What’s Buzzing at WGI: Looking Back at 2025
2025 was a year of reflection, innovation, and meaningful connection for William Glasser International, anchored by a profound milestone: the centennial celebration of Dr William Glasser, who would have turned 100 years old in May. Across the globe, his legacy was honoured in ways that reflected both the depth and the living relevance of his work.
We began the year with a Faculty Professional Development session in February that invited deep reflection on our own use of external control behaviours and strengthened our commitment to living and teaching from an internal control perspective. This theme flowed naturally into our April Symposium, Shifting from External Control to Internal Empowerment, which welcomed participants from diverse backgrounds and levels of experience. The symposium proved deeply needs-satisfying, with strong resonance in both personal and professional contexts, and with participants valuing the varied applications of Choice Theory®, Reality Therapy®, and Lead Management.
A key innovation in 2025 was the launch of the Lead Management Mastery Series, introducing a new, interactive format for engagement. The first session, Finding the Balance: Navigating the Dynamic Between Internal Motivations and External Expectations in Lead Management, unfolded as a World Café, creating rich opportunities for dialogue and peer learning following scene-setting contributions from panelists. The second faculty PD session adopted a practical, toolbox approach, with panelists sharing innovative tools to support faculty in deepening conceptual understanding and enhancing the learning experience for trainees. The upcoming open symposium will extend this exploration to a wider global audience, including anyone that is interested in the concepts we advocate.
Honouring Dr Glasser’s centennial became a powerful thread of connection throughout the year. The Glasser Institute for Choice Theory–US hosted a special convention at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, bringing together training for new members, a board meeting, and a heartfelt tribute to Dr Glasser’s life and work. The celebration included moving reflections from Carleen Glasser, an inspiring address by Dr Bradley Smith on the future of Choice Theory, and moments of connection set against the LMU campus and the Malibu coastline.
Equally inspiring were the centennial celebrations held in Morocco by William Glasser North Africa. Through a vibrant summer camp organised by the Amzil Foundation under the theme “The Golden Transition Summer: From Following a Path to Shaping Your Own Future,” young people engaged creatively with Choice Theory and Reality Therapy. Music, art, drama, and film brought Dr Glasser’s ideas to life as students composed original songs, dramatized chapters from Take Charge of Your Life, and created artwork and short films illustrating the five basic needs, total behaviour, and personal responsibility. These celebrations powerfully showcased Dr Glasser’s enduring legacy through the creativity and insight of a new generation.
Collaboration was another defining feature of 2025. In May, WGI partnered with Glasser Canada to host the Hidden Barriers Masterclass, marking our first formal collaboration with a Member Organisation. This global offering demonstrated how collaboration across MOs can strengthen advocacy for Choice Theory® and extend meaningful value to members worldwide.
We also intentionally began expanding our global footprint, engaging with several countries about forming new Member Organisations. Emerging conversations, particularly in the Middle East—including Afghanistan, Iran, the UAE, and Iraq—reflect our commitment to connection, inclusion, and embracing diversity in its truest sense.
Finally, guided by data and strategic reflection, WGI initiated discussions around a new global membership proposal. With a clear focus on articulating member value and responding to individual needs through innovative engagement, this work sets important foundations for sustainable growth.
Looking back, 2025 stands as a year that honoured our roots, celebrated our founder, and boldly explored new ways of connecting, leading, and living Choice Theory® across the globe.
This article originally appeared in the WGI newsletter “What‘s BUZZING!” Edition 23 — December 2025
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