The Learning Society

Since 1988, the Learning Society has brought leading thinkers and doers to the doorsteps of Queens University of Charlotte. Queens students and the Charlotte community have benefitted from the knowledge and experiences of renowned authors, journalists, physicians, scientists, artists, economists, politicians, government officials, scholars, historians, entrepreneurs, business executives, environmentalists, and social activists.

Learn more about the history and what the Learning Society offers members, the community, and students.

2025-2026 Lecture Schedule

The Surprising Path to the Good Life with Daniel Pink

October 6, 2025
7:00 p.m.

How can we lead more satisfying personal and professional lives? In today’s fast-paced world, this question has become more pressing than ever for both individuals and organizations alike. #1 New York Times bestselling author Daniel Pink has found the answer in an unlikely place.

In this provocative and engaging presentation, Pink will reveal a new approach to working smarter and living better by examining our most understood emotion: regret. He will show why the ever-popular “No Regrets” philosophy is utter nonsense. Everyone has regrets. And if we handle our regrets strategically, Pink says, they can be one of the most powerful ways we have to sharpen our decisions, elevate our performance, and deepen our sense of meaning.

To tell his stories and share his insights, Pink will draw on two massive and unprecedented research projects: The American Regret Project, the largest sampling of U.S. attitudes on regret ever conducted, and the World Regret Survey, which has collected more than 16,000 regrets from people in 105 countries. The result is a presentation packed with big ideas, practical takeaways, and a dose of inspiration.

You will learn:

• The 4 core regrets that people around the world have – and what that teaches us about the good life,
• A science-based, 3-step process to convert your existing regrets into tools for increasing happiness and boosting performance,
• How simple, engaging techniques like “regret circles” and “failure resumes” can transform negative emotions into positive forces,
• The Regret Optimization Principle offers a systematic method for anticipating and avoiding future regrets.

AI and the Future of Everything with Nita Farahany and Nicholas Thompson

March 26, 2026
7:00 p.m.

Artificial Intelligence and robotics aren’t just reshaping industries—they’re redefining what it means to be human. Nicholas Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic and former editor-in-chief of Wired, has been at the forefront of AI’s evolution, witnessing its breakthroughs firsthand—including the moment OpenAI launched ChatGPT. Meanwhile, Nita Farahany, a leading expert on the ethical and legal dimensions of emerging technologies, explores the profound implications of AI in her latest book, The Battle for Your Brain. Together, Thompson and Farahany offer a rare, insider perspective on the future we’re stepping into—one shaped by new rules, new values, and limitless possibilities. The question isn’t just how we’ll adapt—it’s how we’ll thrive.

Plan Your Visit

For event information, including purchasing tickets and parking, please visit our Event Information webpage.

Membership

Membership is open to anyone interested and is offered on a yearly basis. For information about becoming a member, please visit our Membership webpage.

Join the Learning Society

Your annual Learning Society membership gives you access to the leading minds of our times while funding unique learning experiences for our Queens students. Please contact us (learningsociety@queens.edu) for any membership questions.

Contact Us

Ariani Huguenin
Director, Memberships & Sponsorships
huguenina@queens.edu