The key to tackling national, regional and global challenges lies in genuine collaboration and connections with people, and the Humphrey Fellowship Global Leadership Forum 2023 (GFL) facilitates exactly this. My participation in this five-day seminar in Washington D.C. was an enriching experience, offering insights into U.S. institutions, federal agencies and international organizations. It provided a platform to engage with representatives from pivotal organizations, participate in leadership and professional development sessions, and establish professional connections. The opportunity to interact with U.S. Government officials, members of the foreign diplomatic corps, the Hubert H. Humphrey family of Fellows, and the dedicated event organizers was invaluable.

GFL: A place for Learning, Networking, and Sharing with Inspirational Individuals

The GFL 2023 brought together 147 Fellows from 90 countries, fostering a collaborative environment where we learned collectively and explored solutions to global challenges that demand international and multidisciplinary approaches.

Engaging in activities like the Regional Networking sessions enabled me to swiftly connect with other Latin American Fellows. We exchanged ideas and discussed ways to continue our collaborative efforts throughout the year. The Diplomatic Reception provided a wonderful opportunity to learn about the backgrounds of remarkable individuals involved in the Humphrey Fellowship Program.

UC Davis Humphrey Fellow - The Journey Begins

The UC Davis Humphrey Fellows’ agenda kicked off with networking with the cohort from Cornell University – UC Davis Humphrey Fellowship Programs Cross-Campus Collaboration. This collaborative effort involves Fellows from Cornell and UC Davis, focusing on agricultural and rural development, natural resource management, environmental policy, and climate change. Despite the considerable distance of over 3,000 miles between the campuses, being in D.C. before the GFL commenced allowed for valuable in-person collaboration and immersive learning opportunities between the two cohorts.

We engaged in a session led by Andrés Rodriguez (Agricultural Attaché, Embassy of Chile to the United States and Canada) on "The Role of U.S. Department of Agriculture, FSIS, APHIS, and its Governance." Following this insightful session, we had lunch to further cultivate relationships among the Cornell and UC Davis Fellows. Later, we enjoyed a delightful tour of the U.S. Capitol and had productive meetings with the International Food Policy and Research Institute and the United States Agency for International Development.

The highlight of our experiences was the visit to the White House, a symbol of American democracy and its rich history. Being a hub of political and diplomatic decision-making, this visit was crucial in gaining insight into the government's inner workings and its global impact on affairs.

Inside the GFL:  Motivational Speakers, Humphrey Perspectives, and Regional Networking

The five-day seminar in Washington D.C. provides an opportunity for all Humphrey Fellows to participate in activities that enhance our leadership and professional skills. With a busy schedule filled with many presentations, I would like to highlight the following:

• Crisis Communication, led by Michael Meath, where we learned several practical examples and effective techniques from many real–world scenarios that leaders should employ to communicate effectively and accurately in times of crisis.
• Humphrey Perspectives Ensuring Sustainable Environments, moderated by Karen Beardsley from UC Davis, where Fellows explored how climate change affects food security, conservation, and infrastructure and discussed opportunities for cooperation across those disciplines. In this session, Arslan Garryyev, Humphrey Fellow from UC Davis, exposed that sustainable development is likely to happen faster if we can change minds by understanding logic, education and practice.
• Keith Watenpaugh, Professor and Director of Human Right Studies at UC Davis, presented new human rights, including the right to higher education, and how he used a unique human digital ecosystem to aid refugee students.
• Karen Beardsley introduced how we can enhance our communication skills by taking our audience on a visual storytelling journey filled with immersive content by ArcGIS Storymaps.

Synthesis Remarks and GFL Wrap-Up

Being part of the 45th Humphrey Anniversary was an incredible journey. Connecting with nearly 150 Fellows from around the world and hearing about their unique paths, innovative ideas, their profound passion for their work, and their shared aspiration to progress in diverse fields was exciting and deeply inspiring. I am immensely grateful for this moment and the remarkable opportunity I've had.