The Emirates Leadership Fellowship is part of CPL's fellowship offerings, which provide tuition support and robust, cohort-based co-curricular programming grounded in servant leadership and experiential learning.
By Fatha Yussuf
On March 25, fellows in the Emirates Leadership Initiative gathered for an evening focused on communication. We began with a shared dinner that created space for connection and conversation before transitioning into an interactive workshop. The structure of the evening itself reflected what we were about to practice: engaging with others thoughtfully and intentionally.
We were honored to be joined by Allison Shapira, an Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School who teaches communication and works with leaders across sectors to strengthen their skills. She brought both expertise and practical insight, guiding us through approaches that emphasized clarity, authenticity, and connection in how we speak.
Throughout the session, we were encouraged to think more intentionally about our communication. Before speaking, we reflected on three key questions: What is your goal? Who is your audience? Why you? These questions pushed us to be more deliberate not just in what we say, but in how and why we say it. As a group, we began to see communication as something we shape with purpose rather than something we deliver automatically.
The workshop was highly practical and centered on participation. We each stepped forward to share our personal “why” - why we care about specific issues or areas of interest. Standing in front of our peers, we practiced expressing those ideas clearly and meaningfully. As a group, we worked toward a high standard, using repetition, feedback, and reflection to improve in real time. We listened to one another and observed different styles, which deepened our collective learning.
Communication is a skill we can continually develop together through practice, reflection, and a willingness to step forward and speak.
Fatha Yussuf, ELI Fellow and MPP 2027
We also focused on managing nervousness, something many of us experience when speaking. Together, we practiced simple techniques, such as slowing down, breathing, and focusing on the audience, to help us stay grounded. These strategies made the experience feel more manageable and reminded us that confidence can be built through practice.
What stood out most was how much we learned not only from the instructor but also from one another by giving and receiving feedback. We became more aware of how we communicate and how we can continue to improve, which strengthened our ability to support one another’s growth, creating a shared sense of progress.
The workshop left us with practical tools and a stronger awareness of how we communicate. More importantly, it reinforced that communication is a skill we can continuously develop together through practice, reflection, and a willingness to step forward and speak.
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