Connection, Courage, and Complexity
The past few weeks, I had the privilege of guiding a dynamic group of students through the first CIEE Summer Session of Intercultural Communication and Leadership. Teaching this course is never a one-way street. It’s a living, breathing process of mutual exchange, where I continue to learn alongside my students—and from the brilliant guest speakers who joined us and generously shared their stories, tools, and expertise.
As I reflect on this session, I find myself returning to a few recurring themes: the necessity of psychological safety, the creative maps we make of our lives, the weight of history and resilience, and the many shapes personal leadership can take.
Kevin reminded us that leadership doesn't begin with strategies—it begins with safety. In his session, we explored the concept of psychological safety: the essential foundation that allows people to speak up, show vulnerability, and participate fully without fear of humiliation or punishment.
His insights into conflict styles and interpersonal dynamics were deeply resonant and also set us up for further course material. We all carry implicit preferences and patterns when conflict arises—whether we tend to avoid it, accommodate others, compete, compromise, or collaborate. Kevin helped us understand these styles not as rigid boxes but as adaptable tools, depending on context. Through his research and human-centered lens, he brought us back to the core of what it means to be in connection with others: we all need to be seen, heard, and safe to express.
With Tuaca, we dove into the imaginative world of mind mapping, not just as a technique, but as a philosophy of organising one’s inner world. Her session offered a refreshing reminder that there is no single right way to think, plan, or express.
Tuaca invited us to explore how mind maps can be used for everything from dream journaling to conflict resolution, from creative ideation to emotional processing. She gently opened space for alternative ways of knowing—visual, nonlinear, intuitive—and showed how such practices can deepen both self-awareness and intercultural sensitivity.
Olena brought with her a powerful testimony that reminded us all that intercultural communication is not an abstract theory—it is lived experience. Through her personal story of growing up in Crimea, navigating the historical tensions of the region, and ultimately fleeing her home due to war, Olena illustrated the real consequences of cultural, political, and national disconnection.
Now living in Amsterdam, Olena spoke about how displacement challenges one’s identity, belonging, and assumptions of safety. Yet, she also shared what it means to rebuild—how memory, language, and cultural heritage can become both burdens and anchors. Her voice stayed with many of us long after the session ended—a sobering and necessary grounding in the human cost of conflict.
Kerry brought the lens of personal leadership into focus, encouraging students to look inward as well as outward. His approach was both practical and compassionate, inviting us to move beyond rigid dichotomies of “strong” and “weak.” He emphasized that leadership is not about having all the answers, but about knowing how to ask the right questions—especially of oneself.
We explored different styles of leadership, learned how to lean into our strengths while recognizing our blind spots, and how self-awareness can be a radical act of leadership in and of itself. Kerry reminded us that the way we lead is deeply connected to how we see ourselves, how we relate to others, and how we show up in the world.
As I close this chapter of the summer session I, I carry with me the richness of our shared dialogues. My students brought courage and curiosity to every discussion. Our guest speakers brought perspective, depth, and humanity. And I was reminded again that intercultural leadership isn't about mastering content—it’s about cultivating presence, embracing complexity, and learning to lead from the inside out.