The speaker introduces his multicultural upbringing and the influence of his father's diplomatic career on his perspective.

• The speaker lived in five countries across four continents due to his father's job as a diplomat.
• He observed his father's morning routine, which included reading newspapers and watching international news, as a way to understand the world.
• His father explained the importance of understanding the world for success.

The speaker shares how he began to mimic his father and later understood the value of understanding differences to find common ground.

• Mimicking his father, the speaker absorbed world news and information from a young age.
• His experience as an outsider in Burkina Faso led him to understand the importance of finding commonalities in differences.
• This realization is described as the essence of diplomacy.

The speaker emphasizes the role of cultural competence in a globalized world and introduces three methods to embrace diplomacy.

• Diplomats must find common threads in new, diverse environments, which is a crucial skill for everyone in the 21st century.
• Combating fear and hate requires embracing diplomacy and finding common ground.
• Three ways to embrace diplomacy are outlined: collecting information, active listening, and community engagement.

The speaker discusses the first way to embrace diplomacy, focusing on information gathering and understanding one's surroundings.

• Observing the environment, taking notes, reading about different cultures, and asking open-ended questions are methods to gather information.
• The speaker applied this approach in middle school by learning basketball to integrate with his peers.
• This method helped him find commonality with others despite differences.

The second way to embrace diplomacy involves active listening, establishing mutual trust, and fostering collaboration.

• Diplomats listen actively to understand the interests and culture of their host country.
• Active listening involves concentrating and determining to understand the speaker.
• The speaker shares an anecdote from Greece to illustrate the importance of active listening.

The final method to embrace diplomacy is active community participation, understanding its dynamics, and expanding one's horizons.

• Being an active community member involves understanding local politics, economics, and geography.
• Learning about the world helps to connect news with real-world places, fostering a broader perspective.
• Active community engagement leads to a better understanding of different viewpoints and problem-solving.

The speaker concludes by underlining the importance of diplomacy in overcoming fear and hate by building empathy and acceptance.

• Many problems today stem from a resistance to change and differences.
• Embracing inner diplomacy helps people unite despite differences.
• Understanding and curiosity are key to reducing fear and becoming less dangerous.