The log reflects my week 6 Leadership in Action experience, which started on June 23.

What went well?
This was the week of thank-yous. Drafting letters felt like writing deep gratitude notes to Dhaka—each one a reminder of the warmth and ambition we encountered. The delegation also began structuring next steps, like figuring out which partner could actually help us get started.

What could have been done differently?
It was the delegation's first visit to Bangladesh, and we ended up not meeting any government leaders. I think we should have met Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Adviser of the Government of Bangladesh, who is a highly revered figure in the development sector. I acknowledge that this new country launch plan came from the JA Worldwide leadership's wisdom of doing the same in many other countries, but I wonder how different it could look if we involved JA's communication team in securing more meetings and I conducted the first/intro meeting with each in-person before the delegation visited Dhaka.

What did I learn about myself when working with others?
I realized I value gratitude a lot. Taking the time to thank people wasn’t a formality—it felt deeply right. Relationships are built on this kind of respect.

What did I learn about leadership?
Leadership is follow-through. A great meeting without a follow-up is like an unfinished novel. Gratitude, clarity, and next steps—that’s how you lead beyond the room. Mr. Advani reminded me during one of our trips that the goal of the first meeting is not to sign a deal, but simply to get a second meeting.

What do I want to develop or focus on next?
I will be looking forward to seeing these conversations turn into action. MoUs, pilot programs, board building—less coffee talk, more commitment. I thanked Mr. Advani and Mr. Bokhari for the opportunity, and offered help for any future needs of JA Bangladesh.