Ghana and South Africa.  For example, our participants will have the opportunity to meet Cuban leaders personally, explore their successes, challenges and incredible institutions and see what makes this nation tick.  In Thailand, we will explore the excitement of one of the world’s fastest growing economies as well as its commitment to preserving all things “Thai”, and exchange insights and build relationships that will enhance our participants’ skills to engage more effectively in the world. In South Africa we will get an insider’s view of the wine industry, explore business and cultural development and see why this is one of the most beautiful countries in the world.

In China, you will see the Last Emperor’s Forbidden City in Beijing, see the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, the Terra Cotta soldiers in Xi'an and many other sites. You will have the unique opportunity to engage Chinese experts and talent and discuss the many different strategies now being played out across the globe on resolves so many of the world’s opportunities and challenges.

As you can see, we will be in for quite the adventure!   

This is a stimulating environment, and over the course of the retreat you and your family will participate in workshops on a variety of fun topics and you may be asked to sit on a panel with fellow global leaders to share your experiences of doing what it is you do - experiences such as keeping up with global trends, managing family and work together, shifting careers, striking out in new directions, issues of gender, race and identity in the marketplace, your philanthropic involvement - any and all such ways you have contributed your time and talent.

On occasion, as a WRAP global participant, we will have a WRAP Update and briefing for key leaders prior to certain trips that will be specially designed for our delegations to various countries.

Because of the affordability of the WRAP program and its remarkable opportunities, you are encouraged want to bring spouses, significant others, and children - all are invited. WRAP is a spouse, significant other, and children friendly experience!

Through WRAP, we have the opportunity to transform the scope and breadth of leadership, and to share our gifts with the rest of the world. Please consider joining us - and helping us lead - this historic leadership movement.



Who We Are

WRAP is an exclusive leadership retreat for talented leaders and their families to enjoy building a global and talented community, and expand their knowledge and skills.

We believe that only through cross pollination of ideas from leaders from many different sectors can we make the personal and career breakthroughs necessary to achieve successful lives.We also engage the world's greatest universities and believe that by building bridges to these institutions - whether in Thailand, China, the UK or US, we will broaden and strengthen our participants' resources.

We believe that you can have a great time enhancing your skills and still have a fun time with family and making friends.

WRAP retreats are inter-generational and invitation-only for illustrious authorities, emerging leaders, and their families — celebrating ideas and relationships.

Participants are great innovators in business and finance, public policy and government, education, religion, law and medicine,  the media, science and technology, sports, non-profits and film, television and the arts.  WRAP's ground-breaking, off-the-record exchanges — including panels, one-on-one meetings, lectures, seminars and discussions — build bridges across traditional divides and silos of professions and politics, geography and generations, religions and philosophies.  We emphasize civility, encourage bi-partisanship and prohibit solicitation.

Forward-thinking business leaders must find new ways to broaden their connections globally, expand their leadership skills, and achieve new levels of organizational and professional success. Whether your goal is to reevaluating your own leadership role or develop a key team in your institution, WRAP can provide the strategic insights you need to advance your leadership—and your career.

Great and impactful leaders never stop growing. WRAP engages the freshest ideas and talent from around the world.  We connect leaders and help them create long-term value for their career or personal goals.

Most major leadership institutions, including Yale and Harvard, Oxford and Cambridge to name a few know that concepts taught at business schools over the past 10 years are largely obsolete today.  That is why leadership development is critical at every career stage. WRAP will enthrall you and your love ones and family in the dynamic retreat environment: you will all feel recharged, find new ways to expand your competencies and transform your leadership.

The WRAP community through our retreats has exclusive access to special resources and an exciting network of leaders who span the globe.

As you explore our information online I’m sure you will understand why hundreds of leaders come to WRAP each year.