This past summer, I spent time in New York City, a place I expected to feel culturally familiar. What surprised me, however, was that the absence of a language barrier made the cultural differences feel more noticeable. For example, I found Americans to be friendly and open, often starting conversations with strangers—a quality I admired for its ability to create a sense of community. At the same time, their enthusiasm sometimes felt insincere to me, highlighting the nuanced ways culture shapes social interactions. Beyond exploring the city itself, I stayed at ‘International House’, an accommodation designed to build an international community among students, young professionals, and interns. This proved to be an important part of my experience, as I formed meaningful connections with people from all over the world, but in particular Germany and Lebanon. From trying new foods and picking up bits of vocabulary to discussing cultural practices—like the Arab custom of covering the bill when dining out compared to the German emphasis on splitting it evenly—I gained new perspectives on everyday life. Altogether, these experiences deepened my appreciation for cultural diversity and broadened my understanding of what it means to be a global citizen.

At the start of the summer, I was unsure what ethical leadership might look like in practice, or whether I would even have the chance to demonstrate it. Fortunately, I did, and the experience proved to be instructive. One of the most important lessons I learned was the value of humility. While working on the design of assistive devices, there was often a temptation to make them more complex to make it a more intellectually challenging task. However, I realised that this approach did not best serve the needs of the community we were trying to support. Ethical leadership instead meant prioritising impact over personal interest and designing with the ergonomics of the end user in mind. I also came to appreciate how genuine curiosity about other people’s cultures and beliefs can break down barriers and create opportunities for meaningful connection. These experiences showed me that ethical leadership is as much about listening and learning as it is about guiding and making decisions.