Global Webinar. A Live Conversation: Bridging Cultural Divides with the Author of "Boundary Spanners of Humanity"

[Natalia Grincheva]

Dear colleagues,

Happy New Year! As we step into 2026,  let’s ground our work in the power of human connection.

Join us for A Live Conversation: Bridging Cultural Divides with Professor Rhonda Zaharna, author of the groundbreaking book "Boundary Spanners of Humanity."

In a world often divided, how do we communicate across differences not just to connect—but to collaborate meaningfully? Professor Zaharna offers more than theory; she shares a practical toolkit to help us reframe our approaches to partnership, programming, and cultural engagement. This is an invitation to reflect, rethink, and recharge—together.  Let’s explore how each of us can contribute to a stronger, more humane planet through the work we do every day.

ICRRA Global Webinar Series: 
Unscripted Dialogues: Insights from a Diplomacy Scholar

 

A Live Conversation: Bridging Cultural Divides with the Author of "Boundary Spanners of Humanity"

 

Featured Book: Zaharna, R.S. 2022. Boundary Spanners of Humanity: Three Logics of Communications and Public Diplomacy for Global Collaboration. Oxford University Press.

📅 January 16, 2026
🕗 8:00–9:00 AM EST | 2:00–3:00 PM CET | 9:00–10:00 PM SGT
📍 Zoom Webinar – Register here

Speaker: Professor Rhonda Zaharna, School of Communication, American University, Washington, D.C.

Moderator: Dr Natalia Grincheva, School of Creative Industries, LASALLE, University of the Arts Singapore 

Facilitator: James Perkins, Head of Research Excellence, British Council

Host: International Cultural Relations Research Alliance (ICRRA)

Synopsis:  Why do even our best-intentioned international projects sometimes hit a wall? The answer often lies in our communication playbook, which is outdated for today's complex, interconnected world. In this exclusive session designed for the ICRRA network, we offer a unique opportunity: a direct conversation with the distinguished scholar and author, Professor R.S. Zaharna. We'll dive into the groundbreaking ideas from her book Boundary Spanners of Humanity and translate them into a practical toolkit for your work.

Professor Zaharna will guide us through her three powerful "logics" of communication—the Storyteller, the Relationship Builder, and the System Thinker—and show you how to blend them strategically. This isn't just theory; it's a live dialogue about applying these concepts to your real-world challenges in partnerships, programming, and policy.

Come with your questions! This is your chance to gain actionable insights directly from a leading voice in public diplomacy. Learn how to become a more effective "Boundary Spanner," turn cultural friction into collaboration, and drive meaningful impact.

[Natalia Grincheva]

Dear colleagues,

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the recent ICRRA Global Webinar Series session, “Unscripted Dialogues: Insights from a Diplomacy Scholar”—featuring a live conversation with Professor R. S. Zaharna, author of the groundbreaking book Boundary Spanners of Humanity.

For those who were unable to attend or had to leave early, we are pleased to share the following resources:

• Youtube video recording of the whole webinar
• Proceedings of the Dialogue with Professor  R. S.  Zaharna

You can also explore more publications in the  ICRRA Digital Repository 

We are already looking ahead to future sessions in the Unscripted Dialogues series and welcome your suggestions. To help shape future webinars, please suggest a scholar or book you would like us to feature in the Unscripted Dialogues series.

We are looking forward to hearing from you!

With kind regards

Natalia 

Dr Natalia Grincheva 
2026 Digital Statecraft Academy Cambridge Fellow

Culture Futures Lab Leader

Program Leader, BA (Hons) Arts Management

LASALLE | University of the Arts Singapore

Recent Book: Geopolitics of Digital Heritage (Cambridge Uni Press)

Digital Creative Praxis: Data to Power

Academic Profile: https://grincheva.com/