Malavika Datar

Lean In Together : Uncovering Unconscious Biases, Discovering Traits and Leveraging them for Success

The session is sourced from real-life experiences that people face at school, in college or at the workplace, due to their inherent personality traits. It provides a space for participants to design solutions that can help overcome these challenges.

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Malavika has over 6 years of experience working in the technology sector. She started out in technology consulting and later – after receiving her MBA in Human Resources from Management Development Institute, Gurgaon – she began her career in Human Resources. She’s currently part of HR Business Advisory at Deloitte Advisory (US India Offices). Her areas of interest include Performance in Organizations and Diversity & Inclusion. Malavika is also a Chapter Leader at the Lean In Bangalore Chapter (http://leanincircles.org/), which aims to break down gender stereotypes and mentor future women leaders. Under her leadership, the chapter has grown to over 300 women professionals as members.

Marleen Haupt

Can Yasuni be saved? A simulation game on sustainable economies

In this session, we will simulate the conference convened to decide about Yasuni’s future, with various global and local players in attendance. It’s up to you to walk a mile in the shoes of global players, unfold root-causes and connections and help negotiate the best solution – for you or for all? Take up your new identity in the game and get entangled in a diverse discussion on the up- and downsides of sustainable economies.  

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After completing her Master’s in Neurocognitive Psychology in Munich (Germany), Marleen is only weeks away from beginning a PhD in a related field. When still at school, she participated in a Model United Nations conference. Ever since, she has been fascinated by the method of using a simulation game to make people forget about their personal and cultural identity for a circumscribed time period in which they have to act and think according to the given role of a global player. Marleen invites you to try this approach in order to break down the big construct of sustainable economies, which sometimes seems overwhelmingly complex, into a specific real life scenario.

Eva Junge

Climate Communication - it takes one good story to spark a movement

We will experience examples of storytelling from the movement for sustainability, gain insights into the mechanisms of stories, tap our own potential to finally tell our own stories. This session does not require previous experience in storytelling or climate science. Bring your passion, your doubts, your convictions – the more diverse the group, the richer the conversation and the more powerful the stories!

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Eva Junge has a Bachelor’s in Psychology and has been working in the field of environmental psychology since 2011. At present, she is enrolled in a Master’s Program, “Human Ecology – Culture, Power and Sustainability,” in Sweden. Eva is currently living in South America, where she supports local NGOs as they promote and take necessary climate action. She travels with a banner full of graphics concerning climate change, environmental history and the (economic) system across the region to engage local communities in climate activism. The experiences and insight from her work will inform her Master’s thesis, which deals with Art in Climate Communication and focuses on storytelling as a medium for movement building and awareness raising.

Julian Klauke

Is Colonialism Dead?

This workshop is designed to explore the colonial heritage in our thoughts and actions and to question our own contribution in perpetuating it. Together, we will examine how aid campaigns might relate to colonial mindsets, what our own travel pictures might tell us about ourselves and how our own motivations are affected by colonization. By sharing from their own experiences, participants will unfold postcolonial dynamics and ask participants to consider whether they are partaking in perpetuating it. 

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A Melton Fellow since 2011, Julian Klauke holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and is about to conclude a Master’s Degree in Peace and Conflict Studies. Having researched post-conflict reconciliation and the power of apologies, he has transformed his passion for the  reduction of inequalities into a mantra to raise awareness and make important changes in everyday life. His extensive experience living in countries such as Brazil and China taught him to take different perspectives and question his own understanding of the world. Since then, he has held workshops and group facilitations on related issues, always encouraging his audience to take a critical perspective and reflect on their beliefs.

Sonali Keshwa Murti

"I" is Gender Neutral

We aim to create a safe space to better understand gender, the root causes of stereotypes associated with gender and a warm atmosphere for sharing and learning together. Instead of perceiving gender as two opposing sides, we will have a look into the spectrum of gender through interactive activities and reflection.  Understanding one’s own power and privilege, and the value of diversity over difference, will lead us you a self-exploratory path to self-empowerment and enable you to be a catalyst to empower others. 

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Sonali Keshwa Murti is an Industrial Engineer working in the field of sustainable energy and currently lives in Bangalore, India. She is passionate about mixing science with the art of living sustainably to form a cohesive sphere of existence. She occasionally writes for the local community newspaper to create awareness on various topics from transgender rights to clean energy. She is a staunch advocate for women’s rights and actively takes part in several events and discussions that involve fighting the long battle to break harmful stereotypes. After being bitten by the travel bug at a young age, her quest to experience various cultures and cuisines has led her to many unique and diverse countries. Sonali has been a fellow of the Melton Foundation since 2011. 

Shannon Williamson

#BlackLivesMatter To Me: Breaking the Silence on a Global Scale

Shannon Williamson has been a faculty member, academic advisor, and relentless dreamer in the Academic Center for Excellence at Dillard University for the last 6 years. With a background in Clinical Psychology and Counseling she brings compassion and empathy to her work with students for a holistic advising experience. Shannon is native to New Orleans (USA), and avid Saints football fan and a Mardi Gras lover. She has been affiliated to the Melton Foundation team at Dillard University for four year and considers it to be one of the most rewarding parts of her work.