Denver Mayor Mike Johnston to headline Ethical Leadership Forum in Vail

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, who grew up in Vail and graduated from Vail Mountain School, will deliver the keynote address at the annual Ethical Leadership Forum on Friday, Oct. 10, at The Sebastian-Vail

Presented in partnership by Students Shoulder-to-Shoulder and the Vail Symposium, the theme of this year’s forum is “Leadership That Unites,” exploring how the best leaders bridge divides without sacrificing core values.

Johnston is a former educator, Colorado state senator, and now mayor of Denver. He returns home with reflections on ethical leadership amid polarization, drawing lessons from tackling complex challenges such as homelessness, housing and migration. His keynote lunch session runs from 11:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. as part of the half-day program (9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.) at The Sebastian.

“I’m excited to join the 2025 Ethical Leadership Forum in Vail to share how, even in difficult times, our problems are still solvable and we are the ones to solve them. If we can prove democracy still works by building proof points of success at the local level, then all things are possible,” Johnston said.

The morning program, presented in partnership with Vail Valley Works, will feature Barbara Brooks, founder of SecondActWomen, on the performance edge of multigenerational teams, followed by a fireside Q&A with Barbara Brooks and Dr. Katy Anthes of PEBC’s FORWARD initiative. The session also qualifies as an elective in Vail Valley Works’ LEAD Eagle certification track. Registration is $75 and includes programming and lunch.

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The Ethical Leadership Forum offers programming for educators, business leaders, Rotary, and the general public — uniting sectors around practical, principle-driven leadership. Founded in 2007 and based in Eagle County, Students Shoulder-to-Shoulder is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to advancing ethical leadership worldwide.