“Communication is the key in leadership. Embrace, guide, and work together towards the common vision”

On June 6, 2023, we gathered to engage in our 41st leadership conversation, paying tribute to our Late Chief Mentor, Dr. R.K. Pachauri. The focus of this meeting was to fortify youth leadership and delve into strategies that empower young individuals to confront the most pressing environmental challenges faced on a global scale. Ms. Cherry Sung, the founder of Greener is Cleaner, graced us with her presence, illuminating the path towards a brighter, more sustainable future.

When asked by Dr. Norma about her perspective on leadership, Cherry Sung’s response echoed with profound wisdom. She emphasized the significance of embracing others, drawing out their best qualities, and providing guidance rather than simply managing. According to her, a true leader unites diverse perspectives towards a common goal, recognizing that communication lies at the very heart of effective leadership.

As the conversation delved deeper into Cherry’s remarkable work and the inspiration behind her journey, Happy Mwebe eagerly asked about the main highlights of her initiatives. Cherry replied that her campaigns and projects revolve around environmental education and youth involvement. She shared her personal story of recovery from an eating disorder, which ignited a passion to channel her energy into productive pursuits. Volunteering at Greenpeace Kore played a pivotal role in her healing process, and it inspired her to launch a website and establish an environmental club at her school. Initially focused on combating plastic pollution, she soon expanded her efforts, creating engaging educational content such as booklets for young students and more. Her dedication and impact were further recognized when she had the honor of meeting the first lady of her country, becoming the youngest participant in that momentous gathering.

Manish Gupta sought insights into the challenges Cherry encountered along her path and how she overcame them. Cherry acknowledged the diverse obstacles she faced, including the omnipresent eco-anxiety that plagues many young individuals. She also touched upon the feeling of superficiality, where youth sometimes feel limited in their ability to effect change due to their age. Cherry emphasized the importance of creating opportunities, fostering cooperation, and ensuring effective communication channels to integrate young people into different groups. Additionally, she highlighted the challenge of burnout, urging young activists to prioritize self-care and seek support when needed.

Komal Mittal, keen to glean advice for future climate activists, asked Cherry for her suggestions and messages. Cherry advised the upcoming generation to align their passions, strengths, and the world’s needs. By combining these elements, they can unlock their full potential and fearlessly address the urgent environmental crises of our time. She encouraged them to embrace the formula of not being scared, pushing beyond boundaries, and making their voices heard.

The conversation reached its pinnacle when Ana Hanhausen posed a thought-provoking question: If Cherry had the chance to ask one thing of world leaders, what would it be? In response, Cherry emphasized the essence of compassion. She implored world leaders to embrace this quality, reminding them that true leadership means caring for others and not solely focusing on personal interests. She challenged them to envision the type of generation they desire to be known as and to consider how they wish to be remembered in history.

In this transformative leadership conversation, Ms. Cherry Sung’s presence illuminated our collective understanding of youth leadership and the power of individual actions in shaping a sustainable future. Her commitment, resilience, and vision serve as an inspiration to aspiring young leaders worldwide. As we absorb the insights and lessons shared, may we be propelled to embrace compassion, create opportunities, and fearlessly embark on the journey towards a greener, more harmonious world.

About our guest:

Cherry Sung from South Korea is a 17-year-old student and a youth environmental activist recognized globally as the winner of the 2020 Global Social Leaders Global Goals Competition, recipient of the 2021 Youth Leads Award, and a 2021 International Young Eco-Hero. In 2018, she founded Greener is Cleaner, a youth-led non-profit organization that leads by example to empower youth worldwide to take action for the environment and their futures. Impacting over 15K youths since then through hosting conferences and campaigns, speaking at events, writing articles and papers, lobbying the government, meeting politicians, and creating educational content, she tackled issues such as climate change and justice, youth involvement in decision-making, biodiversity, pollution, carbon tax, energy transition, etc. Cherry is also actively engaged in local efforts, serving as the chairperson of the Ministry of Environment’s National Environmental Education Center Youth Council and a volunteer at Greenpeace Kore.

Watch the conversation