This week, with the historic election of Obama, Americans clearly expressed something fundamental to the human experience–a yearning for our leaders to provide us with hope and inspiration. I could see it on the televised faces of the crowd gathered in Chicago’s Grant Park, overcome with emotion at the news that Obama had become President-elect of the U.S. I could feel it when I listened to Obama’s acceptance speech, with key phrases like, "Yes, We Can." And I was reminded of it when my sister marveled that when she hears Obama speak, she feels inspired, a rare experience in today’s world, let alone in the world of politics.

People in business face the same yearning–to be inspired by their leaders. If you are in the Denver area, you’re in luck.

Mark your calendars for two talks on November 18th by Chris Lowney, author of Heroic Leadership: Best Practices from a 450-Year-Old Company that Changed the World.

The first event is a luncheon sponsored by the Denver chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth. Here’s a description of the event:

How can you be an effective leader when everything around you is changing? Chris Lowney, a former Jesuit who “morphed into the corporate man” when he joined JP Morgan, draws on his unique background to provide insights on leadership and principles that have held true for 450 years. Chris will challenge your assumptions about leadership and invite you to reflect on your personal leadership opportunity and responsibility. He will outline an invigorating approach to leadership that rests on four vital pillars: self-awareness, ingenuity, heroism, and love. (Yes, love!)

Chris Lowney is a one-time Jesuit seminarian who later served as a managing director of JP Morgan & Co. in Tokyo, Singapore, London, and New York over 17 years. He served on Morgan’s Asia-Pacific, European, and Investment Banking Management Committees. Chris is the author of Heroic Leadership: Best Practices from a 450-Year-Old Company that Changed the World, which has been translated into 10 languages. His second book, A Vanished World: Muslims, Christians, and Jews in Medieval Spain, was nominated for the 2005 Quill Award. Chris is a summa cum laude graduate of Fordham University, where he also received his M.A. and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.

Click here for more information. I’ll be attending and blogging about the event afterwards, so if you see me, be sure to say hi.

The second event is a free evening talk sponsored by Regis University, where Lowney will provide his insights on "living leadership instead of talking about it."  The talk is sponsored by The John J. Sullivan Endowed Chair for Free Enterprise at Regis University and Ashoka, one of the pioneer organizations in developing and supporting social entrepreneurship. Click here for more information.

To find more about Lowney’s thinking, read an excerpt of his book or download the first chapter of the book, for free.