A reflection on leadership, climate change and the strength of difference, from the SOC-ENVI International Summer School 2026.
By Dwi Valinia Ivanka · Universitas Sriwijaya, Palembang, Indonesia.
The SOC-ENVI International Summer School 2026 was hosted by the Faculty of Social Sciences at Kasetsart University, Bangkok, in partnership with the Democratic Education Network at the University of Westminster, London. It ran for a fortnight in July 2026 and brought together undergraduate and postgraduate students from Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Hong Kong, China and the United Kingdom to work on sustainability, social innovation and community-based development, in the classroom and in the field.
I arrived in Bangkok thinking a leader was someone who guided others and made decisions. I left with a very different picture. Two weeks of listening to lecturers, classmates, and communities taught me that the leaders I want to become in Indonesia begin somewhere else entirely: with a willingness to listen.
Rethinking leadership
Participating in this Summer School in Bangkok has been one of the most meaningful experiences in my academic and personal journey. Although I was already familiar with the Sustainable Development Goals, this programme gave me a deeper understanding of how leadership, climate change and environmental sustainability are closely connected. More importantly, it taught me that creating positive change requires not only knowledge, but also empathy, collaboration and action.
One of the most valuable lessons I took away from the fortnight was about leadership. Before joining the programme, I thought leadership was mainly about guiding others and making decisions. Over the sessions, I came to realise that true leadership begins with listening, respecting different perspectives, and empowering others to contribute. A good leader does not work alone. She builds trust and encourages collaboration, because complex challenges are not solved by one person.
A climate question that included people
The discussions on climate change also encouraged me to reflect on my own responsibilities. Climate change is not only an environmental issue. It affects people’s lives, their livelihoods and their future opportunities.
I learned that sustainability requires cooperation between governments, organisations, communities and individuals. Even small actions, when practised consistently, contribute to a much larger whole.
Friendships that crossed borders
Beyond the classroom, the most unforgettable part of this Summer School was meeting new friends from the Philippines, China, Thailand, Vietnam and Hong Kong. Despite our different cultures, languages and backgrounds, we built genuine friendships based on mutual respect and understanding. We appreciated each other’s differences and accepted each other’s imperfections without judgement.
Being in such an inclusive environment made me comfortable sharing my ideas and learning from others. It reminded me that diversity is not a barrier. It is one of our greatest strengths.
“Diversity is not a barrier. It is one of our greatest strengths.”
Different challenges, one commitment
Through conversations with my international friends, I also realised that every country faces different challenges when it comes to sustainability. What we shared was the same commitment to a better future. Listening to their stories broadened my perspective and taught me that meaningful solutions can only be reached through cooperation, cultural understanding and mutual respect.
What I bring home to Indonesia
When I return to Indonesia, I want to apply these lessons in my community and in the organisations I belong to. I hope to encourage more young people to become leaders who care about environmental sustainability, who embrace diversity, and who work together to achieve the goals we set for ourselves.
I believe that leadership is not measured by titles. It is measured by the positive impact we create for others.
“Leadership is not measured by titles. It is measured by the positive impact we create for others.”
This Summer School has given me more than academic knowledge. It has given me lifelong friendships, valuable international experience, and a renewed sense of purpose. I will leave Bangkok with gratitude, unforgettable memories, and a stronger commitment to becoming a leader who listens, collaborates, and takes action to build a more sustainable, inclusive, and compassionate world.
About the author
Dwi Valinia Ivanka is a student at Universitas Sriwijaya, Palembang, Indonesia. She joined the SOC-ENVI Kasetsart University International Summer School in July 2026 as part of the Universitas Sriwijaya cohort.
Editor’s notes (Farhang, for your reference)
Edits applied to her draft. Voice, argument and running order are hers. Only tightened for magazine reading.
- Title chosen from the arc of her piece. Her working title ‘From Understanding to Action’ was accurate but generic. Renamed as ‘Leadership Begins with Listening’ because that is the single sharpest insight in the piece, and it is the one line a reader will remember.
- Author self-introduction moved to the byline and bio. The original opened with ‘My name is… I am a student from…’. Standard magazine practice puts that information in the byline and author bio, not in the opening paragraph. The essay now opens with her substantive point.
- Six subheads inserted. The essay was one continuous block. Added six subheads for online reading: rethinking leadership, a climate question that included people, friendships that crossed borders, different challenges one commitment, what I bring home. No content moved.
- Two pull-quotes lifted. The ‘diversity is not a barrier’ line and the ‘leadership is not measured by titles’ line. Both are usable for social.
- British-English sweep. ‘realise’ (was ‘realized’, two instances), ‘organisations’ (was ‘organizations’), ‘practised’ (was ‘practiced’), ‘judgement’ (was ‘judgment’). No other Americanisms found.
- Two very small polish moments. ‘Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)’ shortened to ‘Sustainable Development Goals’ on first mention, then referred to only by name. Closing rewritten so the four ideas in her final sentence read as a list of three, not four, for cleaner cadence: ‘a leader who listens, who collaborates, and who takes action.’
One query to run past her before publishing.
- Is she happy with the title ‘Leadership Begins with Listening’? It captures her strongest insight, but the piece is hers. If she prefers her original ‘From Understanding to Action’, we can restore it.
Suggested pull-quote for social
“Leadership is not measured by titles. It is measured by the positive impact we create for others.”
