Beyond Bretton Woods — Middlebury College | See Change

For 3 days in the wilderness at Middlebury College’s Bread Loaf campus, a select crew of students, professors & thought leaders will reimagine how we think & teach about global financial systems

The original 1944 Bretton Woods conference laid the foundations for the post-World War II international financial architecture. Fast forward 80 years and we invite you to join us at Beyond Bretton Woods to reframe global financial systems through a powerful combination of Gen Z-fueled creativity & experienced thought leadership from world-renowned innovators in economics, sustainability, business & culture.

Break out of your “stuffy conference” rut and join scholars from Middlebury and beyond alongside global financial experts and inspiring humans from all walks of life for a co-created event like no other. Imagine unique physical & sensory experiences, hands-on labs, and meaningful opportunities for human connection. It's not just an event; it's an immersive experience.

Beyond Bretton Woods will call in more than 150 voices with a wide variety of perspectives — through industry, experience, culture, political leaning, and more — with a special focus on students & experts from the global south to reflect on topics through the lens of a multitude of crisis moments. Building bridges across these diverse views and co-designing solutions is the secret sauce for collaboration.

We’ll take cues from innovators outside the financial sphere to guide process & personal improvement (key elements for creativity and resiliency!). This is beyond economic theorizing — it's a moment in your life to create indelible memories, expand your network, understand new perspectives, and enjoy transformational growth. Clear your calendars, because the magic will happen between the sessions.

Middlebury’s Bread Loaf campus (the event HQ) will provide a setting to dream the unimaginable. From historic buildings with giant stone fireplaces to thousands of acres of pristine Green Mountain National Forest land to Robert Frost’s favorite writing spot, we’ll enjoy centuries-old vibes with 21st-century comfort.

The event will be the soil, creating conditions to seed ideas that sprout into future solutions. We’ll carry on post-event by reshaping curriculum at Middlebury & influencing sustainable financial education globally. Solutions for key Bretton Woods institutions & the Bretton Woods 80th will be proposed, complemented by lab reports and a book publication documenting outcomes and the collaborative efforts of students, faculty, and experts.

Come curious, come open, leave changed.