Can Psychedelics Help CEOs Boost Their Leadership Skills?

Burrowed in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies is a wooden house, a retreat center made of pine and spruce and filled with mushroom carvings, tapestries of periwinkle and indigo paisley, books about “The Indoctrinated Brain” and other paraphernalia nodding to the promised transformation: Enter as a chief executive, emerge as an enlightened one.When a group of executives wearing hoodies and leggings arrived on a Tuesday evening in October, they vibrated with the nervous energy of summer camp drop-off.They were gathered for a retreat called “The Psychedelic C.E.O.,” which they had agreed to let me observe.Their guide, Murray Rodgers, used to be a hard-charging oil and gas executive.

About a decade ago, he underwent a process of self-discovery.It began after a miserable pairing — a divorce and a failed company initial public offering — that left him alone on his 60th birthday, watching Hugh Grant’s romantic comedy “The Rewrite” and wondering if it was time for a rewrite of his own.

He became a yoga instructor and then went to Costa Rica to try ayahuasca, a hallucinogenic brew.This started a sequence of mushroom trips and psychedelic ceremonies that left Mr.

Rodgers, now 69, spiritually, psychologically and professionally transfigured.It was as if he had thrown his ego into a dryer and watched it shrink, and he became intent on helping others with that same kind of cosmic laundering.He wrote a book, “The Psychedelic C.E.O.,” and after hearing from readers, he also began hosting retreats.On that day in October, he welcomed five business leaders — Adam, Adam, Jill, Chris and Ajay — most of whom requested to use only their first names so as not to alarm their investors, employees or children with their unconventional approach to professional development.

All run small businesses in the Calgary area and had met through an entrepreneurs’ network.After their arrival, they scarfed down bowls of thick lentil soup and then settled on couches in...