Young Global Leaders

Jason Patent

Need a dose of hope? Listen to these conversations with inspiring young people from around the world.  If you want to hear what forging common ground looks like in practice, look no further.  I met these youngsters during the 2024-25 academic year, when I was Dean of Baret Scholars, a global gap year program with around 100 students from 40+ countries. We traveled together to seven global regions over the course of 8 1/2 months, during which they formed a tight-knit, loving community, grounded in the certainty that we collectively create a better future for all. They've generously agreed to let me interview them, so that their wisdom, optimism, and brilliance can shine forth for everyone's benefit.  You'll hear terms like "morning program," "afternoon options," "fellows," "fellowships," etc. These refer to different design elements of the program. The details don't matter; you'll be able to get the basic meaning from context.  Enjoy!

  1. 4D AGO

    Juliana Bakhtsizina

    In this episode, Juliana Bakhtsizina and I cover a number of fun and interesting topics, including the "unlearning" required to become a global citizen. Juliana shares her transition from a rigid, plan-oriented academic mindset to one that embraces the unpredictability of experiential learning. From navigating the "logistical nightmare" of a lost passport in New York City, to co-founding the student-run magazine Étoile, Juliana shows us how growth is rarely a passive byproduct of travel; it comes from radical intentionality and sustained mental effort. Key Takeaways: Curiosity as Effort: Why Juliana forced herself to ask a question of every guest speaker, and how she treats curiosity as a muscle rather than a personality trait.The "Unlearning" Process: Breaking out of cultural molds and discovering new facets of identity through the modeling of more extroverted peers.The Reality of Re-entry: A candid look at the "lowest lows" of returning home after a transformative nine-month journey, and the strategies she used to bridge the two worlds.Creative Consolidation: The origin of Étoile and the importance of turning passive observation into active creation.Follow Juliana on Instagram here. If you enjoyed the episode, please hit FOLLOW and give us a 5-star rating. You'll never miss an episode, and others will find us more easily. Also, please tell your friends about it. If you have any specific feedback to help improve the pod, please leave it here. To learn more about me, have a look at my website and / or follow me on LinkedIn.

    59 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Need a dose of hope? Listen to these conversations with inspiring young people from around the world.  If you want to hear what forging common ground looks like in practice, look no further.  I met these youngsters during the 2024-25 academic year, when I was Dean of Baret Scholars, a global gap year program with around 100 students from 40+ countries. We traveled together to seven global regions over the course of 8 1/2 months, during which they formed a tight-knit, loving community, grounded in the certainty that we collectively create a better future for all. They've generously agreed to let me interview them, so that their wisdom, optimism, and brilliance can shine forth for everyone's benefit.  You'll hear terms like "morning program," "afternoon options," "fellows," "fellowships," etc. These refer to different design elements of the program. The details don't matter; you'll be able to get the basic meaning from context.  Enjoy!