In Conversation…Maria Guajardo, Roger Wilson and Brenda Rattray: Thoughts on Global, Inclusive Leadership

This free online event is part of the Inclusive Practice in Action (IPIA) Global, Inclusive Leadership series. This will be a conversation / discussion and a networking opportunity for delegates, in preparation for our annual IPIA gathering on 23 March.

As Leaders, and we are all leaders somewhere in our lives, we all have things to learn, unlearn or relearn and that’s ok.

What to expect

What do the words global inclusive leadership mean to you and how does that fit in with how you live and experience your life?

Come along and join academic Maria Guajardo (Soka University, Tokyo), social justice champion Roger Wilson (Black Lives in Music) and IPIA curator Brenda Rattray in this safe space where, as a leader, you can share honest experiences about your leadership journey. You will be listened to and heard.

We will bring our whole selves to this session and hope that you will bring your whole selves too!

We aim to set the Zoom space up in a way that will allow all in attendance to be authentic. The thinking is about global inclusive leadership, yet we are all coming from different cultures and backgrounds.

What the session will entail

You will have the opportunity to explore personal and relational leadership challenges and have space to set your own goals. We can each begin to enter a process where we share, reflect, and think about whether we need to set new intentions, and how to move forward with our leadership journeys. What small steps might you take to begin to get us there…………

This session is very much process based, with discussions and exercises to lay the foundations for our in-person IPIA gathering on 23 March.

We would like to encourage delegates to attend both IPIA events (23 Feb and 23 March) if possible as they are connected.

Who is this for?

We believe that there is the potential to be a leader in all of us, therefore, this event is open to everyone, whatever stage you are at in your leadership journey; whether you are part of a team, lead young people as a teacher or creative practitioner, are a parent or carer leading a household, or a student or young person leading change for the future. Even if you already lead an organisation, our IPIA events provide an open and honest space to explore challenging topics within a nurturing environment.

Examples of people who might like to attend are:

• New and potential leaders
• Early career, mid-career and senior professionals
• Classroom, peripatetic and private teachers of creative subjects, across primary, secondary and higher education
• Early years practitioners
• PCGE students
• Community musicians, workshop leaders and creative practitioners
• Music Education Hub leaders and managers
• Grassroots music and creative organisation leaders, managers, administrators and producers
• Youth sector staff and anyone who works with young people
• Students, trainees and young people
• Academics, funders and policy makers
• National music education organisation leaders and staff
• Parents and carers

We particularly welcome individuals who the world labels a ‘minority’, or who have been made to feel ‘other’, whatever stage of your career you are at. We will endeavour to support everyone throughout this event and encourage all to do whatever you need to do to look after your psychological safety whilst on Zoom.

We also welcome organisations and individuals from across the sector who wish to explore inclusive practice and take action to change for the better.

Global, Inclusive Leadership Series

Alongside this free online session, delegates are invited to explore the theme of global, inclusive leadership through:

• videos and articles shared via our fortnightly newsletter
• Sound Connections’ annual IPIA gathering, Inclusive Practice in Action 2023: Global, Inclusive Leadership, taking place on Thursday 23 March 2023 at Amnesty International
• a follow-up Zoom a few weeks after IPIA to reflect, de-brief and look ahead (date tbc)

This is a free, online event, open to all as part of the Global, Inclusive Leadership series.