Case studies

Young Arab Leaders and climate change

Eight young business leaders from Bahrain were on a two-week leadership development programme in the UK run by The Leadership Trust. Part of the experience was dedicated to developing their knowledge and awareness of climate change and Three Hands was asked to run a 5 day programme to immerse them in the issue.

We devised an experiential project focused on the motion that: "Oil and gas are luxuries the planet can no longer afford. Business leaders must take responsibility for ensuring a quick transfer to a low-carbon economy”. To enable the group to gather the information they needed to tackle this question we arranged work sessions for them with experts in climate change and alternative low-carbon sustainable energy from both the Cairngorms National Park and Shell's headquarters in Aberdeen. The group then split into two teams to propose and oppose the motion and debate it in front of an invited audience of business leaders at Scottish Enterprise’s headquarters in Glasgow. And the result? The motion was defeated, but very narrowly!

“The exposure of some of Bahrain's most talented young managers... to a widely contrasting series of personal and group challenges that would take them well out of their comfort zones was a key remit... I'm convinced that the challenges of the Three Hands intervention during that first week contributed hugely to a very successful overall programme and enabled the group to hit the second week at running speed, already having grown into a high performing team over those first five days.”

George Telfer, International Programmes Director, The Leadership Trust

“I can say with confidence that I was reborn with new constructive beliefs gained through practical experience. I believe the journey has just started for me, true self discovery of self potential and capabilities. One of the main wisdoms I learnt is in order to lead this nation to a better place, we need to lead ourselves to it first."

A Young Arab Leaders participant