Forum Select

The private executive
community

By invitation only. C-suite executives and board directors navigating the AI era. Off the record, always.

What It Is

The room that
doesn't keep score

Forum Select is a private executive community built on a single principle: everyone here is a giver. C-suite leaders and board directors who share what they know, make the introductions that matter, and leave every conversation better than they found it.

There is no sales agenda, no formal presentation and no recording. Candor is the currency, and the expectation is that you give more than you take.

"The most valuable thing Forum Select offers is a room where you don't have to perform."
  • 01Private dinners throughout the year in San Francisco & Palo Alto
  • 02C-suite executives and board directors only
  • 0310 to 25 people per gathering
  • 04Off the record, always
  • 05Membership by invitation or personal referral
  • 06Convened personally by Murray Newlands
The Giver Principle

Built on
Adam Grant's Give and Take

Forum Select exists because Murray Newlands spent 20 years proving that givers create more lasting value than anyone else in the room. Membership is earned by how you show up.

Give

Share what you know

Every member contributes their honest read of the market, the board, the technology, without holding back for competitive advantage.

Connect

Make the introduction

The most valued act in Forum Select is a warm introduction made without being asked. Murray models this in every room he enters.

Return

Receive without obligation

Forum Select isn't a quid pro quo network. The community holds the debt and pays it forward, and that's what makes it self-sustaining.

Who Belongs Here

The informal
selection criterion

Murray identifies potential Forum Select members by watching how people behave at Forum Events, long before any invitation is extended.

The question is simple: does this person make the room better? Do they share generously, ask good questions without self-promotion, and leave others with more than they arrived with?

If yes, a personal note follows within 48 hours of first meeting.

Weighing your options? See how Forum Select compares to other executive AI communities.

  • ✓C-suite executives (CEO, CFO, COO, CTO, CMO)
  • ✓Sitting board directors
  • ✓AI company founders at scale
  • ✓Senior investors with board exposure
  • ✓Leaders navigating AI transformation
  • ✓Givers, always givers
Is Forum Select Right For You?

The right room
for the right leaders

Forum Select is designed for experienced leaders who value candid discussion, trusted relationships and meaningful contribution. Access is based on who will make the room better, not on the ability to purchase a seat.

Good fit

  • ✓You are a C-suite executive, sitting board director or selected senior investor.
  • ✓You are navigating consequential business, leadership, technology or AI decisions.
  • ✓You are willing to share relevant experience and informed perspectives.
  • ✓You value private, off-the-record discussion with other senior leaders.
  • ✓You make useful introductions and contribute without keeping score.
  • ✓You prefer a carefully selected room to a large networking event.

Not the right fit

  • ✗You are primarily looking for sales leads.
  • ✗You want to purchase access to senior executives.
  • ✗You are seeking a large-volume networking event.
  • ✗Your principal goal is promoting a company, product or service.
  • ✗You are unwilling to contribute candidly to the discussion.
  • ✗You are looking for guaranteed access to every gathering.
"The working question behind every invitation is simple: will this person make the room better?"
Apply to Forum Select Attend a Forum Event First
Value of the Room

What participants
can take from a gathering

Forum Select is not measured by the number of business cards exchanged. Its value comes from the quality of the discussion, the relevance of the people around the table and the relationships that continue after the gathering.

Depending on the subject and the people involved, participants may leave with:

The value of each gathering depends on what every participant contributes. Forum Select is built for leaders who are prepared to give useful experience, context and relationships as well as receive them.

Read Participant Perspectives Explore OFF Research How Private Executive Dinners Work
Common Questions

Forum Select FAQ

How much time does Forum Select require?
Forum Select does not require a fixed monthly commitment. Private dinners and role-specific gatherings take place throughout the year, with timing varying by executive community and location. Invitees choose the gatherings most relevant to them.
How are guests selected for each gathering?
Guests are selected based on seniority, relevance to the discussion, potential contribution to the room and alignment with Open Future Forum's Give and Take philosophy. Each gathering is assembled individually rather than filled in application order.
Do participants need to attend every gathering?
No. Participants attend when the subject, location and people in the room are relevant to them. There is no requirement to attend every Forum Select gathering.
How is Forum Select different from a traditional peer-advisory group?
Traditional peer-advisory groups generally bring the same participants together on a fixed schedule. Forum Select convenes carefully selected C-suite executives, board directors and senior investors for private, off-the-record discussions focused on specific leadership and business questions.
Who is Forum Select not designed for?
Forum Select is not designed for people seeking sales leads, purchased access to executives or large-scale networking. It is intended for senior leaders who are willing to contribute their experience, insights and relationships to a trusted room.

More questions about cost, sponsorship and how invitations and referrals work are answered on the Open Future Forum FAQ.

Apply

Ready to be
in the room?

If you think you belong in Forum Select, or know someone who does, we'd like to hear from you. Membership is by referral or direct inquiry, reviewed personally by Murray.

Apply for Forum Select Attend a Forum Event first