Keeping Close in a Socially Distant World - The Annual Leadership Forum
The last few months have been unexpected to say the least and it has only reaffirmed the need to continue the work towards social justice around the world.
Who would have thought that on the final day of such a memorable year, we would be huddled around our desks, crouching over laptops, listening intently to some of the brightest, warmest people we have met in the last one year? The WHT Annual Leadership Forum was held online this year owing to Covid-19 restrictions, but the scholars made sure that they shared their insights, recollections, and witty banter.
To avoid zoom fatigue at the end of a rather busy term, the forum was held over two days. The first day started with a Q&A with André Hoffmann, founder of WHT and vice chairman of Roche, who responded to questions put forward by scholars covering a range of topics like vaccines, sustainability, the response to the pandemic around the world and the need for businesses to rethink their approach in order to survive Covid-19 and the climate crisis. I think all scholars strongly agreed with him when he said: “We will not have a sustainable business if we do not reduce inequality and actively address racism. It’s not enough to say ‘we will do no harm’. That’s a thing of the past. We need to be proactive”.
This was followed by the last Moral Philosophy session of the year, conducted by the WHT academic advisor Nik Kirby. It was one of the most compelling discussions we have had throughout the Programme. We were made to reflect on the role of anger in politics, especially insightful in the context of the Black Lives Matter and the Rhodes Must Fall protests.
We discussed how anger seems to have earned a bad reputation - of being categorised as 'disruptive' - and the need to question those who label being disruptive to entrenched power structures as undesirable. Only those who don't directly face injustice have the luxury to detach from it and discuss it nonchalantly. Anger, which is not to be confused with bitterness, like Nsuku pointed out, is a tool that oppressed people use to challenge their dehumanisation and the status quo. It is a chance to look, learn, and work together towards addressing inequality. In our reflections, we were guided by the words of Amia Srinivasan, Maya Angelou, Malena Pichot, and Audre Lorde among many others.
At the end of the session we all took a few minutes to reflect on the things we value in life, the things we need, and the means to get to them. It was especially moving to contrast this with how we had responded to the same questions at the beginning of the academic year. There has been a remarkable shift in our perspectives just within nine months!
June 25th, the second day of the Forum, was one of the hottest days of the summer! It was going to be a long and intense day, therefore some of us split into bubbles of six people to give each other company (shoulder pats, air hugs and kisses too!). One session that stood out to me was the session on alumni insights. Our predecessors encouraged us not to give up on the principles and values we hold dear to us while doing the job-search, to dedicate time towards forming meaningful relationships with our fellow scholars right now, and to continue sharing ideas and plans for insights and reflections even after we have completed our degrees.
The Enterprise Challenge was a thrilling experience with the scholars introducing ideas they had been working on over the year - making extensive pitch decks, recording pitch presentations, receiving feedback, and answering questions posed by the panelists. Solis, a mobile app that provides actionable steps on activities affecting mood and mental health, and the Zimbabwe Art Market, a social enterprise working in the arts sector in Zimbabwe to empower women and young artists, came out with flying colors.
The Forum ended on a high note with scholars cheering for each other, and Vignesh, Minah, Shabana, and Atherton (alumnus) receiving awards for their contribution throughout the year. Many among us spoke about how wonderful the cohort had been to each other and how all of us were leaving with this bittersweet feeling - of meeting each other and catching up to celebrate the day but not in person. It was an emotional moment for all of us, sitting continents apart from each other in different time zones, yet tuned into celebrating the wonderful journey that brought us together.
After closing our laptops, those of us in Oxford met for a socially-distanced meet for our certificates and cake. The sun was out and our spirits were high. It was an unforgettable finale to the Leadership Programme!
