Introduction: What Creative Leaders Can Learn from Picasso
Pablo Picasso’s life in Paris was a masterclass in creative leadership, reinvention, and resilience. Arriving as a young outsider, Picasso transformed personal tragedy and cultural displacement into groundbreaking art, constantly challenging conventions and himself. For creative leaders, Picasso’s journey reveals the power of embracing change, learning from adversity, and daring to tell your own story. By following Picasso’s footsteps through Paris, you’ll discover how to harness your unique vision, navigate uncertainty, and become the storyteller—and hero—of your own leadership legend.

Timeline & Walking Tour Itinerary

Time	Location & Theme	Reflection & Questions
09:00	Start: Gare Saint-Lazare The Ordinary World & Call to Adventure	What is your “ordinary world” as a leader? What is calling you to step into the unknown?
09:30	Le Moulin de la Galette, Montmartre Crossing the Threshold	When have you left your comfort zone? What new worlds are you willing to explore?
10:30	Bateau-Lavoir, Place Émile Goudeau Meeting the Mentor, Allies & Tests	Who are your mentors and allies? How do you respond to early setbacks?
12:00	Lunch: Café Le Consulat, Montmartre The Orphan/Everyman	How do you find belonging in new environments? How do you deal with loss or loneliness?
13:30	Musée de Montmartre The Creator & The Rebel	How do you challenge conventions? What risks are you willing to take for your vision?
15:00	Galerie Berthe Weill (25 rue Victor Massé) The Approach & Ordeal	When have you faced rejection or failure? How did you persist and adapt?
16:00	Musée Picasso (Hôtel Salé, Marais) Reward & The Sage	What have you learned from your journey? How do you share your wisdom?
17:00	Rue des Grands-Augustins Resurrection & Return with the Elixir	What is your unique contribution? How will you inspire others with your story?

The Hero’s Journey & The 12 Archetypes: Picasso’s Paris

• The Innocent: Young Picasso’s hope and ambition arriving in Paris.
• The Orphan/Everyman: His outsider status, searching for community in Montmartre.
• The Hero: His bold pursuit of artistic innovation.
• The Caregiver: Support from friends and muses, like Fernande Olivier.
• The Explorer: Constantly seeking new forms and ideas.
• The Rebel/Outlaw: Breaking with tradition, inventing Cubism.
• The Lover: Passion for art, relationships, and life.
• The Creator: Relentless experimentation and reinvention.
• The Jester: Playfulness in his art and persona.
• The Sage: Learning from the masters, reflecting on his own legacy.
• The Magician: Transforming the art world, inspiring generations.
• The Ruler: Achieving recognition and shaping modern art.

Reflection Moments & Questions at Each Stop

• Gare Saint-Lazare:
  What is your “ordinary world” as a leader? What adventure or challenge is calling you?
• Le Moulin de la Galette:
  When have you crossed a threshold into the unknown? What fears or excitement did you feel?
• Bateau-Lavoir:
  Who are your mentors and allies? How do you respond to early setbacks or criticism?
• Café Le Consulat:
  How do you find belonging in new environments? How do you process loss or loneliness?
• Musée de Montmartre:
  How do you challenge conventions? What risks are you willing to take for your vision?
• Galerie Berthe Weill:
  When have you faced rejection or failure? How did you persist and adapt?
• Musée Picasso:
  What have you learned from your journey? How do you share your wisdom and inspire others?
• Rue des Grands-Augustins:
  What is your unique contribution? How will you tell your story to inspire others?

Conclusion: Lessons from Picasso’s Hero’s Journey

Picasso’s Parisian journey was a cycle of risk, reinvention, and resilience. He told himself a story of transformation—turning pain into creativity, and rejection into innovation. This narrative gave him flow, purpose, and the courage to shape his own legend. As a leader, you are the storyteller of your own life. By embracing your journey’s challenges, mentors, and triumphs, you can create your own legend, inspire others, and find fulfillment in your creative leadership.

Final Reflection:
What story are you telling yourself as a leader? How can you rewrite it to become the hero—and creator—of your own legend?

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.