|
Quite some years ago I spent two weeks engaging in two very different global conversations - one in Eastern Europe, the other in New York.
My first conversation was as part of the European Identity Cultural Caravan (EICC), in which a group of musicians, artists, thinkers, writers, politicians and business leaders toured Eastern Europe writing a paper for the European Parliament. This was a cultural, leadership, social and political tour by representatives from all around the world, pooling their learning and experience to help find ways to bring 10 eastern European countries into the EU.
Our caravan was aimed at understanding the culture, political and social reality of the countries involved so that we could advise on ways to achieve a smooth, low cost transition. Wherever we went we were privileged to experience performances by state opera companies, symphony orchestras and cultural groups. We toured national art museums and attended lectures on history, politics and sociology by local professors and politicians. The learning was immense - that is the teaching as well as the process of being part of a multicultural, multidisciplinary team on the move.
My second conversation in New York was as different as the US is from Europe. In New York I was part of an international web cast featuring leaders from around the world. The speakers were filmed live in a television studio and web cast to hundreds of thousands of people around the globe. Panelists included Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan, Niall FitzGerald, chairman and CEO of Unilever (from London), Felicia Mabuza-Suttle (South Africa's answer to Oprah Winfrey) and Sheikha Lubna Al Qaisimi, the female CEO of Tejari, a Dubai based electronic business-to-business marketplace. As panelists we discussed given topics, then answered questions that were received instantaneously from our global audience.
What did I learn? Firstly, our world is large but highly interconnected.
Secondly, as Australians we need to get out there, experience the different cultures and have global conversations. We need to understand how people from around the world think, what they are doing and where they see the world going. We need to be experiencing first hand and through dialogue as many different cultures as possible.
Thirdly, we are not part of any of the big trading blocks. We are a little, geographically isolated country. The world is changing fast. As we are not part of the big league we need to be clear as to our unique selling proposition. If we are smart we can use our difference to bring a fresh perspective. We live in a country that is close to being a paradise. Our land and its Aboriginal culture are among the oldest on Earth, yet our European based culture is one of the youngest. Our isolation can serve as either an incubator of new ideas or distance us from the action.
The question is do we have the courage to be a small but very different fish in the big world pond or are we going to stick our head in the sand and play big fish in a smaller home pond, thus risking diminishing relevance on the world stage? |
