1. What Went Well?

This week I had a really productive conversation with my supervisor about what outputs might look like based on the projects I've been working on. I also finished up another section of my second project, which I was really excited about. I also attended five lectures this week on a wide range of topics: two lectures on the Azov Greek community in Ukraine, one on Ukrainian Far-Right Attitudes Toward Ethnic Minorities During Wartime, another on German-Ukrainian Paradiplomacy, and an additional lecture on the Jewish Narrative of the Russian Invasion of Ukraine 2022-2026. I'm really proud of the progress I've made on my projects and am excited to start working on my final outputs. 

2. What Could Have Been Done Differently?

I think I did pretty well with timing this week. Everything was completed on time, and my supervisors were happy with the work. I think for the past few weeks, it was a bit difficult to figure out what I should be prioritizing since it was not clear what any action items/final outputs might look like for my projects. This week though, I had some really good conversations about where we were headed with my supervisors that were really helpful. It seems like a white paper is going to be the end point of my first project. Since I already have all of the research completed, the next two weeks will primarily be spent turning that research into a readable final product. I do wish I'd had this conversation a bit earlier on as I think it would've helped me approach the research process with more ease. However, I also think the decision on where this project was headed was still pending, so I understand why the conversation waited until this week. 

3. Leadership Reflection (3Cs Model)

Values

This week ambitious was the change maker value most visible in my leadership. While thinking about what outputs I could create as part of my work, my supervisor suggested either a white paper memo or a scholarly article. We decided to do both, with the belief that we could then reach a wider audience and do more to draw awareness to this issue. While I am not yet experiencing any tension between the change maker values, I imagine there will be some between fast and good in the coming weeks as I try and progress on both outputs in the two weeks before my time in Frankfurt (Oder) comes to a close.

Character

This week tested collaboration as I worked with some of the PhD students in my office, assisting them as they prepared for an upcoming conference presentation that they will give. I really enjoyed the process and learned a lot from it. One of the group members was, and had been for a while, unsure of her participation in the presentation, which threw off the group dynamic a bit. It was interesting to watch (and attempt to help) the group in adjusting to that. Judgement definitely mattered in how I approached the situation as I wanted to make sure my presence was helping rather than adding stress to the situation. I think I responded fairly well to this, and I'm glad to have had the opportunity to get to know the group members better.

Capacities

This week I most relied on Strategy and Vision as I began thinking through the final outputs of my project. Over the next two weeks in particular, the ways in which I allocate my time will be incredibly important in ensuring that I am able to create the quantity and quality of deliverables that I am hoping for. This week has been essential in plotting that out time-wise. I do feel a bit of stress at the potential of being stretched for time over the next two weeks, but I'm hoping that planning well and sticking to my plan will allow me to avoid this. 

4. Ethical Engagement

This week, I continued in my supporting and learning roles. Finishing the collection portion of my research projects this week is allowing me to transition into a leadership role in the coming weeks as I run point on creating the deliverables. This week, I was particularly interested in the lectures I attended. The paradiplomacy lecture especially made me think a lot more about what we can be doing at the local level to support communities outside of our own. The lecture was focused on municipal partnerships between German and Ukrainian cities and how both partners benefit from these. I think in international relations, we often confine ourselves to thinking at the national and international levels: this lecture was a good reminder of the importance of local change-makers as well.

5. Adjustment & Development for Next Week

Next week I will make a more intentional effort to reflect, in writing, about how the lecture topics relate to my own work and the ways in which I could incorporate them into that work. Behaviorally, I plan to be more open, which I plan to do by asking at least one question at each lecture. This step will force me to engage with the material at a deeper level as I form my question(s).