Calls for peace have become louder and more urgent across the globe over the last few years. So much so that it's difficult to know how to respond in ways that feel meaningful and relevant. After all, how can a drop in the ocean move an unrelenting tide?

Mandar Apte is proof that an individual, with no initial political, financial or cultural stock, can actually move the needle for real and lasting peace. And whilst the aspiration is global, the work unfolds in our local communities - having started by bridging the divide between "two sides of the gun".

KG and Paul were joined by Mandar - engineer, documentary filmmaker and global advocate for peace. They listened to his incredible story and couldn't help but marvel at his passion for bringing people together. And what begins as a reflection on personal growth soon widens into a conversation about how inner transformation can ripple outwards into organisations, communities, and even nations.

Mandar’s own story is one of profound change, describing how mindfulness and self-awareness became the catalysts not just for his own resilience, but for building trust and empathy in others. His concept of “mental hygiene” reframes leadership as a discipline of the inner life - essential for shaping workplaces and societies that can hold complexity and conflict with grace.

And through his film From India with Love and work bringing victims and perpetrators of violence together, Mandar shows how community-led transformation can become a foundation for global peacebuilding.

Annandale Cellars has once again generously provided a delicious bottle of wine to accompany this inspiring conversation. On this occasion we are fortunate to taste a 2023 Casa d'Ambra Ischia Bianco - a quirky Italian white from the unexpected Island of Ischia, just off the coast of Naples. A perfect warm weather wine, with a wonderful balance between fruit and gentle acidity, and a little bit of saltiness on the finish for something to remember!

Get at least half a dozen of these (or half a dozen of any of their amazing wines) and get a 20% discount by using our code at checkout: DECANTED

Sláinte friends!

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(5.09) Leadership and Global Peacemaking