“From Shell to Soul: A 5-Day Leadership Pilgrimage Through Charles Handy’s London”

Introduction

Charles Handy’s journey—from a disillusioned oil executive to a philosopher of organizational humanity—reveals how curiosity, ethical courage, and reinvention can redefine leadership. This tour traces his Hero’s Journey across London, blending Jungian archetypes with stops at the classrooms, castles, and corporate halls where he reshaped management thinking. Discover how Handy’s ability to humanize institutions—from Shell’s bureaucracy to the London Business School’s innovation—offers leaders a masterclass in balancing pragmatism with purpose.

Timeline & Daily Structure

Day 1: The Ordinary World

Theme: Orphan, Innocent, and the Call to Adventure

• Route: Shell Centre (1956-1965 workplace) → Oriel College, Oxford (via reflection on his “Greats” education).
• Archetypes: Orphan (alienation in corporate hierarchy) → Innocent (idealism from classical philosophy).
• Reflection: What “Shell moment” made you question institutional dehumanization?
• Handy Link: Stand where Handy realized his office number (“MKR/35”) erased his identity.
• Question: How does your leadership combat anonymity in systems?

Day 2: Crossing the Threshold

Theme: Everyman, Sage, and the Mentor’s Crucible

• Route: London Business School (1967-1995) → MIT Sloan School (via reflection on 1966 fellowship).
• Archetypes: Everyman (democratizing management education) → Sage (learning from Warren Bennis at MIT).
• Reflection: Who has been your “Arthur Earle” (mentor who expanded your vision)?
• Handy Link: Enter the LBS Sloan Programme room, where Handy pioneered executive education.
• Question: How do you translate academic rigor into practical wisdom?

Day 3: The Belly of the Whale

Theme: Shadow, Rebel, and the Abyss of Doubt

• Route: St George’s House, Windsor Castle (1977-1981) → Royal Society of Arts (1987-1989 chairmanship).
• Archetypes: Shadow (self-doubt post-father’s death) → Rebel (challenging corporate ethics).
• Reflection: What “Windsor moment” forced you to reconcile values with ambition?
• Handy Link: Sit in the chapel where Handy debated societal ethics with bishops and CEOs.
• Question: How do you lead when profit and purpose collide?

Day 4: Transformation & Atonement

Theme: Creator, Magician, and the Ultimate Boon

• Route: Design Museum (Handy-supported) → BBC Broadcasting House (reflecting on his “Thoughts for Today” radio essays).
• Archetypes: Creator (“portfolio career” concept) → Magician (alchemizing philosophy into management theory).
• Reflection: What “Gods of Management” (Zeus, Apollo, Athena, Dionysus) define your leadership culture?
• Handy Link: Discuss his four organizational cultures in the shadow of the Shard, symbolizing modern workplace fragmentation.
• Question: How do you balance structure (Apollo) with creativity (Dionysus)?

Day 5: The Return

Theme: Ruler, Jester, and Master of Two Worlds

• Route: St Mary’s College, Twickenham (honorary fellowship) → Home in London (via reflection on his 2025 memoir).
• Archetypes: Ruler (reshaping global management thought) → Jester (playful critiques of capitalism).
• Reflection: What “View from Ninety” wisdom will define your legacy?
• Handy Link: End at a quiet Thames-side bench, symbolizing his belief that “the best ideas come when you stop trying”.
• Question: How will your leadership narrative balance intellectualism with accessibility?

Conclusion: Lessons From Handy’s Hero’s Journey

Handy’s flow emerged from treating organizations as living communities—where hierarchy bowed to humanity, and profit partnered with ethics. His secret? He became the philosopher-king of management, framing corporate life through classical wisdom and existential questions. For leaders, his lesson is clear: your greatest power lies in asking, “What is a business for?”

Key Questions for Leaders

1. Which Handy culture (power, role, task, person) dominates your organization—and which should?
2. How can you “portfolio” your career to blend autonomy with impact?
3. What “St George’s House” space could you create for ethical dialogue?

Final Thought: “Organizations are communities of individuals, not machines.” Let Handy’s pilgrimage remind you: leadership thrives when you see people, not cogs.

Tour Details:

• Duration: 1 day
• Start Time: 09:00 AM
• End Time: 05:00 PM
• Cost: € 595 per person excluding VAT per person

You can book this tour by sending Peter an email with details at peter@wearesomeone.nl

Your Tour Guide

Peter de Kuster is the founder of The Heroine’s Journey & Hero’s Journey project,  a storytelling firm which helps creative professionals to create careers and lives based on whatever story is most integral to their lives and careers (values, traits, skills and experiences). Peter’s approach combines in-depth storytelling and marketing expertise, and for over 20 years clients have found it effective with a wide range of creative business issues.

Peter is writer of the series The Heroine’s Journey and Hero’s Journey books, he has an MBA in Marketing,  MBA in Financial Economics and graduated at university in Sociology and Communication Sciences.