Earlier this month, I joined the Cumberland Lodge Fellowship retreat in Windsor Great Park. It was a three-day residential programme with fellows, alumni, and the Lodge team. Together, we explored dialogue, reflection, and leadership development.
Cumberland Lodge, founded in 1947, is an educational charity and social enterprise. Its mission is clear: develop future leaders who build peaceful, just, and inclusive societies. It does this through dialogue, workshops, conferences, and training across generations, cultures, and sectors. As Professor Melissa Butcher reminded us, the Lodge helps young people understand social division and shape inclusive futures.
The retreat gave me space to pause everyday pressures and focus deeply. Conversations were both intellectually challenging and personally grounding. We explored empathy, cultural difference, and integrity in leadership. Moving from debate to dialogue, we learnt to “agree to disagree, better.” Understanding came first, not winning arguments.
A session with Mohammed Ali Amla of Solutions Not Sides stressed the role of youth in building bridges. Alumna Dr Heather Hatton shared her journey from Fellow to lecturer. Her story showed how Cumberland Lodge values continue shaping leadership long after the programme. The retreat closed with a practical workshop on telling our stories with clarity and impact. We were encouraged to act as ambassadors for dialogue and inclusion.
What struck me most was the atmosphere at Cumberland Lodge. The historic setting in Windsor Great Park is more than a house. It provides a calm, safe, intergenerational, and intercultural space. Here, challenging conversations are not only welcomed but encouraged. Leadership appeared not as authority or titles, but as listening, trust, and courage to face complexity.
As someone working across economics, energy, and social impact, the retreat was transformative. It sharpened the leader I want to become: bridging divides and turning dialogue into action. I left Windsor with fresh perspectives, lasting connections, and renewed commitment to ethical leadership.
I am deeply grateful to the Cumberland Lodge team, fellows, and alumni community. Together, they created an enriching and inspiring experience.