When a childhood love manifests itself generations later
Lessons from Kristelle’s presence at the GLI Innovation Summit in Panguipulli, Chile April 2024
I grew up in Madrid, Spain, a country obsessed with soccer. Like many others, I was swept up in this obsession. I could name Real Madrid’s starting 11 (the men’s team—since the women’s team took longer to form), and I knew whether each player had come through the ranks or transferred from elsewhere. On Saturday nights, we’d watch the matches as a family, enjoying an aperitif-style supper on a low bench that doubled as a table. The atmosphere was always lively. On Sundays, I’d listen to La Liga on the radio while doing my homework, with my verb lists often interrupted by the sound of “gooooooooooool.” My star player was Iván Zamorano. Of Chilean origin, he was the team’s #9. Of course, I had a poster of him in my bedroom, but I also had a photo of him and my dad together (long story) and a framed autograph on my mom’s handkerchief (same long story). Every weekend, I’d browse through Marca (a sports newspaper) to see what the journalists had to say about his latest performance—never enough good words, in my opinion. And that’s how my love for Chile began. Through a childhood crush, the country climbed to the top of my bucket list. Eventually, I moved from wanting to be a sports journalist to working in culture, but my obsession with Chile never went away.
This obsession nearly became a hindrance: I never wanted to visit Chile just for a holiday. If I went, it had to be for work! I wanted to live there, to be fully immersed in the country’s culture. A few years later, while living in London, England, I began seeking opportunities to work in the arts outside of Europe. Naturally, there was only one destination in mind, but the stars didn’t align at the time. And even though I’ve been on the right side of the Atlantic since 2011, the closest I’ve come to Chile is preparing a huge veggie curanto for my 40th birthday celebration.
Then, in the summer of 2023, I had the privilege of being part of the 2023-24 cohort of the Global Leaders Institute for Arts Innovation (GLI), and with that opportunity came the chance to attend a summit in either Peru or Chile. As you can imagine, this time there was no hesitation. Peru would have to wait. On April 19, 2024, after nearly 35 years of anticipation, I boarded a plane bound for Santiago de Chile for an unforgettable week-long stay.
In a state of exquisite contentment.
And with my Zamorano sweater in my suitcase.
Photo Diego Ramos
With the excitement of a kid on Christmas morning, I landed in the south, ready to enjoy every second of my time in this country. Determined to live at 150 km per hour, to boycott sleep and to talk to everyone I possibly could on the way. I started with the cab driver at the airport. “Ah, Zamorano! Yes, he was my neighbor. He grew up in a working-class barrio. I was friends with his brother. Very kind, never forgot his roots, always there to say hello.” Oh wow. “And where is he now?” “Ah, well… Iván, he was buen futbolista, but malísimo en negocios. He now lives in Miami.” Miami? But why did I just fly so far south?
After a short but fulfilling stay in Santiago (where I discovered, among other things, the magnificent GAM Art Center and the Museum of Memory and Human Rights), I found myself back at the airport, this time heading to Panguipulli, a place full of lakes and the site of the Innovation Summit. Although some people from my past might argue otherwise, my objectives weren’t solely focused on sports. I was — clearly! — very much looking forward to meeting the members of this GLI cohort, working alongside local residents, and learning more about the various innovation techniques that would be explored during the week.
Photos Diego Ramos
Chileans are very welcoming people. On our first evening, they took us to a Mapuche yurt, the traditional home of the region’s indigenous people, for a traditional meal. Among other things, we were served sopapillas with a pico de gallo-style salsa that I’m still salivating over. On another evening, we participated in a clay-making activity, followed by a musical performance by Paola Ñanculef. Her powerful, deep voice created an incredibly intimate and emotional moment as she sang about having her native language taken from her. Each night brought a new restaurant, a new discovery, and a new way to learn more about the country’s culture.
Photos Diego Ramos
An Unequivocal Learning Experience
A week in Chile wasn’t just about soccer, wine, and food. The extraordinary happens when you share moments with artists, thinkers, and cultural workers. Here are the four main takeaways from my week:
- Discovering Bartek Stawski and innovative thinking. I thought I was creative and had at least some imagination, but then along comes Bartek to make me realize that the human brain can be incredibly lazy.
- The theory behind Adaptive Leadership, which allows us to embrace new leadership processes. This was brought to life through a sublime metaphor about a balcony and a dance floor.
- The marvelous human ability to make ourselves understood and collaborate effectively, even when we don’t speak the same language or use the same working methods.
That the sublime happens through the richness of encounters. Anything is possible when we’re at the same table.
Back Home
At our company, we rightly place a strong emphasis on supporting local artists and producers. We actively seek out ways to do so, as it’s essential on many levels. Being immersed in the local scene has been a long-standing goal, both in desire and action. However, I’ve come to realize that in focusing so much on the local, I’ve lost sight of what’s happening beyond my own bubble. The climate crisis is global, planetary. And while there is no one-size-fits-all solution, we must reach beyond our immediate surroundings.
My participation in the GLI and the Innovation Summit reminded me that we’re all collectively sharing this life experience on this blue sphere, hurtling through space at breakneck speed.
Who would have thought that a childhood dream could pave the way for such a unique professional journey?
With thanks to the Théâtre des Petites Lanternes, the Global Leaders Institute for Arts Innovation, the Ville de Sherbrooke, and the Canada Council for the Arts.