Conversation on Value9/009

We all want to be treated like human beings. However, this is at odds with the belief that ‘respect is earned.’ If we agree that a baby is invaluable, we also need to acknowledge that there’s inherent value and worth in every person. How can we reconcile the narrative of earning respect with the principle that each human should be treated with dignity? Can we together reach a broader level of social consciousness? What does it mean to lead with dignity? In this conversation on value Valeria Maltoni and Dr. Donna Hicks talk about the value in embracing our own dignity and upholding that of others to heal human connection.

Dr. Donna Hicks is an Associate at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University. She facilitated dialogues in numerous unofficial diplomatic efforts in the Middle East, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Colombia, Cuba, Libya, and Syria. She was a consultant to the BBC in Northern Ireland where she co-facilitated a television series, Facing the Truth, with Archbishop Desmond Tutu. She has taught courses in conflict resolution at Harvard and Columbia Universities and conducts training seminars in the US and abroad on dignity leadership training and on the role dignity plays in resolving conflict. She consults corporations, schools, churches, and non-governmental organizations. Her book, Dignity: Its Essential Role in Resolving Conflict, was published by Yale University Press in 2011. Her second book, Leading with Dignity: How to Create a Culture That Brings Out the Best in People, was published by Yale University Press in August 2018.