Welcome to Module 1: The River of Life
Before you can effectively lead inclusive change, it’s vital to understand the roots of your own values, motivations and leadership identity. The River of Life enables you to explore your own ‘WHY’, the reflective exercise will help you to connect with your personal experiences that have shaped your interest, or passion, towards the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion.
Using the metaphor of a river, you will map key moments from your life – from birth to present – that have influenced your world view. This may include significant relationships, identity defining moments, barriers you’ve faced, or privileges you’ve held based on your social or cultural characteristics. ‘These key moments and experiences are the rivers ‘currents’ that have carried you to this point and continue to influence how you ‘present yourself to others’ as well as your approach to leadership.
Why this matters:
To be a truly authentic leader, who drives inclusive change, the first, and very important, step begins with self-awareness. Understanding your own route to where you are now will help you lead with empathy, humility and clarity. It prepares you to connect more meaningfully with others and their experiences. It will enable you to understand others’ ‘stories’, challenge inequalities with conviction and build greater trust within diverse teams and communities.