Today was whirlwind, with plenty of opportunities to meet and shoot the breeze with important contributors to the field of cross cultural communication. In particular, during lunch I got to sit down with Mr. Ray Leki, who is the director of the Department of State's Transition Center. An engaging and witty fellow, Mr. Leki is not only a great conversationalist when just chilling, he ran one hell of an afternoon session, entitled "Keeping Students and Institutions Safe on Study Abroad Programs."I was drawn to the training because I had studied abroad in Beirut, and only missing the confusion and frenzy of the evacuation of American citizens (many of them students) by two weeks, Mr. Leki's symposium challenged me to analyze the yeoman's work of creating, and sustaining, study abroad programs, and the difficulties that can arise unexpectedly when trying to coordinate study abroad programs.
Both keynote speakers, Dr. Sherry Mueller, and Harriet Mayor Fulbright, made excellent presentations, and I enjoyed getting a chance to relax with some good food and get to know a lot of different people who share my interest in the process of engendering salient cross cultural communication, and the methods, old and time-tested or new and innovative, to get that communication done. I am looking forward to immerse myself some more tomorrow.
2 comments:
IMI Conference: when I learned of the conference with a focus this year on issues in intercultural relations, I was quick to submit my application materials. I knew there would be amazing leaders and future leaders assembled in AU’s Ward Building. Day one exceeded all of my expectations.
I attended the first session with Dr. Richard Linowes regarding emerging markets. The goal of the session was to communicate his experiences and expertise in developing a framework for strategic vigilance. Most attendees were aware that the role of emerging markets is increasing dramatically and that emerging markets make up more than half the increase in global GDP, but not everyone had thought specifically about the convergence of developed and emerging economies and had the opportunity to review global case studies prepared by business school students who took part in extended cultural immersions. After the interactive session was over I spoke at length with my luncheon companions regarding the session. We all agreed that so much valuable information was to be shared over the course of the conference and lamented that we would each only be able to attend one session per panel. For those who did not attend the emerging markets session, you are urged to visit the Emerging Markets Development Advisers Program website: http://emdapcasebook.iie.org for access to the complete case studies. Dr. Linowes’ upcoming book also promises to be interesting.
Dr. Sherry Mueller’s presentation at lunch impressed me. After the keynote luncheon was over, I still had many questions and did not want to miss her session. The session was an informal Q&A, which allowed all attendees to share personal goals, challenges and experiences. A question I posed was: how is it possible to harness individual initiative, which can forge partnerships that lead to short-term and long-term difference? My question was then rephrased by another attendee to be: what makes a good leader? At first I thought this was a good paraphrase, but after considerable thought, I think there is another element to the question I asked: how can leadership skills in others be encouraged?
How can intercultural leadership be taught? For me, this is the central question. There must be some reason why when I was selecting undergraduate universities while in high school, I chose to study International Studies and not Astrophysics as I had planned since I was ten years old. Was it a direct result of hosting a group of Russian exchange students in my high school Russian language and culture class? Or my years of German language study? And why did I declare my concentration in International Communication at American University? It happened right after my semester abroad in Berlin, Germany--but is this a direct result? Intercultural contact is important, but is there something else? It’s wonderful to discuss these issues with like-minded professionals.
At the end of the day, Harriet Mayor Fulbright offered outstanding insight into the life of her husband. I was most appreciative to hear her speak of the Global Peace Index and her comments on leadership qualities helpful in interactions with colleagues and critics.
Though often repeated, the phrase "getting below the surface" (think icebergs!) indeed leads us to examine just how pervasive the effects of culture can be. This was a theme that linked two concurrent sessions I attended - "interest-based negotiations and the US Air Force"(panel) and "managing space . . perceptions of space" (Richard Harris)- sessions which otherwise would be more distantly related.
As the director of the Air Force's Negotiation Center for Excellence made clear, the effect of military culture is powerful enough to foster a predominance of one type of personality (the "STJ" of the Myers-Briggs) among senior officer ranks - great for being dependable and following orders in combat, but not necessarily great for negotiations, as STJs tend to prefer competition as a negotiating style. The external trappings of military culture are well-known to all of us, but when examined more deeply the effects are seen to affect not only behavior but also the personality types that move to the top within that culture.
Richard Harris' discussion of space and our perception and interaction with it, ranged from the metaphysical to the more immediate. What became clear as the discussion progressed was how much our arrangement of space (think planned communities on a grid versus African villages)both says something about the way we conceive of space as well as affects the way we interact with and relate to our neighbors Sure, we can easily see the layout of our towns and the designs of our homes, but do we really "see" how much culture is embedded in that use of space and how deeply it may be influencing our way of thinking and interacting? Only when we pause and try to "see" a bit more below the surface.
A great day one, and more to follow tomorrow. Thanks IMI.
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