Julian Kiyabu '23 RGLP Reflection

One aspect of globalism which makes collaboration difficult is the amount of time it takes to learn to work comfortably and effectively a diverse environment. It takes a lifetime of working with and living amongst people of other cultures to learn how to operate effectively in a global environment: ambiguity tolerance, adaptability, respect, understanding, and more. These are all skills that never really learned, but are cultivated over lifetime with exposure to new cultures. Yet, they are the paramount to our success in a global environment. The time intensive nature and reliance upon exposure required to develop the skills necessary to function in a global environment is a considerable challenge to global collaboration. 

Another aspect which makes collaboration in a global environment challenging is the breadth of cultures present in a global environment. In acclimating to one new culture, the aforementioned skills are challenged in ways specific to that culture. In a global world, you must adapt to many different cultures. With such a breadth of cultures, it's impossible to be acclimated to all of them. Although this more so points to whether you believe global collaboration is having knowledge/familiarity with an array of cultures or the ability to move between them. 

Written by Julian Kiyabu, a member of the Winter 2021 Cohort of the Rockefeller Global Leadership Program.