Spriha Pandey '24 RGLP Reflection: Building a Platform for Dialogue Across Difference

As someone who aims to work in the field of addressing climate change and achieving sustainable development goals across international borders, I have always sought to learn how to navigate differences in opinions. Having grown up in five different cities across India, and now living in a sixth place across the globe, I assumed I was well-versed with differences in thoughts, cultures, and values. And yet, RGLP taught me to look at these in a whole new light – discussing the myriad of ambiguities and nuances that contribute to an individual's opinion.

What RGLP most equipped me with, among a slew of cultural skills, is the tolerance of points of view starkly different from my own. The sessions, especially that with Dr. Dottie Morris, emphasized the potency of lending a listening ear to an opposing viewpoint. It also stressed the importance of constantly challenging one's own biases and strengthening one's position through discussions amid an atmosphere of mutual respect. Calmness and a genuine willingness to understand where someone else is coming from can go a long way in finding common ground and establishing dialogue. In a geopolitical landscape that is increasingly polar, and where climate legislation has become highly politicized, finding common ground is more important than ever. These learnings were further strengthened by the anecdotes by the Deputy Director of the Rockefeller Center, Ms. Sadhana Hall. Her story about her neighbor shed light upon our ability to bring about agreement by emphasizing what matters to the other person. This is a key aspect of climate communication, where parties can be convinced of addressing climate problems through what matters to them, personally. These can often be arguments such as the health of their grandchildren and an increase in jobs in the economy. Overall, RGLP aided my development in ways that are crucial in not just leadership roles but also in interpersonal communication – making me more aware of the strengths in diversity.