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Reflective time is scarce and hard to take, yet it is from
reflection that we spring forward re-invigorated. As a bit of grit in an oyster
provokes the pearl, good company combined with a pinch of paradox and discussion
provokes insight. Z/Yen seeks to create situations for clients and friends, as
well as ourselves, where insights can be found.
Z/Yen values the support of clients and friends. Many of our clients and friends
enjoy opportunities to share experiences with each other. We enjoy creating
these “networking” opportunities and hold many events during the year -
seminars, cocktail parties, exhibitions for struggling artists, workshops, boat
trips. We also hold a few events, our Reflective Repasts, where we hope our
guests experience a high degree of interaction, some in-depth conversation on an
interesting subject and intellectual stimulation. These events are by special
invitation to a small number of people, typically to those people whose ideas
and thoughts we feel will shape the nature of our economy and society, whether
they are well-known or relatively unknown.
Reflective Repasts centre around the guest of honour’s favourite puzzle, koan,
conundrum or paradox – “you know, there’s been one thing that always bugs me…”.
The guest of honour is not called upon for a presentation, nor a humorous
after-dinner speech, nor an assembly address, rather an observation or two
combined with two or three thought-provoking questions which our guests can get
their teeth into (particularly if the entrée is a bit bland) – we call this the
Koan Kourse. Guest numbers are limited to 12 (apparently this is a traditional
number for dinners). Obviously, all remarks are off the record, “the Chatham House
Rule”, and any press presence is there on a personal level only. The format is:
-
welcome and
canapes (30 minutes);
-
first course (20
minutes);
-
Koan Kourse (10
to 15 minutes);
-
discussion and
main course (30 minutes);
-
sweet and Final
Remarks (15 minutes);
-
coffee, thanks
and close.
We usually hold Reflective Repasts on board the Thames
Sailing Barge Lady Daphne. Lady
Daphne is a charming venue for good discussion – her large hold (21 feet
by 40 feet) provides a quiet, wood-panelled, fire-lit, secluded room for
convivialité or gemütlichkeit (depending on your linguistic
preference), particularly if the weather justifies starting the iron stove. Typically, Reflective Repasts are in the evening and we do not sail.
Some past puzzle posers include:
-
Dave Prentis (General Secretary of UNISON the UK’s
largest trades union) who led a discussion with the likes of Douglas
McWilliams and Shaun Woodward - “Trading With Unions – Friend, Foe or
Futile?” – and signed up a new union member, the Chairman of a healthcare
company;
-
Dr Douglas McWilliams who posed a real teaser – “Is the
Precautionary Principle the Best Precaution?” – the group response was “No”;
-
Professor Ian Angell of the London School of Economics
who led a very animated, Nietzschean discussion on the puzzles “Beyond Good
and E-ville”;
-
John Lloyd (producer of BlackAdder, Hitchhiker’s Guide to
the Galaxy (co-author too!), etc). John spoke on “Paradox and Confusion, The
Guardians of Truth?” to launch his new BBC show “QI”, Quite Interesting;
-
the Rt Hon John Gummer, who questioned “Do Good
Principles Make Good Profits?”;
-
Sir Willie Purves (Chairman of HSBC) with a question as
to whether “the UK is to Europe more as Manhattan is to the USA, or more as
Hong Kong is to China?”.
-
Dr Gerald Avison of The Technology Partnership, who
explored "Is Failure Really a Good Thing?".
We welcome ideas and themes that are genuinely thought-provoking and are happy
to change the format or venue to suit particular circumstances or requirements. |
