First of all, I would like to say a big thank you to LAIBS and the GRLI for their financial support, without which this unique experience and huge amount of learning in South Africa that resulted would not have been possible.
My journey started in October last year when Jonathan Smith from LAIBS in Cambridge and my lecturer on the International Leadership module encouraged me to apply to the GRLI Ambassador competition: Africa Leads, Responsible Leadership for Africa and the World.
To enter the competition I was asked to write a 1,000 words commenting on the following question:
"How would you rethink or redefine your understanding of the concept "leadership" if its ultimate aim is to become the best FOR rather than the best IN the world? Illustrate how this new concept could ensure meaningful progress using an example from your community or region."

You can read my answer on our blog (myopenvoice.com/grlianglia)and see the videos of other Ambassadors worldwide on the following link: www.africaleads.org.za/2012conf/young-ambassadors-event.html

I was one of the winners of the competition and the prize was an all expenses conference including accommodation, meals and participation. LAIBS kindly assisted with money towards my flights to South Africa.The Assembly was three intensive days where 60 Ambassadors from 13 countries gathered together with 75 members of the GRLI from HE and businesses. We met at the Spier Hotel in Stellenbosch near Cape Town, the South-African wine headquarter. I met Anthropologists, people from business, Deans of Business Schools, politicians and I could fully engage in fascinating conversations with them about Leadership, the impact of migration, Self and Identity, Common Good, Economics, Systemic Thinking and Africa.

You can find further details about the GRLI and this General Assembly in the GRLI website.
With some wonderful facilitators from Leadership Beyond Boundaries (LBB) - part of the Centre for Creative Leadership (CCL) that works to unlock human potential through leadership - we worked towards the following three main objectives:

1. Learning about making globally responsible decisions
2. Promoting knowledge of self for a better society
3. Thinking systemically about the challenges future leaders will face

From this I have learned that leadership starts within you. Understanding in depth or holistically what is our inner core or life principles is crucial to live in harmony, communicate and understand others. We all know our inner cores very early in life, but then the system we operate in helps us to forget about these so we just fall into the "mould". I would like to quote John North (2012), associate of the Albert Luthuli Centre for Responsible Leadership at the University of Pretoria in South Africa, who illustrates this very well:
"Before students or managers can embark on becoming capable leaders they must take a close look at themselves and carefully consider what they find (warts and all). Leaders need to identify their inner core, or higher self, which can help guide them through turbulent periods. An integration of body, mind, heart and soul is an important pathway to strengthening such an inner connection."
I believe that this world needs a new economic and social system in which many new social organisations can be created to decrease unemployment and promote sustainability.

As a result of being a GRLI Ambassador and attending this event, I will never forget what my life principles are again. This will enable me to act as a responsible human being. I realised that as much as other can have an impact on me; I also leave a print of myself in others. So if we all live in respect of the Common Good, we can change the world, even if we start with baby steps... Remember: "When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion!" (Ethiopian proverb)

GRLI is a global coalition of businesses and business schools like LAIBS working at the cutting edge of sustainability and leadership development focused on creating a new generation of globally responsible business leaders.
A GRLI Ambassador works under the umbrella of GRLI NGO. His/her role is to engage diverse individuals to share their unique perspectives through dialogue with the ultimate goal of fostering interconnectivity. His/her responsibilities are to foster collaboration, share and learn from different perspectives and create a culture of globally responsible leadership.
We have established a GRLI society here at Anglia Ruskin University. If you are willing to learn, engage in critical thinking, have a passion for global knowledge and are open to challenges and change, you can engage with the GRLI Society network at Anglia Ruskin University for just £3 annual membership fee. You can register at www.angliastudent.com/socs/11329/. We also have a GRLI Facebook page.