Introduction Paris is a city of dreams and revolutions, a place where every cobblestone has a story and every café has witnessed the birth of an idea. For creative professionals—artists, writers, designers, and entrepreneurs—Paris is not just a destination; it is a living laboratory for leadership and reinvention. Peter de Kuster’s “Create Your Own Legend”…
Tag: travel
15 January The Hero’s Journey in Paris: Testdrive Your Dreamjob
By Peter de Kuster Introduction: Paris—The City Where Stories and Dreams Collide There is a certain alchemy in Paris that turns ordinary moments into stories worth telling. The city is a living canvas where the past and future dance in the moonlight, where every street corner whispers of artists, writers, and dreamers who dared to…
19 January The Hero’s Journey in Paris: What Story Are You Living?
Introduction Paris is not just a city—it is a living storybook, where every street, square, and monument whispers tales of revolution, artistry, love, and reinvention. Its cobblestone streets and grand boulevards have witnessed the rise and fall of empires, the birth of new ideas, and the transformation of countless lives. To walk through Paris is…
22 January The Hero’s Journey in Paris: The Seven Stories of Your Life
By Peter de Kuster Paris is a city of stories—each street, café, and monument a stage for quests, transformations, and revelations. Inspired by my book “The Seven Stories of Your Life,” I invite you on a walking journey through Paris, where at each stop you’ll encounter a story that embodies one of the seven archetypal…
23 January The Hero’s Journey in Paris: The Leader’s Journey
by Peter de Kuster Five day journeyPrice: € 2.950 per person Introduction Welcome to Paris—the city of reinvention, imagination, and bold new stories. This journey with Peter de Kuster invites you to walk through the heart of Paris, rethinking what it means to lead, create, and make a difference in a world of constant disruption. At…
09 March The Hero’s Journey: Walking with Gustave Courbet in Paris
By Peter de Kuster Introduction: Place Vendôme — Where Power and Rebellion Meet Picture yourself in the heart of Paris, standing in Place Vendôme. Around you, the symmetrical elegance of classical architecture rises, their windows shining under the Parisian sun. The Vendôme Column, imposing and proud, stretches skyward—a towering monument constructed from the cannons of…
20 March: The Paris Walking Odyssey in the Footsteps of Matisse
Guided by Peter de Kuster Discover Your Leadership Story Through the Eyes of Matisse in Paris Step into the vibrant streets of Paris and embark on a unique leadership experience with Peter de Kuster, acclaimed storyteller and guide, who will lead you through a transformative walking tour inspired by the life and journey of Henri…
24 March: The Hero’s Journey in Les Miserables
Introduction: The Power of Your Story in the Footsteps of Victor Hugo Prologue: Paris, the Eternal Storyteller There are cities that live in the imagination long before you ever set foot in them. Paris is one of those cities. It is a place where every street corner whispers secrets, every stone is steeped in memory,…
19 May The Parisian Leadership Journey with Renoir
Introduction: What Creative Leaders Can Learn from Renoir Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s story in Paris is a masterpiece in optimism, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of beauty—despite hardship. His gaze transformed everyday moments into celebrations, his curiosity led him to create a new way of seeing, and his warmth built bridges across artistic circles. For creative leaders,…
20 May Degas Dance: Curating Your Leadership Journey
Introduction: What Creative Leaders Can Learn from Degas Edgar Degas, master of movement and observer of life, lived his greatest story on the boulevards, studios, and theaters of Paris. His art was both daring and disciplined—pushing boundaries while honoring tradition, and making the unseen visible. Degas’ journey teaches creative leaders the power of close observation,…
27 May Picasso’s Paris: The Creative Leader’s Hero Journey
Introduction: What Creative Leaders Can Learn from PicassoPablo 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,…
03 July Cézanne’s Paris: A Leader’s Heroic Journey
Introduction: What Creative Leaders Can Learn from CézannePaul Cézanne’s life in Paris was a story of courage, resilience, and relentless innovation. As a creative leader, Cézanne faced rejection, self-doubt, and the challenge of forging a new artistic path in the heart of the art world. His journey reveals how leaders can transform adversity into growth,…
13 July In Search of Meaning: A Hero’s Journey with Marcel Proust
Introduction: What Creative Leaders Can Learn from Marcel Proust Marcel Proust transformed the quiet experience of memory into one of the most influential works of literature in history. He turned introspection, keen observation, and relentless pursuit of truth into art, showing us that self-awareness and empathy are at the core of authentic leadership. Proust’s journey—marked…
17 July A Hero’s Journey in Paris with Toulouse-Lautrec
Introduction: What Creative Leaders Can Learn from Toulouse-Lautrec Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec spent his brief, brilliant life on the margins—of society, of the art world, and of the Parisian night. Yet from those edges, he crafted a vision so sharp, honest, and iconic that it still defines Montmartre and the spirit of Belle Époque Paris. As…
31 July What Creative Leaders Can Learn From Johnny Hallyday
Introduction: What Creative Leaders Can Learn from Johnny Hallyday Johnny Hallyday, France’s ultimate rock legend, lived a life that was both extraordinary and deeply human. Rising from a Parisian childhood to become a national and international icon, Hallyday was the personification of reinvention, resilience, and self-belief. He navigated fame, failure, and personal crises with an…
02 September Kind of Blueprints: A Hero’s Journey with Miles Davis
Introduction: What Creative Leaders Can Learn from Miles Davis Miles Davis didn’t just play jazz—he reinvented it, again and again. His time in Paris, a city that embraced him when his home country often did not, transformed his art, elevated his confidence, and inspired some of his greatest innovations. Davis’s life is a parable for…
03 September Pen and Power: A Hero’s Journey with Honoré de Balzac
Introduction: What Creative Leaders Can Learn from Balzac Honoré de Balzac, the tireless architect of La Comédie Humaine, was not only a master storyteller but also an unrelenting force of will, vision, and reinvention. Balzac’s Paris was a city of possibility and peril—a place where he turned setbacks into fuel, debts into motivation, and relentless work…
04 September Designing Destiny: A Hero’s Journey with Jacques Garcia
Introduction: What Creative Leaders Can Learn from Jacques Garcia Jacques Garcia, the legendary French interior designer, is a master of transforming vision into immersive reality. Known for his opulent, imaginative redesigns of historic hotels, palaces, and restaurants, Garcia turned his passion for storytelling, color, and history into a hallmark of creative leadership. Rising from modest…
09 September The Hero’s Journey with Jean Gabin
Introduction: What Creative Leaders Can Learn from Jean Gabin Jean Gabin, one of France’s most iconic actors, embodied resilience, authenticity, and reinvention through decades of triumph, hardship, and transformation in Paris. A figure synonymous with both the grit of working-class origins and the elegance of cinematic legend, Gabin’s journey is a masterclass for leaders: never…
10 September Brushstrokes of Vision: A Hero’s Journey with Claude Monet
Introduction: What Creative Leaders Can Learn from Monet Claude Monet, founding figure of Impressionism, forever changed the way we see the world—and the way we approach creative leadership. Daring to perceive light, color, and life differently, Monet defied rejection, financial hardship, and the comfort of convention. He led not by dominance, but by inspiring a…
11 September Mastering the Feast: A Hero’s Journey with Carême
Introduction: What Creative Leaders Can Learn from Carême Marie-Antoine Carême, known as the “King of Chefs and Chef of Kings,” was not just a master of the kitchen—he was an architect of culinary artistry, innovation, and discipline. Rising from poverty in Revolutionary Paris, Carême revolutionized French cuisine by blending creativity with structure, inventing new standards,…
15 September Reinventing Style: A Hero’s Journey with Karl Lagerfeld
Introduction: What Creative Leaders Can Learn from Karl Lagerfeld Karl Lagerfeld was much more than a fashion designer—he was an icon of transformation, curiosity, and cultural reinvention. Taking the helm at Chanel, Fendi, and creating his own label, Lagerfeld became a master of continual evolution, unafraid to disrupt conventions and rewrite his own story. His…
17 September Building Legends: A Hero’s Journey with Charles Garnier
Introduction: What Creative Leaders Can Learn from Charles Garnier Charles Garnier, the brilliant architect behind the iconic Palais Garnier, redefined not only the skyline of Paris but the very meaning of creative leadership. Rising from modest origins, Garnier faced fierce competition, immense public scrutiny, and the technical challenges of his era. Yet he prevailed by…
18 September Dreamscapes of Leadership: A Hero’s Journey with Salvador Dali
Introduction: What Creative Leaders Can Learn from Salvador Dalí Salvador Dalí, the surrealist master and provocateur, was more than a painter—he was an architect of dreams, a disruptor of norms, and a living legend of creative self-invention. Dalí’s years in Paris were marked by radical experimentation and the relentless pursuit of authenticity, blending imagination with…
23 September Elegance in Action: Leadership Journey with Christian Dior
Introduction: What Creative Leaders Can Learn from Christian Dior Christian Dior reinvented fashion and, in the process, reimagined what it means to be a visionary leader. Emerging from adversity and a world in ruins, Dior’s courage, intuition, and relentless pursuit of beauty transformed the silhouette of both women and industry. He cultivated creativity, nurtured talent,…
24 September A Hero’s Journey with César Ritz
Introduction: What Creative Leaders Can Learn from César Ritz César Ritz, the Swiss hotelier whose name is now synonymous with the gold standard of luxury, transformed the world of hospitality with unwavering vision, innovation, and an obsession with excellence. Arriving in Paris with little to his name, Ritz rewrote the rules of service, comfort, and…
29 September: A Hero’s Journey with Gustave Eiffel
Introduction: What Creative Leaders Can Learn from Gustave Eiffel Gustave Eiffel, the audacious engineer behind the world-famous tower, exemplifies the spirit of visionary leadership. His journey through skepticism, obstacle, and innovation demonstrates that legends are not inherited—they are built, one bold decision at a time. Eiffel’s Parisian years remind us that creative leaders must be…
04 November A Leadership Journey in the Footsteps of Jules Verne
Introduction: What Creative Leaders Can Learn from Jules Verne Jules Verne, often called the father of science fiction, was much more than a dreamer—he was a pioneer who transformed imagination into impact. Verne’s life in Paris was a daring journey, marked by obstacles, curiosity, perseverance, and breakthrough. He blended adventure with research, and risk-taking with…
06 November From Shadows to Light: A Hero’s Journey with Victor Hugo
Introduction: What Creative Leaders Can Learn from Victor Hugo Victor Hugo, the towering voice of French literature and social justice, turned suffering into song and adversity into legendary leadership. Through classic works like Les Misérables and Notre-Dame de Paris, Hugo gave voice to the forgotten and hope to the downtrodden, refusing to bow to convention or political oppression….
10 November Leading by Design: Hero’s Journey in the Footsteps of Starck
“Leading by Design: A Hero’s Journey in the Footsteps of Philippe Starck in Paris” This 2.5-hour walking journey explores Philippe Starck’s innovative designs and philosophy in Paris, using Peter de Kuster’s Hero’s Journey framework to inspire personal leadership reflection. Participants will visit iconic locations tied to Starck’s work and engage in moments of introspection about…
11 November In the Footsteps of Delacroix: A Leadership Hero’s Journey
“In the Footsteps of Delacroix: A Leadership Hero’s Journey in Paris” This 2.5 hour walking journey your guide Peter de Kuster combines Eugène Delacroix’s artistic legacy with the Hero’s Journey framework to inspire reflection on personal leadership growth. Participants will explore key locations tied to Delacroix’s life and art, while engaging in moments of introspection…
19 November Social Fabric: A Durkheim Leadership Odyssey
Introduction: Art and story are powerful mirrors, revealing not just individual genius but the invisible threads that bind us together. Émile Durkheim, the founder of modern sociology, walked Paris as both a scholar and a reformer, asking: What holds a society together? How do we create meaning and belonging in a world of change? On…
27 November Color, Courage & Creation: A Matisse Leadership Odyssey
Introduction: Art is not only what we see but how we dare to see. Henri Matisse, master of color and the creative leap, transformed Paris and the world with his bold vision, relentless experimentation, and refusal to be confined by convention. From law student to Fauvist pioneer, Matisse’s journey is a testament to the power…
02 December Minimalism & Meaning: A Bresson Leadership Odyssey
Introduction: Art is not only what we see, but what we choose to leave unseen. Robert Bresson, the legendary French filmmaker, transformed cinema with his radical minimalism, non-professional actors, and a relentless search for truth and grace in the ordinary. His Paris is not the city of spectacle, but of introspection, discipline, and quiet revelation….
04 December Truth Unveiled: The Zola Leadership Odyssey
Introduction: Art and story have the power to expose injustice, ignite change, and challenge us to become the authors of our own legend. Émile Zola—novelist, journalist, and the voice behind J’Accuse—walked the streets of Paris as both witness and catalyst. His journey, from the humble Latin Quarter to the thunderclap of the Dreyfus Affair, was one…
09 December From Paris to Conscience: A Tolstoyan Hero’s Journey
“From Paris to Conscience: A Tolstoyan Leadership Odyssey” Introduction: Art and story are mirrors and catalysts—inviting us to question, transform, and lead with conscience. In 1857, Leo Tolstoy arrived in Paris: dazzled by its grandeur, shaken by its inequalities, and forever changed by what he witnessed. His journey through the city’s salons, galleries, and streets…
10 December Existential Leadership: A Sartrean Hero’s Journey
“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…
The Absurd Leader’s Quest: A Camus Journey
“Absurd Freedom: A Camusian Leadership Odyssey in Paris” Introduction: Art and story, like the city of Paris itself, are invitations to confront the absurd, to seek meaning in a world that does not give it freely. Albert Camus—writer, philosopher, and Nobel laureate—walked these streets, wrestling with questions of justice, resistance, and the courage to live…
The Hero’s Journey of Raphael Navot
Private Paris Tour: In the Footsteps of Raphael Navot and His Design Studio With Storyteller Peter de Kuster Experience Paris through the Eyes of a Master Designer Step into the world of Raphael Navot-Maison&Objet Designer of the Year 2023 and one of Paris’ most visionary creators-on a unique private tour led by storyteller Peter de…
A Journey in Paris in the Footsteps of Ernest Hemingway
Introduction: Paris as Your Living Story Paris is a city of stories-its cobblestones echo with the footsteps of visionaries, artists, and seekers who came here to reinvent themselves. In the 1920s, a young Ernest Hemingway arrived with little money and big dreams. He found inspiration in Paris’s cafés, gardens, and bookshops, and in the company…
14 August Legendary Pages: A Hero’s Journey at Shakespeare and Company
Introduction: Where Stories and Leaders Are Born Paris has always been a city of stories-a place where writers, dreamers, and visionaries have come to reinvent themselves. On the Left Bank, nestled beside the Seine and facing the eternal silhouette of Notre-Dame, stands Shakespeare and Company: a bookshop that is more than a shop, more than…
An American in Paris: The Creative Leader’s Heroic Walk
A One-Day Leadership Storytelling Journey in the City of Light with Peter de Kuster Introduction: Paris, the Hero’s Journey, and the Creative Leader Paris has always been a city of transformation-a place where artists, dreamers, and visionaries from all over the world have come to reinvent themselves. For Americans, Paris is more than a destination;…
Private Tour The Masterpiece Within: Leadership Journey at Musée d’Orsay
With Storyteller Peter de Kuster Introduction: Musée d’Orsay and the Hero’s Journey Experience Step into the heart of Parisian art and creativity with Peter de Kuster, world-renowned storyteller, for a full-day leadership walking journey through the Musée d’Orsay. Housed in a former Beaux-Arts railway station on the Seine, the Musée d’Orsay is a sanctuary of…
Private Tour: The Lutetia Legend: Leadership Journey in a Paris’ Icon
With Storytelling Guide Peter de Kuster Introduction: Hotel Lutetia and the Hero’s Journey Welcome to a unique, immersive leadership journey at Hotel Lutetia-Paris’ legendary Left Bank palace, a living monument to art, resilience, and reinvention. Guided by renowned storyteller Peter de Kuster, you’ll explore the stories of the Lutetia’s past and present, its famous guests,…
Private Tour Uncovering & Transforming Your Emotional Legacy
Seminar in Paris: The Hero’s Journey – Uncovering and Transforming Your Emotional Legacy In-person Workshop | Morning, Shakespeare & Company | Next Dates: peter@wearesomeone.nl | price: Euro 120 Seminar Overview Every one of us navigates our professional and personal lives with an “emotional legacy”-a unique lens shaped by our experiences, often reaching back to childhood….
Private Tour Les Misérables Leadership Odyssey
Introduction: Stories like Les Misérables endure because they awaken the hero within us all. Victor Hugo’s Paris is a city of struggle and hope, where ordinary people become legends through courage, sacrifice, and compassion. Art and literature remind us that leadership is not just about power, but about the choices we make when faced with injustice, adversity,…
Private Tour Midnight in Paris: Quest Through Time and Imagination
Introduction: Paris is a city where the past and present intertwine, and where every cobblestone whispers stories of art, love, and transformation. In Midnight in Paris, Gil Pender’s magical journeys with Hemingway, Picasso, and Gertrude Stein remind us that the legends of yesterday can inspire the leaders of today. As you walk the city with storyteller…
Private Tour Jazz Legends & Creative Journeys: A Night in the Caves of Paris
Jazz Legends & Creative Journeys: A Night in the Caves of Paris A Hero’s Journey Seminar for Creative Leaders with Peter de Kuster Introduction Beneath the cobblestone streets near Notre Dame, Paris pulses with the heartbeat of jazz. Here, in the legendary caves of the Latin Quarter, the city’s most storied jazz clubs invite you…
Private Tour: The One Great Story about You
Prologue: Paris—A City of Living Stories Paris is not just a city—it is a living, breathing narrative. Its bridges are metaphors for crossing into new chapters, its cafés are stages for everyday drama, and its monuments are the bookmarks of history. In this city, every glance, every taste, every footstep is a story waiting to…
The Hero's Journey in Paris 