Leadership Across Difference Projects
Reflection on My Italy Experience: Academic and Cultural Synthesis
My trip to Italy was a unique blend of academic research and cultural immersion, combining my MBA studies at Babson College and extensive background in investment banking operations with hands-on experiences in Venice, Florence, and Rome. The core of my journey centered on researching how traditional Italian artisans, such as leather-smiths and glass-blowers, adapt their businesses in the digital age. Interviewing these artisans not only challenged my perspectives on operational efficiency but also highlighted the distinct value they place on tradition and time, contrasting with my usual focus on scalability and data-driven strategies.
Immersing myself in a Florentine bottega, I learned that excellence can take many forms and that efficiency is a matter of perspective. This experience, aligned with my Intercultural Development Inventory results, pushed me to move beyond passive acceptance to authentic engagement, encouraging deeper respect and adaptability when bridging cultural differences. Ultimately, the trip broadened my understanding of operational excellence in a global context and helped me appreciate the value of adapting to local environments and traditions.
- Shubhangi Garg (Grant 2025-2026)
What the Women Leaders Conference Taught Me About Leadership
Attending the Women Leaders Conference in Milwaukee through the LAD program was a powerful and energizing experience. Being surrounded by over 500 women from diverse backgrounds, all supporting each other, felt inspiring and welcoming.
As a Nigerian woman who has led teams and businesses, seeing women confidently take up space and lead authentically was meaningful. The conference showed me that leadership can be empathetic, collaborative, and emotionally intelligent—while still being impactful.
Discussions about psychological safety and inclusive leadership made me reflect on the environments I want to create, where people feel respected, heard, and safe.
Speakers were honest about challenges like self-doubt and career pivots, making the experience feel genuine. I was especially inspired by Dr. Jeanette Epps, a former NASA astronaut, and other leaders I met, who reinforced the importance of representation and belonging in leadership.
One phrase stuck with me: “Things work better when women are involved.” My presentation.
- Bukonla Adeniyi (Grant 2025-2026)
Experiencing Culture Beyond Our Own Identity – Puerto Rico
As a group, our Leadership Across Difference field experience in Puerto Rico was designed to move beyond a tourist lens and toward respectful, local-led engagement. Through guided conversations and time spent in neighborhoods and community spaces, we observed how culture lives in everyday practices—murals and street art that communicate identity and pride, music and dance that build connection, and local food and small businesses that carry heritage forward. We also learned to hold complexity: Puerto Rico is shaped by layered histories of colonization and ongoing political and economic realities, and these contexts influence both identity and opportunity.
A consistent theme across our reflections was resilience as something collective rather than individual. Hearing firsthand accounts of Hurricane María highlighted how neighbors pooled limited resources, organized shared meals, and relied on interdependence to survive prolonged hardship. Visits to places like the San Juan historic sites, El Yunque, and Hacienda Muñoz further connected resilience to land, memory, and continuity across generations—showing how environmental resources, community-led initiatives, and cultural preservation sustain civic identity. Ultimately, this experience reshaped how we understand leadership and allyship: leading across difference requires humility, deep listening, and awareness of context; allyship shows up in everyday choices to respect local spaces, amplify local voices, and support communities in tangible, responsible ways.
- Priya Chaturvedi, Meghana Gudluru, Manika Pandey, Prachita Purohit (Grant 2025-2026)
Power, People & Persistence — Leadership Lessons from Puerto Rico
I completed a week-long independent study in San Juan, Puerto Rico through Babson College’s Leadership Across Difference program, exploring leadership through governance, entrepreneurship, and community. Visiting sites like the Capitol and La Fortaleza and speaking with local residents and business owners showed me how colonial history still shapes daily life—especially the “governance gap” in which Puerto Ricans elect their governor but cannot vote in U.S. presidential elections.
I also saw the ingenuity of local entrepreneurs, alongside systemic hurdles like permits, bureaucracy, and Law 60/22’s tax incentives for outside investors that can disadvantage residents. The experience reshaped how I think about regulation and leadership, and left me convinced that permit reform and tax equity are essential for local businesses to thrive. My presentation.
- Wollign Bellevue (Grant 2025-2026)
Resilience and Reflection: An LAD Experience in New Orleans
This trip to New Orleans was designed as a Leadership Across Difference (LAD) experience rather than a vacation: an intentional opportunity to move beyond classroom concepts and apply intercultural frameworks through reflection. By pairing structured learning (plantation and museum visits, guided tours, cultural exhibits) with unstructured immersion (live jazz on Frenchmen Street, markets, local conversations, and performances), I focused on how culture shapes identity, behavior, and leadership perspectives—and on the idea that exposure alone does not build intercultural competence without deliberate reflection.
Key moments deepened that learning. Visiting the Whitney Plantation reframed slavery from an abstract history to lived reality and clarified how its legacy continues to shape the present; other experiences—from Storyville storytelling to ghost and true-crime narratives—showed how agency, exploitation, and collective memory surface through performance and myth. Across the city’s Katrina history and Mardi Gras traditions, I saw resilience and community as central themes, with art and celebration functioning not only as expression but as survival and healing. Ultimately, the experience strengthened my leadership self-awareness: I noticed my tendency to seek connection through similarity, practiced sitting with discomfort, and moved toward greater acceptance by learning to hold multiple perspectives with intention, humility, and ongoing reflection. My video.
- Sneha Agarwal (Grant 2025-2026)
Field Immersion: Italy
My Leadership Across Difference immersion became especially meaningful through my meeting with intercultural leadership scholar Dr. Milton Bennett, whose research on intercultural development and multicultural organizations shaped my understanding of global leadership. Through our discussion of his work on intercultural capability, I learned that effective leadership across difference is not about simply having diversity, but about intentionally developing the ability to coordinate different worldviews within organizations. I applied these insights while traveling across Milan, Venice, Florence, and Rome, observing how culture, history, and institutional structures influence leadership approaches. This experience helped me understand that leadership effectiveness in global environments
requires adaptability, cultural awareness, and the ability to learn from different perspectives.
This experience significantly strengthened my intercultural leadership mindset. As I pursue roles in global business environments, I will apply these lessons by leading with curiosity, fostering inclusive collaboration, and developing the skills needed to work effectively across diverse teams. My presentation & video.
-Jay Kishan Panjiyar (Grant 2025-2026)
One week at Silicon Valley of Africa
I spent a week in Nairobi through the LAD Grant exploring why it’s often called the Silicon Valley of Africa, moving between modern hubs like the Yaya Centre and improvised market stalls that reveal the city’s full economic spectrum. Visits to iHub, Nairobi Garage, and local founders showed how resource constraints fuel ingenuity, and an intellectual property session at iHub highlighted how the ecosystem closes knowledge gaps with practical, expert-driven learning rather than formal credentials. Across the city, I saw a culture defined by resilience, independence, and rapid problem solving—whether in vendors building stalls from scrap or developers creating AI tools with minimal infrastructure.
This experience gave me a grounded understanding of the economic and cultural forces that make Nairobi one of the fastest-growing entrepreneurial centers in the world, and it reshaped how I think about innovation and who gets to participate in it.
-Daníel Vestfjörð Óskarsson (Grant 2025-2026)
National Student Leadership Diversity Convention
Attending the National Student Leadership Diversity Convention (NSLDC) in Orlando as part of the Babson-sponsored program was an enriching experience for us. We participated in workshops that taught us how to navigate professional environments, manage conflict with empathy, and redefine leadership as a commitment to personal integrity and service. We learned the importance of self-reflection and emotional healing, and how true leadership begins with inner work and emotional honesty. Moving forward, we plan to apply these lessons at Babson by fostering a culture of inclusivity, reflective leadership, and purposeful dialogue. This experience reshaped our understanding of leadership, emphasizing that it starts with inner work and creating spaces where every voice is heard.
-Ily Coulibaly, Sonia Khamitkar, Akansha Sinha, Chouly Thy (Grant 2025)
Lost in Translation, Found in Connection
Through the LAD Grant, I had the opportunity to immerse myself in Costa Rica, an experience that pushed me beyond my comfort zone and strengthened my ability to lead across differences. Studying Spanish at an institute while living with a local host family, I experienced firsthand how leadership is built on adaptability, empathy, and active listening. Without a shared language, I had to find new ways to connect—through gestures, patience, and shared experiences—learning that true understanding goes beyond words.
Volunteering with Kids Saving the Rainforest reinforced the power of collective leadership. Working alongside conservationists, I saw how change is driven by collaboration, shared purpose, and taking the initiative for a cause greater than oneself. This journey challenged me to navigate unfamiliar environments confidently, embrace diverse perspectives, and lead through connection—skills I will carry forward in my personal and professional life.
-Kaushik Kothari (Grant 2025)
National Student Leadership Diversity Convention
I attended the 3-day National Student Leadership Diversity Convention (NSLDC) 2024 in Orlando, a pivotal event dedicated to exploring diversity and social justice on campuses. The conference was packed with workshops that not only broadened my understanding of diversity and inclusion but also enhanced my leadership skills with diverse members and co-leaders through practical, interactive sessions.
The learning experience at NSLDC has left an impact on my approach to leadership and diversity. The conference not only deepened my understanding of the critical role of mental health in leadership but also reinforced the importance of creating supportive environments that embrace diverse perspectives. The practical skills gained from these workshops and activities have prepared me to be a more effective leader, one who not only respects but actively fosters diversity and inclusion within my community.
-Deepanshi Bansal (Grant 2024)
Women in Business Conference
Attending the Harvard Business School Women in Business Conference was a transformative experience that deepened my understanding of leadership and its nuances. The event emphasized the significance of networking, mentorship, and engaging in professional communities, highlighting their pivotal roles in career advancement and personal growth.
One of the key lessons I learned was the importance of stepping out of my comfort zone and taking on challenging roles. The speakers and panelists shared inspiring stories of overcoming obstacles and achieving success through perseverance and confidence. This resonated with me, reminding me of the importance of self-belief and resilience in leadership roles.
-Mary Yamat (Grant 2024)
EDI, Not DEI!
“Lastly, "EDI, Not DEI! What European Colleagues Want American Colleagues to Know About EDI in Europe" provided a fascinating comparison of EDI efforts across continents, highlighting the nuances and cultural differences that influence these initiatives. This session was a reminder of the importance of contextual sensitivity and the need for a global perspective in leadership roles.
Reflecting on the entirety of the GIRS experience, my leadership skills have been deepened by a greater awareness of the nuances of DEIB within the global context of education. The summit has equipped me with a broader toolkit for fostering inclusive environments, advocating for equitable access to educational opportunities, and leading diverse teams with empathy and understanding. The insights gained from each session, from strategic DEIB initiatives to the individual challenges faced by students, will inform my approach to leadership in the increasingly interconnected and diverse world of global education.”
-Mobasshir Hasan (Grant 2024)