Today, we speak with Sylvia Privette (Peru, Humanity & Inclusion), a current Scholar from our 2024 Cohort of the Hilton Humanitarian Prize Virtual Leadership Institute (VLI). Thank you, Sylvia, for sharing with us about your personal and professional growth! We wish you the best of luck with the rest of the VLI and with your career!

Sylvia Privette / from Lima, Peru / Regional Talent Development Officer at Humanity & Inclusion LATAM / Mental Health, Education, Environment

I wanted to participate because I knew it would help me broaden my knowledge and skills needed to excel as a professional. I also saw it as a great opportunity to connect with people from different organizations doing incredible work around the world.

Leadership is the ability to guide, influence and inspire others to achieve a common goal. A good leader sets a direction, makes decisions and motivates people to work together effectively. Leadership is not only limited to positions of authority, it is also a skill reflected in “everyday” individuals. People who lead by example, encourage collaboration in a group, have strong communication skills, emotional intelligence, are adaptable to change and are able to understand the needs of others, are leaders.

I think this course is already giving me more tools that I can directly apply in my current work. On a personal level it’s also allowed me to gain more perspective about different contexts and realities that I can see through other fellows, which is always enriching.

I loved a talk we had about how to deal with conflict. I felt completely identified with what the speaker shared and it widened my vision on how to deal with conflicts, knowing and accepting that they will always be there, we just need to learn how to live and learn with them.

Organize and plan your schedule as much as possible. Life sometimes gets busy and it can be hard to find time to dedicate to the modules, so be conscious that you will have to be well-organized in order to get everything done in pursuit of your goals.

Thank you, Sylvia, for sharing your leadership journey with us. We are excited to see you continue to inspire positive change in the future!