Skip to main content
2026 AIR Forum Main banner
Icon Legend
This session is not in your schedule.
This session is in your schedule. Click again to remove it.
Back
ViewAttendees 1

Leadership & Career Development

Panel Session

Rethinking Switzerland: Bringing Your Holistic Identity to Work

Wednesday, May 27, 2026
11:15 AM - 12:15 PM East Coast USA Time
Location: Catholic University/University of DC Room (ML1)
Institution Type: Any

Target Audience: Any
Session Abstract: For decades, the ideal state of the field of IR has been described as “Switzerland”—a neutral party existing only to provide neutral data. While fairness, rigor, and ethical integrity remain essential, this framing is increasingly outdated. IR professionals cannot—and should not—leave behind their lived identities when engaging with data. By embracing our authentic perspectives through identity-aware practices, we can move from being passive observers to active contributors who advocate for institutional change and improvement. This session invites data professionals to rethink neutrality, explore the risks and rewards of bringing one’s whole self to work, and consider strategies for leading with integrity and authenticity.

Keywords: Neutrality, authenticity, identity, advocacy, change, ethics