Workshop
Beyond the Status Quo: How Visionary Leaders Drive Lasting Impact
Thursday, July 3, 2025 | 3:40 PM – 5:40 PM
Organizer(s):
Sumita Chatterjee, Tuyeni Mwampamba
Description
Recent years have shown a rise in awareness around decolonization, gender equality/equity, and the inclusion/valuing of marginalized voices as a crucial element for positive climate action. This increase in consciousness, however, heavily skews towards the theoretical knowledge, leaving many of us who desire to hold ourselves accountable lost as to how we can translate this awareness into an actionable strategy for conservation.
In conservation, we often focus on external landscapes—ecosystems, biodiversity, and the communities we work with. Yet, meaningful change begins with the landscapes within us: the stories we carry, the ways we’ve been shaped by colonial narratives, and how these influence our research, relationships, and decision-making.
This workshop invites participants to engage in deep self-reflection and collective inquiry, examining how colonial frameworks shape our perceptions of conservation, science, and ourselves. Through guided exercises, storytelling, and open discussion, we will explore the tensions between the values we uphold and the systems we navigate. We will create a space for vulnerability, curiosity, and growth, centering questions such as:
How do colonial legacies shape our understanding of conservation and research?
In what ways do we unconsciously replicate these structures in our work and interactions?
How can we cultivate practices that align with decolonial, equitable, and inclusive ways of knowing and being?
And most importantly, what is an action toward decolonising, however big or small, that in our power today that we can commit to now.
Rather than providing a set roadmap, this workshop embraces an adaptive, emergent approach, allowing us to co-create strategies for shifting research and conservation practices in ways that are deeply intentional and accountable. Participants will leave with a set of reflective tools and a renewed commitment to practices that honor both people and planet.
Program Outline
This workshop is designed as a guided exploration of the layers of self—our beliefs, emotions, and actions—and how they influence our work in conservation. Inspired by holistic frameworks that recognize the interconnection of body, mind, and environment, we will move through different stages of reflection and discussion to deepen our understanding of how inherited narratives shape us and how we can take meaningful steps toward change.
1. Opening Grounding (15 minutes)
Arrive fully, cultivate presence, and set intentions.
Guided Breathing & Body Awareness:
Begin with a short meditation, bringing attention to breath and body. Invite participants to notice any tension and where they feel most at ease.Intention Setting:
“Why did you choose to be here today?”
“What is one thing you want to listen for—within yourself and in others?”
2. Layer 1: Uncovering the Stories We Carry (25 minutes)
Examine inherited beliefs and narratives about conservation, knowledge, and identity.
Personal Reflection (5 min):
“What early messages did you receive about nature, science, and your role within them?”
“Whose voices shaped these understandings?”
“What parts of yourself feel affirmed by these messages? What parts feel restricted?”Paired Discussion (10 min):
Share reflections with a partner, practicing deep listening.Group Debrief (10 min):
What patterns or surprises emerged? What questions do these reflections raise?
3. Layer 2: Recognizing Tensions and Contradictions (25 minutes)
Explore how internalized narratives influence our actions and decisions in conservation work.
Journaling Prompt (5 min):
“Where do you notice a gap between what you value and how you act in conservation spaces?”
“When have you felt uneasy about a decision but weren’t sure why?”
“How do you respond—physically, emotionally—when confronted with ideas that challenge your own?”Small Group Discussion (15 min):
Share insights and discuss how to hold space for discomfort without shutting down.Whole Group Reflection (5 min):
What does this reveal about how change happens?
4. Layer 3: Stepping Into the Unknown (25 minutes)
Identify concrete steps that are within our power now.
Guided Visualization (5 min):
“Imagine yourself in a future where your actions fully align with your values. What are you doing differently? How does it feel?”Commitment Reflection (10 min):
“What is one small shift you can commit to today—something fully within your control?”
“What support or reminders might help you sustain this?”Pair & Share (10 min):
Exchange commitments with a partner and discuss how you might hold yourselves accountable.
5. Closing and Integration (15 minutes)
Group Sharing:
Invite a few people to share insights or commitments.Closing Reflection:
“What’s one word or feeling you’re taking with you?”Final Breathwork & Gratitude:
End with a collective breath and acknowledgment of the space shared.
Materials that participants need to bring:
N/A
