A little context
As an international politics student, I thought how cool it would be to work for the United Nations. 20 years later, I would find myself working with the
- Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
- International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD)
- World Food Programme (WFP)
- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
And working not as an employee but as a leadership coach and facilitator, thanks to the collaboration with Giuseppe Florimonte, from Impact Italia. Since 2012, I have helped lead, design, deliver and evaluate various programmes and retreats with the UN agencies. These include global leadership programmes for FAO leaders and UNESCO people managers and supervisors, the FAO Social Protection webinar series, wellbeing and performance webinars, and strategic retreats for FAO, IFAD, WFP and UNESCO Southern Europe.
Reflection and action
The UN system, or ´family’ is arguably the most highly politized, hierarchical, multinational, multilingual complex aspirational organization in the world. Of immense power, potential and impact, it also carries a huge colonial shadow.
Inviting in deep individual and collective inquiry and courageous action is at the core of what I do to support them. Coaching and facilitating them to have the skilled conversations they need to: with themselves, each other and the earth that is our home. To help them be more resourceful and agile in their VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous) world, embody their visions, and act towards that. To enjoy unlocking potential, theirs and those they serve. And I remain open hearted and curious about how the UN can transform to be a role model of true healing for #peopleandplanet.
Certainly the individuals I have met there are some of the most inspirational international citizens of the world I have come across. One who has become a dear friend, invited me to speak at a One Health Conference on trust.
To give you a snapshot of my experience working with the UN, here are eight snappy articles. I am sure the themes and invited points of reflection, will also resonate with you.
- Shining light on the shadow
- It depends – on you
- Talk is action
- How we can reclaim our personal authority
- Putting your oxygen mask on first
- Visualising planet earth wrapped in love
- Vuca or do you mean mystery?
- Quieting our mind is a leadership act
If this resonates, please do get in touch.
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Like many freelance consultants, the majority of my corporate leadership work has been as an associate or collaborator with a ´bigger entity´. Respecting that the case studies and client relationship belongs with them, it is also important for me (and my potential clients) to understand the contribution I have made and can make in service of #peopleandplanet. Hence this piece. I look forward to our conversation.
Thanks to photo by Amy Humphries on Unsplash