Xiaohongshu
Leaders in Dialogue (formerly Impartial Chairs) participant, Zaida, reflects on her journey from programme participant to peer-to-peer learning expert. Leaders in Dialogue is a sector-leading skills programme providing equipping students to navigate leadership in an increasingly polarised world.
Leaders in Dialogue is made possible by the generous support of Pears Foundation.
I applied for the programme to sharpen my facilitation of respectful and inclusive dialogue. Drawing on my experience empowering underserved communities through education, I wanted to develop the communication and conflict-management skills needed to ensure equitable participation, bridge different perspectives, and transform dialogue into cooperation.
“Peace is not built through a single action, but through the creation of spaces for dialogue, respect, and above all, empathy. When we build a community beyond differences, we drive change towards collective wellbeing.”
This was one of the many powerful testimonies I heard during our trip to Northern Ireland as part of the Programme. This experience highlighted the importance of reconnecting on a human level despite big differences. Being in the same room with academics, nationalists, loyalists, and a former British soldier — all of whom have dedicated their lives to reconciliation — was profoundly impactful and inspiring.
What I've done with the skills I gained
The programme equipped me with the skills and confidence to lead initiatives in which respectful dialogue and effective facilitation are central to promoting collaboration and encouraging leaders to engage with complex issues.
I attended the first Global Dialogue on AI Governance established by the United Nations General Assembly in Geneva. Drawing on the debate and facilitation skills developed through the programme, I was able to engage in conversations with world leaders about the opportunities and implications of AI, the need to bridge AI divides, AI safety and risk, and the protection of human rights.
I organised a Meet the Leader session with Mercedes Miguel, Minister of Education of Buenos Aires City, Argentina. What made the session especially meaningful was the opportunity to bring together the IOE community and education professionals from different backgrounds to exchange perspectives and learn from one another, working together.
Seeing in Northern Ireland how dialogue and facilitation can support peace-building reinforced my belief that it is not enough to develop these skills ourselves; we also have a responsibility to multiply them by creating opportunities for others. Inspired by this experience, I co-founded Future Commons, a youth digital rights movement that empowers young people to thrive in the digital era through AI literacy, leadership development, and advocacy.
Applications for the next cohort of Leaders in Dialogue will open on 21 September. Click here to apply.