The State of The World Forum with Jim Garrison and Tom Eddington

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In this special edition of The Business Elevation Show, I am joined by two extraordinary leaders—Tom Eddington and Jim Garrison—for a conversation on the State of the World Forum and its urgent mission for our times.

Tom Eddington is an author, executive coach, and business advisor whose work bridges leadership, media, and consciousness. As Vice President of the State of the World Forum, he is helping to shape a paradigmatic shift in how we live and lead, bringing more compassion, awareness, and flourishing into the world.

Jim Garrison is the President of the State of the World Forum 2025–2030, a revival of the groundbreaking initiative he co-founded with President Mikhail Gorbachev, Senator Alan Cranston, and Secretary of State George Shultz. Jim’s remarkable career spans global leadership, diplomacy, education, and philosophy—from directing nuclear policy in Washington, DC, to leading the Esalen Soviet-American Exchange Program, to founding Ubiquity University and Humanity Rising.

Together, Tom and Jim share the vision behind the re-emergence of the State of the World Forum (14-18th December 2025 in Washington DC) at a time of converging global crises and possibilities.

Here are some insights from the interview you won’t want to miss:

1. Paradigm Shift Through Collective Consciousness
Tom and Jim emphasised that the State of the World Forum is built not around dominant personalities but around a central question: “How do we elevate human consciousness to creatively respond to the challenges the world faces?” Their vision is to spark a shift in global consciousness from adolescent to adult maturity, moving away from individual hero figures to collective responsibility and action.

2. Four Consequential Truths of Our Time
The forum identifies and centres its work on four “consequential truths” impacting humanity: ecological collapse, breakdown of human affairs, the rise of unregulated artificial intelligence, and official government disclosure of extraterrestrial contact. These aren’t matters of belief but realities shaping our future, and recognising them is key to meaningful problem-solving.

3. The Role of Multiple Intelligences
A powerful idea woven through the conversation is the need to integrate four intelligences: human, nature, artificial, and cosmic. The forum suggests that only by aligning these—particularly recognizing that human intelligence has fallen out of sync with nature—can we hope to solve civilization’s existential challenges. This expanded framework asks us to consider the guidance of both the natural world and cosmic awareness, not just human-centric logic.

4. Moving Beyond Solutions to Elevating Consciousness
Jim pointed out that many solutions to global problems are known and available, but our current level of consciousness prevents their adoption. Therefore, the forum is designed to catalyse a new way of thinking—a leap in awareness—without which no technical or policy innovations can truly succeed. The mission is not just to solve problems, but to fundamentally reframe how humanity understands and approaches them.

5. Experiential and Inclusive Gathering for Lasting Impact
The event, and its six-year vision, are intentionally structured to be experiential, healing, and deeply participatory. Everyone—whether attending in person or virtually—will remain in a unified conversation, focusing on shared inquiry rather than fragmented tracks or breakout sessions. The goal is to seed a global movement, catalyse strategic initiatives, and inspire hope and agency for each participant, marking not just a conference but the start of an ongoing, inclusive journey.

“There is now, for the first time in history, four intelligences on planet Earth… Human, Nature, Artificial, Cosmic. – Tom Eddington

Join us as we explore how leadership, consciousness, and collaboration can help humanity meet this pivotal moment, and what it means for each of us to play our part in shaping a sustainable, flourishing future.

You can listen to this Business Elevation Show interview with Jim Garrison, Tom Eddington & Chris Cooper here. Alternatively on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Tunein, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio (latter US only).

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More about Jim Garrison and Tom Eddington:

Jim Garrison is President of the State of the World Forum 2025–2030, a revival of the original Forum he co-founded in 1995 with President Mikhail Gorbachev, Senator Alan Cranston, and Secretary of State George Shultz to build a global network of leaders committed to a sustainable civilisation.

He is also the founding President of Ubiquity University (since 2005) and Convener of Humanity Rising, a global broadcast launched in 2020.

Over his career, Jim has combined leadership in education, diplomacy, spirituality, and social impact. Early roles included Director of Nuclear Policy for the Jesuit Conference in Washington, DC, and co-founder of the Radiation and Health Information Service in Cambridge, England. In 1980 he co-founded the Christic Institute, working on nuclear policy and the Karen Silkwood case.

From 1985–1990 he directed the Esalen Soviet-American Exchange Program, before co-founding the International Foreign Policy Institute with Eduard Shevardnadze in 1991. At President Gorbachev’s request, he founded the Gorbachev Foundation/USA in 1992. Most recently he served as Director of the Washington, DC Office of the New Paradigm Institute, focusing on government disclosure around Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena. Educated at Santa Clara, Harvard, and Cambridge,

Jim is the author of seven books spanning theology, politics, and power. Born in China and raised in Taiwan, he grew up speaking Mandarin and brings a lifelong global perspective to his work.

Thomas Eddington is an author, Executive Coach, Business Advisor, and media Producer.

As a scholar of Conscious Leadership, he is passionate about bringing more compassion, consciousness and flourishing into the world which he does through his coaching and advisory work, film and media projects, and Board positions.

He is the Vice President, State of the World Forum, an organisation focused on creating a paradigmatic shift in human consciousness.

Tom holds an M.S. in Organisation Dynamics from the University of Pennsylvania and a Ph.D. from Ubiquity University.