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From frustration to inspiration

7 0
27.01.2025

Casey Lartigue Jr., fourth from right, holds a Freedom Speakers International banner alongside members of the board of directors after their Jan. 18 meeting. Courtesy of Freedom Speakers International

In moments of frustration or impatience, Americans often count to 10 to regain composure. Living in South Korea, I’ve found myself taking this practice to new extremes — counting to 10, then continuing to 110, and then back down to 1. As chairman of the board of Freedom Speakers International (FSI), this method of self-control has served me well, especially in the early days of our revamped board.

At our initial meetings, I couldn’t help but wonder what my fellow board members — all South Koreans — were thinking. Their conversations often revolved around travel and food rather than the organization’s work. While I could understand this at the first meeting, by the third and fourth, I found myself on the brink of walking out without informing them. Instead, I started counting — up, down and in every direction — and reminded myself that I’m in Korea, where relationships often take time to warm up. Slowly but surely, things began to change.

I have served on the boards of directors and trustees for several organizations over the past two decades, and each has offered unique lessons and challenges. This was the first time I was the board chair and it seemed I had not learned anything from those years of experience. Some boards were highly professional and focused, making decisions with precision and purpose. Others were contentious, plagued by back-stabbing, gossip and unnecessary drama, which created toxic environments. I have also experienced boards that were fun, engaging and inspiring, like the one at the Black Alliance for Educational Options (BAEO). For many years, I considered BAEO to be my most........

© The Korea Times