Reflection on the podcast Diary with a CEO with guest Simon Sinek

Simon Sinek is an ethnographer, motivation speaker, communications expert often quoted in design thinking workshops – his questioning of ‘WHY’ something is being done, is what often motivates students to dig deeper into their projects. In this podcast, his speaks about FRIENDSHIP.

With an increase of mental health awareness and diagnosis amongst the UAL BA students I have been teaching in the past three years, were we also had a ‘Covid’ generation graduating, I feel much is lost with the rise of technology and its ‘safety bubble’.

The conversation between Simon and the host leads us to discover the biggest ‘bio-hack’ to mental health ~ friendship. Friendships lead us to better coping mechanisms and even longevity. He gives the example of the US Marines (army forces) that bond in gruesome war circumstances, leaning on each other, sharing, protecting and never leaving anyone behind. Even though this is somewhat of an extreme shared experience, it is certainly shared experience that students go through during their studentship and in the classroom.

This was a big milestone in my thinking process about the goal of my Action Research Project, where maybe it is essential to focus on bonds primarily rather than space. It made me think about the question, how can we as an institution encourage friendship in and beyond the classroom for a better life and student experience.

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