THE GLOBAL EDUCATION & LEADERSHIP FOUNDATION Brief overview of Leadership Initiative for Excellence (LIFE) 2011 August

5-7, 2011, Udaipur, Rajasthan Building Transformative Experiences for Tomorrows Generation of Leaders

The curtain raiser began with the students of the Leaders Forum who were divided into 3 groups to debate, discuss and develop a Social Action Plan for Building a Transformative Solution for a social cause. The underlying premise for the task was that LIFE will be the stepping stone for the Forum Students to absorb and empower themselves to do something more.

Group I agreed to put together a plan to collect resources from schools at the end of the school year, identify NGOs to collaborate for the collection and distribution process. Group 2 established that they would identify and assist to train school students with vocational skills Group 3 decided to research, design and publish a collection of interviews, stories, anecdotes and experiences of leaders, experts and students.

All 3 groups will present the SAP in LIFE 2012.

The conference was inaugurated with the promise for a productive and enriching experience for all delegates and encouraged all students present to interact with the eminent delegates so as to evolve into a catalytic force to bring a positive change in the world.

The first Panel Discussion Leadership Traditions for the Next Generation, moderated by Mr. Deepak Bagla, with Mr. Shantum Seth, Mr. Mark Parkinson, Mr. Mehfooz Alam, Ms. Nirupama Subramanian, Ms. Chandrika Srivastava as panelists, centered on identifying an ideal leader from history/ mythology and the present world to the panelists views on the leadership capabilities, expectations, challenges etc which the younger generation will face in the years to come and how leadership education empowers with skills and values to make a difference.

The Audio-Visual on tGELF was screened taking the participants through a journey of how leaders need to uphold the qualities of Innovation, Compassion, Motivation, Vision & Integrity.

Author, Educator, Business Consultant and Entrepreneur, Mr. Shiv Khera delivered the keynote address, winners dont do different things, but they do things differently. School Leaders when and if faced with situations that demand bending of rules should weigh the outcomes of bending rules even for the right reasons.

The second Panel Discussion on Cultivating Global Ethical Leadership Capacity was moderated by Ms. Jyotsana Brar, Principal, Welham Girls School. The panelists Dr. Tim Martin, Mr. Rajiv Chandran, Ms. Sheela Rajendran, Samadarshini Ji & Mr. Chhayankdhar Rathore deliberated and shared thoughts on how conditioning over time also contributes in determining the choices that individuals make. Thus a large responsibility rests especially in the world of today, on adults, and school leaders to foster harmony and ethics among the younger generation. To enable in them a confidence, a strong value base so as to persuade others to work towards their larger goals. This session left the audience with thoughts on the importance of self reflection, unlearning, inclusivity and to process information into knowledge and actions.

Four dynamic Round Table discussions engaged the participants with topics on: 1. Experiences, Exploration & Education chaired by Ms. Komal Sood and Mr. Michael O Brien who presented and shared innovative teaching and learning methods. Participants used their faculties and collaborative powers to interpret and create tasks

2. The influence of Media facilitated by Ms. Nirupama Subramanian and Mr. Shivendra Kundra how people are getting news from different technologies and platforms. Thus collectively all source have a critical influence on shaping ideas and imparting views and news 3. Entrepreneurship & Ethics where Mr. Sourabh Gupta and Mr. Deepak Bagla lead the participants through a debate and dialogue on the ethical challenges that are faced in everyday decision making and yet it is morally correct and simpler to hold on to ones principles, especially in the current scenario

4. Great Ideas Share & Teach Forum was a dynamic discovery and sharing by Dr. Ruchi Seth and Mr. Ashutosh Batta on how everyday teaching methodologies can be reworked to achieve higher levels of involved learning

Three concurrent workshops offered a diverse perspective and exposure to reflection and discussion by 1. Ms. Lushin Dubey, Theatre Personality conducted a workshop for students on Leadership & Expression where self expression, the inner and outer voice were drawn out through the medium of acting using a free communication style and connecting them with leadership traits 2. Prof. William Gaudelli from Teachers College, Columbia, Universitys workshop on Instructional Leadership for a Democratic and Global Age Leader kept school leaders in profound discussion on understanding and exchanging best practices

3. Ms. Geeta Chandran, Professional Bharatnatyam Dancer took participants through a captivating and thought provoking workshop on the significance of aesthetics, culture, heritage, performing arts in architecturing the Inner Self and its connectivity to LIFE itself

The Forum ended with a self-reflection session by Mr. Shantum Seth, an ordained teacher in the Zen lineage and foremost guide to Buddha. The audience was taken through a spiritual personal journey of Mr. Seth who shared many fascinating experiences and guided the delegates to connect this with their own experiences.

Leaders are people who see deeply, who reflect intensely and who love life and people, was the underlying message of the inspiring and divine session by Samadarshini Ji on Seeding a New Culture of Awareness, where she emphasized that the choices we make lead us to our destiny which helps us move towards that one dominant direction which we want.

The four parallel presentations gave the delegates an insight into leadership in different fields and offered an opportunity to question, discuss, explore and share successful practices and collaborations across cultures and fields 1. Environmental Leadership by Mr. Vimlendhu Jha 2. International Collaborations in Education by Mr. Michael OBrien and Dr. Tim Martin 3. Responsible Leadership by Mr. Ravi Gulati & Mr. G.K. Swamy 4. Inspirational Leadership by Ms. Kanupriya Sekhri The presenters brought to the discussion table several prominent current issues and a realization that to resolve these, conflict resolution skills will be critical in the 21st century. They highlighted the importance of how youth of our country should work at their goals through a well strategized and planned manner. The consensus was that words are not enough but that as leaders we need to organize effective action. Maharaja Kuwar Laksharaj Singh Ji, of Udaipur gave a motivating address encouraged the youth with its will and power to be the change makers for tomorrow.

Ms. Geeta Chandrans enthralling dance performance on dance & leadership was the concluding session where she depicted Lord Shiva as the universal creator and destroyer. Her performance showcased how to coordinate the body and the mind which is a union in whatever we do. Her performance showed how the performing art develops discipline, endurance, time-management, aesthetics and communication through expression.

The tGELF Leaders Forum presented the grand finale. They shared their experiences and that to them LIFE was not a 3 day experience but an integral part of their existence. A global team now, the Leaders Forum pledged that as time progresses, tGELF has given a platform for them to turn their thoughts and dreams into actions. LIFE has enlightened us and changed our lives so very completely.