“Freedom & Responsibility: A Sartrean Leadership Odyssey in Paris”

Introduction:

Paris is more than a city—it is a crucible of ideas, rebellion, and self-invention. Jean-Paul Sartre, existentialist philosopher, writer, and activist, walked its streets and wrote in its cafés, urging us to confront freedom, authenticity, and the courage to create meaning in an uncertain world. On this 4-hour journey, guided by storyteller Peter de Kuster, you’ll follow Sartre’s Parisian footsteps, using the Hero’s Journey and 12 archetypes to reflect on your own leadership story. Will you, like Sartre, choose to become the author of your own legend—or remain defined by others?

Timeline & Journey Stages

Time	Stage & Archetype	Location & Sartre Connection	Reflection & Art/Story Moment
09:00	Ordinary World (Innocent, Everyman)	Place Saint-Germain-des-Prés (Sartre’s intellectual home)	“Where do you blend in or hide as a leader? What comforts or routines define your ‘ordinary world’?”
09:30	Call to Adventure (Explorer, Rebel)	Place Jean-Paul Sartre-et-Simone de Beauvoir	“What call to authenticity or change are you resisting? Where could you rebel and choose for yourself?”
10:00	Meeting the Mentor (Sage, Creator)	Café de Flore (Sartre’s writing table)	“Who are your mentors? What wisdom or creative spark are you seeking or ignoring?”
10:30	Crossing the Threshold (Outlaw, Warrior)	Les Deux Magots (debate, confrontation, action)	“What conventions or fears must you challenge to lead authentically? Where must you take a stand?”
11:00	Tests, Allies, and Enemies (Hero, Caregiver, Lover)	Rue Bonaparte & La Palette café (Sartre’s home, creative circles)	“Who are your allies and adversaries? What relationships shape your leadership journey?”
11:30	Approach to the Inmost Cave (Shapeshifter, Shadow)	Rue des Saussaies (Gestapo HQ during occupation, site of existential threat)	“What doubts or shadows do you face? How do you reconcile fear and freedom?”
12:00	Ordeal & Revelation (Magician, Ruler)	Luxembourg Gardens (reflection, transformation)	“What is your greatest leadership challenge? How can you transform adversity into creative power?”
12:30	Return with the Elixir (Jester, Sage)	Seine Riverbank (integration, meaning)	“What new story will you tell? How will you lead with authenticity, freedom, and responsibility?”

Descriptions of the Art & Places

• Place Saint-Germain-des-Prés: The intellectual heart of existential Paris, where Sartre’s ideas on freedom and authenticity took shape1.
• Place Jean-Paul Sartre-et-Simone de Beauvoir: A square dedicated to Sartre and de Beauvoir, symbolizing partnership and philosophical courage.
• Café de Flore: Sartre’s favorite haunt, where he wrote, debated, and embodied the Creator and Sage archetypes.
• Les Deux Magots: Legendary venue for existentialist debate and the Outlaw’s courage.
• Rue Bonaparte & La Palette: Sartre’s home and the creative crossroads where ideas became action.
• Rue des Saussaies: Gestapo HQ during the occupation, a place of existential threat and moral testing1.
• Luxembourg Gardens: A place for reflection and transformation, echoing Sartre’s belief in self-invention and resilience.
• Seine Riverbank: Paris’s eternal flow, symbolizing return, renewal, and the ongoing quest for meaning.

Conclusion:

Sartre’s Paris teaches us that leadership is not about certainty, but about the courage to choose and create meaning in an uncertain world. As you finish this journey, ask yourself: Will you write your own story, or let others write it for you? Existential leadership is an invitation to authenticity, action, and the ongoing creation of your legend.

Takeaway Questions for Creative Leaders

• Where do you conform, and where do you dare to choose for yourself?
• What “call to adventure” are you ignoring in your leadership?
• Who are your mentors and allies—and what wisdom do you still seek?
• What rules or conventions must you challenge to be true to your values?
• How can you transform adversity into creative leadership?
• What story will you now write for your team, your organization, and yourself?

Practical Details

• Duration: 4 hours
• Price: €590 per person (includes guided walk, reflection workbook, and coffee at a historic Parisian café)
• Group Size: Max 10 leaders for deep dialogue
• Includes: Peter’s “Hero’s Journey & Archetypes” map, Sartre-inspired reflection prompts, and post-journey leadership insights

This is not a sightseeing tour—it’s an existential adventure. Will you choose, like Sartre, to become the storyteller of your own legend?