Creative Leadership

CREATIVE LEADERSHIP

Creative Leadership is a youth-led initiative of Caux Initiatives of Change which offers an inclusive space for diverse participants from around the world to come together and reconceptualize leadership through a journey of personal and collective growth, using arts, storysharing, workshops and dialogue groups.

The target audience are all those young at heart who hope to become conscious leaders in their communities.

Vision

Creative Leadership follows IofC's vision to build a just, peaceful and sustainable world in which people act from a sense of global interdependence and responsibility.

More specifically, Creative Leaderships dreams to inspire regenerative change that begins from the self through encouraging authentic transformation.

"You are never too young to lead, you are never too young to do what you actually believe in. We keep saying the future belongs to the young. It only belongs to you if you take it."

Kofi Annan at the Caux Forum, 2013

 

Team

The inspiration of Creative Leadership comes from more than 250 changemakers in their 20s and 30s, of 98 nationalities, who were participants at the Caux Peace and Leadership Programme.

The Creative Leadership conferences and programmes are developed by a youth-led, flat-hierarchy team of 20 core volunteers from 12 countries. The core team works with more than inspiring 50 facilitators from 27 different countries, all passionate to make an impact, starting with oneself.

 

Impact

Creative Leadership has reached a community of more than 1.200 inspired changemakers from 120 countries worldwide.

Creative Leadership has so far invited over 60 international speakers to share their stories, guiding sessions of moments of quiet reflection, art workshops, skill-sharing webinars, and human libraries.

Discover Creative Leadership impact stories here.

 

 

 

What past participants said

"Spending a week in Caux, Switzerland, immersed in the Reimagining Democracies programme, has been nothing short of transformative.I return home deeply inspired — carrying with me new tools, global friendships, and a vision for more grounded, inclusive, and just democratic spaces." - Rahma (Tunisia)

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"This programme offers a unique space to explore our realities, share our stories, and ignite change from the self-outward. I am feeling inspired and grateful for this journey of growth alongside such a thoughtful, diverse group of leaders." - Lilian (Sri Lanka)

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"I am deeply thankful for these opportunities that it allow me to learn from people around the world, stregthen my empathy and build bridges as we continue to act with courage back at home." - Gladys (Honduras & USA)

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"These discussions have reinforced my own work in leveraging technology for social good. I am feeling a mix of inspiration and urgency. There is so much to process, but I'm grateful to be in this space challenging assumptions and co-creating new ways forward." - Alex (USA)

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"I had the chance to meet and learn from some of the most beautiful people in the world—personal connections I will carry with me forever." - Daniela (Honduras)

 

 

CONFERENCES & PROGRAMMES

The youth-led Creative Leadership initiative creates inclusive, transformative spaces where participants from around the world come together to reimagine what leadership can be. Through conferences and learning journeys rooted in arts-based practices, storytelling, workshops, and facilitated dialogue, Creative Leadership supports both personal and collective growth.

These experiences are designed to help participants unlock their own leadership potential, strengthen their voice, and develop the skills needed to lead with authenticity and impact. Grounded in the belief that storytelling is essential to becoming a changemaker, Creative Leadership offers conferences and programmes that invite participants to explore their lived realities, connect across difference, and share the stories that shape who they are and how they lead.

THE TEAM

CYRINE AZAIEZ - Communications

Cyrine Azaiez is a migration researcher, sustainability advocate, and intercultural dialogue facilitator. She is pursuing a double master’s degree in Migration Studies from the University of Tunis and University of Palermo, and has previously conducted qualitative research with migrant youth at Samuel Hall to inform equitable migration policies.
 As a social media manager for The Security & Sustainability Guide, she crafts educational and visually engaging content to disseminate information on critical environmental and security issues.
Cyrine took part in several in-person and virtual exchanges, from ERASMUS+ programs in Italy, Poland and Germany wherein she explored themes of democracy-building, refugee advocacy, and youth-led social change, to Soliya's Global Circles and Connect Program.The latter paved the way for her to become a Soliya-certified facilitator. She did her facilitation practicum within Sharing Perspectives Foundation’s Climate Justice Virtual Exchange program, which strives to create inclusive digital spaces for youth to engage in meaningful discussions on environmental justice.

NUHU ABDULMALIK - Content

Nuhu Abdulmalik was born and raised in Nigeria, where experiences of communal violence and social division inspired his passion for peacebuilding, social justice, and conflict transformation. He uses participatory theatre, particularly Theatre of the Oppressed (TO), as a tool to amplify marginalized voices, promote dialogue, and foster community action.

Through grassroots initiatives across Nigeria, Nuhu facilitated theatre-based storytelling, dialogue sessions, and conflict transformation workshops with conflict-affected communities. In 2023, he moved to Canada to pursue a Master’s degree in Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Waterloo, where he continued working with newcomers and marginalized groups to address social exclusion and strengthen cross-cultural understanding.

Nuhu remains committed to using creative dialogue, political education, and inclusive community engagement to build sustainable peace and empower underrepresented communities.

HANI ABOU FADEL - Content

Hani Abou Fadel first started his journey with IofC, when he was a participant at Asia Plateau's Iniatiaors programme of "initiating change from within to beyond" in 2019. Since then the he found himself as a passionate changemaker and trailblazer, who enjoys breaking down barriers. As a neurodivergent; diagnosed with ADHD & Asperger's that kept him back, but kept coming back at every bumps in both his personal and professional life. This eventually led to him joining Creative Leadership in 2022, as a content member. He holds a masters degree at Global Studies from Lund University, where his main research focuses are towards Decolonial/Postcolonialism, Gender Studies and Global South Politics. Furthermore, Hani is also a poet, rapper, voice actor, social researcher and storyteller. Where he is writing hip hop songs with his own authenticity to make a change.

HAJAR BICHRI - Communications

Hajar Bichri began her experience with Initiatives of Change (IofC) in 2016 with the Caux Peace and Leadership Programme. Her commitment led her to serve in various roles, including as the Forum Secretariat and thoroughly involved with various conferences. She became part of the Creative Leadership team as a core member in 2019 and supported conference communications. Hajar pursued her higher education in Hungary, and currently she is pursuing further study as a PhD student in International Studies at Budapest's Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE). Her research is on Nurturing Trust and Mitigating Mistrust: A Comprehensive Examination of Community Engagement in Humanitarian Action. With this research, she hopes to assess trust dynamics in humanitarian intervention and ultimatly propose a toolkit with means of improving community engagmenet strategies that further nurture trust in humanitarian response. Professionally, Hajar has worked in various industries. She was a Copywriter for a multinational corporation in B2B communications and held various roles within IofC Switzerland, such as Head of Secretariat and Communication Officer, supporting the forum. At the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Geneva, she was a Communications Associate and produced internal communications materials as well as disseminating monthly newsletters to an international readership. Since April 2023, Hajar offers Communications Consultant services on a freelance basis, providing external and internal communications to previous employers and small local businesses.

DANIEL CLEMENTS - Coordination

Daniel Clements first interacted with IofC in 2019 as a part of the CPLP, arriving just in time to partake in the creation of CPLP, working on the content and co-leading the team, helping to provide vision and direction, taking initiative to find a cohesive framework for Creative Leadership projects and that there is a clear sense of progression and journey interwoven into our programmes, that is always conscious of the individuals whom it is being designed for.

YARA FARHAT - Content

Yara Farhat joined the Creative Leadership team after having been a participant herself and drawing inspiration, growth, and healing from it and the Initiatives of Change Lebanon team. Growing up in Lebanon sparked in her a deep need for change, love, and growth. Having moved around her three home countries she developed a strong passion for culture, storytelling, and human connection. Now working in strategy at a creative agency, she channels her love for narratives and innovation into shaping ideas.

MANUELA GARAY - Communications

Manuela Garay first joined the Caux Peace and Leadership Programme in 2017 and became a founding member of Creative Leadership in 2019. She’s passionate about continuing this journey, having personally experienced how inner peace and storytelling can transform lives. Manuela believes in the power of connection and collaboration as essential pathways to peace, striving to foster these values both personally and professionally. By bringing people together, she believes we create a more caring, connected world. Based in Toronto, Manuela works as a Community Associate and Event Coordinator at IWG, and as a trained graphic designer and photographer, she aims to use her skills to improve communication and contribute to build a better world.

ANAGHA GIRME - Participant Outreach & Coordination

Anagha Girme’s journey with Initiatives of Change began through her participation in the Caux Democracy Forum in Caux, where she experienced the transformative power of dialogue, reflection, and value based leadership. This marked a meaningful turning point, deepening her interest in inner development and collective change.                            

Originally from India and now based in Sydney, Anagha brings a perspective shaped by curiosity, creativity, and a commitment to fostering empathy and understanding across cultures. She writes and reflects on themes of leadership, empathy, and self-awareness on LinkedIn, sharing personal reflections and tech insights to spark thoughtful dialogue and new perspectives. She has also supported initiatives around women’s safety and empowerment in alignment with UN Women through fundraising and advocacy efforts.

As part of the People Team at Initiatives of Change (IofC), Anagha is passionate about nurturing inclusive and supportive environments where individuals feel seen, heard, and valued, and are guided towards inner growth that reflects in the world around them. With a background in technology, she bridges human connection with emerging digital landscapes, and through Creative Leadership, hopes to contribute to spaces that empower individuals to lead with empathy, integrity, accountability, and shared humanity.

STEVEN LIN - Participant Outreach & Coordination

Steven Lin is passionate about empowering youth to achieve their goals through capacity building, self reflection and soft skill development. Steven has spent the last decade working with various nonprofits to tackle SDG 4 quality education. Some examples include his work with the Alberta Mentorship Program providing high school students the opportunity to develop their leadership skills or working at the Terra Centre to help teen parents advocate for themselves and for policy and system change. In addition to that Steven has been engaged with young leaders globally through Creative Leadership as well as Global Shapers to support young professionals in tackling local issues in their community. Steven follows the model of Servant and Authentic leadership in his daily practice.

INES MOKDADI - Content

Ines Mokdadi is the 2026 Events Coordinator for Global Engagement at the Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation and works from home. In addition, she is a professor of English at the Faculty of Literature and Humanities in Kairouan, Tunisia, where she specializes in linguistics. Her research focuses on critical discourse analysis, power dynamics, and narrative transformation. When not in the classroom, Ines works as a freelance translator and interpreter and is a proud alumna of the Caux Scholars (2025). She also spent time as a Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) at the University of Notre Dame in the USA (2020-2021), where she further developed her passion for linguistic and cultural exchange.

Ines is deeply committed to civic engagement, inclusion, and international understanding. She volunteers as a Lead Content Strategist for the Creative Leadership team, focusing on youth initiatives. Recently, she has expanded her work with Initiatives of Change UK, where she trains participants in the Refugees for Re-Builders (RRB) program in ethical leadership for just governance. This role underscores her commitment to supporting refugees and promoting ethical, community-oriented solutions for a more just world.

MARUEE PAHUJA - Content

Maruee Pahuja is an impassioned Expressive Arts Consultant, Process Facilitator, Visual Artist, and Eye-Care Practitioner dedicated to enriching lives through the intersection of arts and science. As an Expressive Arts Consultant with the Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation, she brings strategic insights to foster meaningful dialogues in peacebuilding using arts-based approaches. In her role as a Core Team member of Creative Leadership, she drives content creation and strategy, always with a focus on transformative impact through creative processes.
Her path is marked by pioneering efforts in developing therapeutic arts-based interventions and leading workshops that inspire profound transformation. With over 4,000 hours dedicated to volunteering, she harnesses the transformative power of the arts to heal, unite, and elevate, all while on a mission to bridge the gap between science and the arts, aiming to cultivate a world where health and humanities walk hand in hand.
Her rich tapestry of experiences spans continents, cultures, and fields, where she has spearheaded initiatives that merge the realms of arts, peacebuilding, wellbeing, leadership and planet democracy. With over 300 workshops held globally, she has collaborated with more than 25 not-for-profit organizations, advocating for and integrating Arts based approaches in building resilient leaders and peaceful communities through creating and designing arts based workshops and being a speakers at events like Geneva Peace Week and the Caux Democracy Forum.
Maruee recharges and finds inspiration in her creative cave, where she unleashes her imagination through various visual art forms and styles. She has created over 5000 multimedia art pieces in her journey as an artist and has exhibited in a few national art galleries. Her journey continues to be one of creativity, compassion, and a deep commitment to the transformative power of the arts. 

SAWSAN RASLAN - Finance & Fundraising

Sawsan Raslan has been part of the Caux IofC Network since 2016, when she joined the Peace and Leadership Program. She has supported as a facilitator and program support throughout the years. With Creative Leadership this year, Sawsan is supporting the Finance and Fundraising team. Sawsan is passionate about women’s and youth empowerment, as well as sustainability. She holds a degree in Finance and Environmental Science and currently works in sustainability and controls assurance at Deloitte.

SIDRA RASLAN - Coordination

Sidra Raslan first started her journey with IofC in 2016 as a Caux Peace and Leadership Programme participant. Since then she has carried with her a piece of Caux and the people she’s met with her daily, and it keeps her motivated to be the best version she can be of herself. In 2019 Sidra helped co-found Creative Leadership, and is now volunteering as the Logistics and Outreach Lead. Being from Syria, Sidra is active on topics related to refugee rights and inclusion, inner development, peacebuilding, and youth empowerment. She is constantly looking to contribute to building a better Syria. Sidra currenly lives in Spain, having earned a masters degree in environmental, economic and social sustainability from UAB and is working at HP on their partner sustainability programme.

ASMAA SLEEM - Content

Asmaa Sleem is an Egyptian content and learning designer, and a facilitator in peacebuilding, conflict transformation, inner development, and leadership. She is the founder of Lifelong Learning Talks in Egypt, creating reflective experiential spaces that connect participants with themselves, others, and nature. Through storytelling, music, and arts, she helps individuals reclaim authenticity and deepen self-awareness, and embracing “the small steps, one foot in front of another” as a guiding principle in navigating change. Since 2015, Asmaa’s journey with Initiatives of Change (IoFC) – Caux Scholars, CPLP, and other initiatives – has been transformative, engaging her deeply in learning, facilitation, and knowledge-sharing. Since 2019, she has been a core co-founding member of Creative Leadership, serving as content designer and facilitator. In 2025–2026, she co-leads content for the "Reimagining Democracies" youth program, co-designing its learning journey that foster creative leadership and authentic transformation. Her work spans peacebuilding trainings, corporate social responsibility ,lifelong learning, and community development, impacting thousands of souls locally/internationally. Asmaa holds postgraduate studies in teaching methodologies, curricula designing, and social sciences and liberal arts, alongside specialized training in peacebuilding and trauma healing, including "Peace Studies at the Muslim World" courses at the University of Bradford, UK. Her work bridges theory and practice, creating change trials that inspire individuals to reclaim authenticity and generate lasting community impact.

VIVIANE STRAUB - Content

Viviane Straub is from Germany/UK and was deeply moved by the journey she was taken on during the CPLP in Caux, 2019. She has since been part of the Creative Leadership team, and hopes to create spaces for dialogue, connection, and a rethinking of who and how we are. Having studied Human Ecology: Culture, Power, and Sustainability (MSc), her interests lie in finding alternatives to dominant narratives about how we live with the human and more-than-human world. She is currently based on Gotland, an island in the Baltic Sea, where she is training to become a nurse, and is growing through the journey of matrescence; the process of becoming a mother.

JONAH TRUNEH - Content

Jonas Truneh’s connection to Caux began in 2017, when he attended the Just Governance for Human Security conference. He returned in 2018 as a member of the Caux Scholars Program, and in 2019 joined the Caux Peace and Leadership Programme. He has remained involved in the Caux community since then, joining the Creative Leadership team in 2019. Alongside this, he works in international development across the Global South, with a focus on programme design and applied research on governance and economic reform.