Staying true to your values in proximity to power with Dr. Aftab Erfan
How do we lead in alignment and authenticity?
Join us in this conversation with Dr. Aftab Erfan, Executive Director of the Centre for Dialogue at Simon Fraser University (SFU), Associate Member at SFU School of Public Policy, and a board member at the Vancouver Foundation.
Together, we delve into the complexities of dynamics through the lens of conflict and social justice movements. We explore tensions between grassroots activism and institutional power, noting that suspicion and mistrust interplay when women of colour enter leadership roles.
Aftab shares what brings fulfillment and purpose amidst societal pressures to stay true to herself. She highlights the importance of bridging the gap of understanding and dialogue between those in positions of influence and those advocating on the margins to effect transformational change.
Listen to the episode here.
03:13 – Aftab shares the influence of migration and the impact of conflict, having grown up during the war in Iran, on her life and leadership journey. Her commitment to alternative and healthier non-violent advocacy through dialogue has fueled the social justice movements she has been involved in.
11:45 – She highlights research on the consequences of power, such as decreased empathy and increased self-focus, and emphasizes a need to cultivate more humility and empathy as leaders. We explore tensions between grassroots activism and institutional power, noting that suspicion and mistrust interplay when women of colour enter leadership roles. Aftab urges bridging the gap between leaders and activists to work collaboratively to change the systems effectively.
24:35 – Aftab acknowledges the importance of the arts, particularly poetry, as a source and container for multiple truths, contradictions, and a value-laden compass. She calls for intellectual honesty to critique both systems of power and the movements themselves as a path toward relationality, inclusivity, and humanization.
36:41 – We end the episode with Aftab's advice, an excerpt from her high school yearbook, where she empathizes with following your purpose, doing what brings you alive, and being authentic over chasing image or material success.
African Proverb: “In the moment of crisis, the wise build bridges and the foolish build dams.”
Who do you need to build bridges with to remind you that power or a title does not define you and what you can do?
