After a two-month break since Asia Trek in the Philippines, the 2024 EI Fellows arrived in Penang, Malaysia excited to continue their fellowship journey. EI Fellows experienced a full week of carefully crafted activities from 5 to 12 October 2024, with three main objectives: continuing leadership competencies training, analyzing opportunities and challenges within regional and global contexts, and finalising the Fellows second-year group project proposals. 

Opportunities to revisit and build on sessions in previous learning events - with the benefit of new experiences and insights - were a key highlight in the Southeast Asia III: Hope and Despair in ASEAN and Adaptive Leadership sessions. The former was led by returning Professor Kitti Prasirtsuk, closing out a series that started at the Opening Retreat and continued through Asia Trek with a sober, yet hopeful look at the continuing process of transforming ASEAN from an association into a community. Dr. Dean Williams, who served 20 years as a faculty member of Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, helped Fellows deepen their understanding of the Adaptive Leadership framework previously explored at Global Learning I in Boston. The session balanced theory with practical applications, providing Fellows with tools to identify and analyze root causes of complex challenges in dynamic environments.

Dr. Dean Williams expanding on the Adaptive Leadership which started in Global Learning II in Boston.

These insights and tools were immediately applied by Fellows in the Second-Year Group Project Working Sessions throughout the week, carved out for project refinement and full proposal development. Key elements of the proposals include conducting root cause analyses and developing a theory of change. Before the week drew to a close, each group also had an opportunity to present their proposal for feedback from other Fellows & the EI team.

Fellows explore the Penang Peranakan Mansion as part of a guided tour to immerse themselves in Penang's cultural and historical heritage.

There was also time for exploring - both of the environment around and within each Fellow’s growth as an equity leader. An exciting morning was spent at The Habitat Penang Hill, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, learning about the history and unique biodiversity of this ancient nature reserve through collaborative activities. A guided walking tour through the sights and sounds of Penang’s streets also brought colour to a city rich in heritage. At the same time, in the Emotional Intelligence Reflections & Experiential Theater Conversations Workshop, Fellows found space to rebuild themselves as leaders.

Experiential Theater Conversations sessions help Fellows conduct and process difficult conversations.

Project Accelerator was an opportunity for Fellows to apply lessons they’ve learned from the fellowship year to their second year projects. The Final Convening & Annual Forum in January 2025 will conclude our 2024 EI Fellows’ fellowship year, with a celebration of their achievements with other EI Atlantic Fellows (senior Fellows). In the meantime, a number of the current Fellows will be attending the Public Narrative workshop as well as the Climate Justice workshop, both to be held in Bangkok later this year. 

Stay tuned for more!