We descend on the Rotana Hotel in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, for the MELA program's third regional leadership workshop: MELA 3!
An outstanding new group of participants has been registered and awaits starter's orders. The facilitators are limbering up on the sidelines. Staff members watch the clock and tense themselves for the starter's pistol.On your marks -- get set -- go!
Nabil Alyousef, Chairman of the MELA Advisory Board, opens the program with words of welcome for the participants. He reflects on the wealth of experiences that the upcoming 11 days have in store for them.
Time will tell -- but our bet is that, by the time the collection of individuals in this room take leave of one another, they will be spiritually linked and inwardly transformed. Already they are bright and shining stars; but in 11 days from now, they will have joined to create a new constellation.
Mohammad Gawdat, Managing Director of Emerging Markets for Google, speaks with candor about his mistakes, successes and passions. "Most people are an absolute Einstein at doing one thing; unfortunately most people don't end up doing that one thing."So ignore your weaknesses and work on your strengths. Jim Crupi moderates the session.
Joe, Nahla and Pierre keep the conversation flowing with Mohammad.
Obay and Talal are pleased to find that a refreshment break is next on the schedule.
Khalid chats with Brice. In the background, a tree...
In the foreground, facilitator Vickie -- dressed as a tree -- consults with MELA Faculty Coordinator Bill Starnes.
In his session "Take Your Leadership to the Next Level," Jim dramatizes the power of establishing an achievable vision through a physical exercise.
The task of a leader as communicator is to make people hear what you say. And leaders are good listeners, too: Adel, Saif, Asmaa.
At the paired introductions during lunch, Lama and Dina share stories of their family backgrounds.
Khadeeja and Youssef discover that, notwithstanding outward differences in manners and culture, they chime with many of the same values.
After lunch, a team challenge for the participants. Jim outlines their wretched plight. Stranded in rubber lifeboats, a thousand miles from land: Can the group members successfully pool their knowledge to survive?
Julie and Khalid grimly contemplate the situation. They are not exactly overflowing with optimism.
Pierre presents his team's equipment priority list. He neglects to mention that his bright red tie might be used as a signalling device.
Ali dismisses the idea of surviving on fish or canned food (and recommends chocolate) as he wows the room with a detailed disquisition on salt, calorie counts, and sodium content.
Our informal opening dinner is held on the hotel's outdoor poolside patio.
How clever of John to have scheduled his birthday to coincide with the opening of MELA 3!
CELA representative Muzaffar wishes John a happy birthday. Noura sits nearby.
It seems hardly credible that our first day is already over -- and that people who barely knew one another this morning have already begun to forge those bonds of mutual admiration and respect that are at the heart of lasting friendships.
