Fields Wicker-Miurin: Learning from leadership's missing manual

Summary

The speaker shares stories of inspiring leaders from diverse backgrounds who have made significant impacts in their communities and beyond. These individuals, including Benki, a leader of the Ashaninka Nation; Sanghamitra, an NGO founder in India; and Dr. Fan Jianchuan, a museum curator in China, demonstrate the power of leadership, passion, and a commitment to change. Through their unique approaches, they have preserved history, protected environments, and transformed lives. The speaker emphasizes the importance of new leadership models and the responsibility we all have to shape a better future.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Benki, a leader of the Ashaninka Nation, has dedicated his life to protecting the Amazon rainforest and his people's way of life.
• 🌱 Benki became the paje (spiritual leader) of his community at the age of 10, inheriting deep knowledge of the forest and the survival of his people.
• 🚣‍♂️ Despite his remote upbringing, Benki traveled to the Earth Summit in Rio at 18 to raise awareness about the destruction of the Amazon.
• 💻 Benki introduced new technologies to the forest, including internet and satellite, to monitor deforestation and connect with the world.
• 🎭 Sanghamitra, originally an English literature professor, founded Samraksha, an NGO focused on HIV/AIDS in India, demonstrating the interconnectedness of literature and social issues.
• 👩‍⚕️ Sanghamitra's organization pioneered care, counseling, and policy changes for HIV/AIDS, reaching over 1,000 villages in Karnataka.
• 🎓 Dr. Fan Jianchuan, a Chinese collector and curator, has preserved over 8 million artifacts, documenting contemporary Chinese history, including sensitive periods like the Cultural Revolution.
• 🕰️ These leaders exemplify new models of leadership that prioritize community, history, and the environment over personal gain.
• 🌟 The script emphasizes the importance of changing our perspective and embracing new ways of leadership to address global challenges.
• 👶 The ultimate message is a call to action: we must take responsibility for the future and ensure that our grandchildren can answer the question of what we did to protect our world.

Q & A

Who is Benki and what is his significance in the Ashaninka Nation?

Benki is a leader of the Ashaninka Nation, a community living in Brazil and Peru. He became the paje, or spiritual leader, at the age of 10 after the death of his grandfather. Benki is significant for his efforts in protecting the Amazon rainforest from illegal logging and for leading initiatives in education, reforestation, and community development.

What challenges did Benki face, and how did he address them?

Benki faced the challenge of illegal logging, which threatened the Ashaninka people's environment. He addressed this by educating his community on the importance of protecting the forest and by leading efforts to reforest areas destroyed by loggers. He also brought modern technologies, like the internet and satellite technology, to help monitor deforestation.

How did Benki’s journey to the Earth Summit in Rio contribute to his mission?

At the age of 18, Benki traveled 3,000 miles to the Earth Summit in Rio to raise awareness about the environmental issues facing his community. Although not everyone listened, the journey helped him build connections and gain new ideas and technologies that he later brought back to his village to support his mission.

Who is Sanghamitra, and what role does she play in addressing HIV/AIDS in India?

Sanghamitra is a former English literature professor who founded the NGO Samraksha in 1993 to address the HIV/AIDS crisis in India. Under her leadership, Samraksha became a pioneer in providing care, counseling, and education about HIV/AIDS, and has influenced government policies to better support affected communities.

What innovative approach did Sanghamitra use to engage communities in HIV/AIDS awareness?

Instead of relying on traditional pamphlets, Sanghamitra’s NGO, Samraksha, used theater troupes, music, and dance to engage communities in conversations about HIV/AIDS. This approach helped foster open discussions, particularly in rural villages, about sensitive topics like marriage and HIV testing.

What is the significance of Dr. Fan Jianchuan’s work in China?

Dr. Fan Jianchuan is a collector and curator of museums that document contemporary Chinese history, including sensitive periods like the Sino-Japanese War and the Cultural Revolution. His work is significant because it preserves historical memories that many in China might prefer to forget, ensuring that the mistakes of the past are not repeated.

How does Dr. Fan Jianchuan's collection contribute to the understanding of China's history?

Dr. Fan Jianchuan's collection, which includes over eight million artifacts, provides a comprehensive and sometimes controversial record of modern Chinese history. By preserving documents and artifacts from the Sino-Japanese War and the Cultural Revolution, he offers a unique perspective on events that have shaped China’s identity but are often overlooked or suppressed.

What qualities do Benki, Sanghamitra, and Dr. Fan Jianchuan share as leaders?

Benki, Sanghamitra, and Dr. Fan Jianchuan share qualities such as drive, passion, commitment, and humility. They have each stepped away from conventional paths to address critical issues in their communities, and they have connected different worlds to create change. Their leadership is marked by a deep understanding of their place in history and a commitment to making a lasting impact.

What is the broader message of the speaker regarding leadership and change?

The broader message is that the world needs new models of leadership that are adaptive to the changing global environment. The speaker emphasizes that leadership should be about understanding and responding to the needs of the future, much like the examples of Benki, Sanghamitra, and Dr. Fan Jianchuan, who have all demonstrated a profound ability to change their communities by changing themselves.

Why does the speaker believe that global succession planning is necessary?

The speaker believes global succession planning is necessary because the challenges the world faces—such as climate change, resource scarcity, and geopolitical shifts—require immediate and thoughtful leadership. Waiting for the next generation to learn leadership skills is not enough; current leaders must start the process of change now, inspired by examples like Benki, Sanghamitra, and Dr. Fan Jianchuan.