A few weeks ago, my downstairs neighbour started playing very loud drum and bass music.
Not just loud — the kind that reverberates through the walls and makes it impossible to think.

Almost instantly, a stream of stories formed in my head:

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In the past, I would have done what I usually do in situations like this: suffer in silence, feel quietly annoyed, and hope it wouldn’t happen again.

This time, though, I finally drummed up the courage to knock on his door.

What I didn’t expect

His response completely disarmed me.

He was genuinely apologetic. The music, he explained, was part of a live BBC DJ broadcast he’d been invited to perform in — a rare and exciting opportunity for him. He promised it wouldn’t happen again and said he was truly sorry. He hadn’t realised how thin the walls were.

I walked back upstairs feeling something unexpected.

Yes, my point was still valid — a warning would have been considerate.
But I also felt warmer towards him. Not because the noise was justified, but because I now understood it. His excitement, his focus, his lack of awareness — it all made sense once I stepped outside my own assumptions.

From neighbours to the world

That small interaction stayed with me, because it mirrors how we often engage with global issues.

So much of the time, we lead with judgement rather than curiosity. We construct stories from a distance, filtered through our own experiences, beliefs, and increasingly, through algorithms that reinforce what we already think.

It’s easier to consume perspectives that feel familiar than to pause and ask:

Why storytelling matters

This is exactly why storytelling — especially around global and social issues — is so powerful.

Making a film forces us to slow down and understand perspectives locally.
What do people on our doorstep think about an issue? Why don’t they all think or act like we do? What contexts, pressures, and hopes shape their choices?

Sharing a film then expands that understanding outward. When stories travel, we begin to see that perspectives aren’t just “right” or “wrong” — they are shaped by place, culture, history, and lived experience. And in reality, the number of valid perspectives on any issue is almost endless.

We’ll never master all of them. In fact, we won’t even get close.
But we can develop the habit of curiosity.

And curiosity, over time, leads to greater understanding — and often, greater kindness.
Just like it did with my neighbour.

A new opportunity: Global Perspectives Leader Credential

This belief sits at the heart of why we’re teaming up with RMIT University’s Media Program to launch the Global Perspectives Leader Credential.

The credential is grounded in the idea that creative digital storytelling can help us make sense of real human interactions across cultures — an area of deep interest for media practitioner and scholar Dr. Hannah Brasier, whose work explores the creative potential of digital media technologies to understand how people experience and interpret the world.

The opportunity for students

Here’s how it works:

• Make a short documentary film exploring a local issue, story, or perspective
• Share it at one of our global student film exchanges, connecting with peers around the world
• Earn the RMIT–Docathon Global Perspectives Certificate, recognising your leadership, curiosity, and storytelling skills

This isn’t about having all the answers.
It’s about learning to ask better questions — and listening more deeply to the answers.

 Click here to see upcoming Docathon dates and join a Global Perspectives exchange

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Preparing students for the complexities of the future is key; in schools, there exists a critical yet often overlooked aspect – the pursuit of purpose. The millennial generation, now a driving force in the workforce, is known for valuing purpose over profit, willing to sacrifice higher pay for a career that aligns with their values. Are we adequately preparing our students for this pursuit of purpose? Do we address it in our curriculum?

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The Millennial Quest for Purpose

It is widely accepted that millennials seek more than just a paycheck from their careers; they crave a sense of purpose and a connection to something greater than themselves. As educators, it is crucial to recognize this shift in values and equip students with the tools they need to navigate their journey towards purpose and fulfillment.

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The Missing Piece in the Curriculum Puzzle

Despite the evident importance of purpose in shaping the lives and careers of our students, it is disconcerting to note this is often absent from the curriculum.

Why It Matters

Purpose-driven individuals are more likely to be motivated, resilient, and fulfilled in their careers. By incorporating purpose into the curriculum, we not only prepare students for the workforce but also empower them to lead more meaningful lives, especially in this age of eco-anxiety and general upheaval.

Our “MAD” approach to purpose

We, at MAD, encourage students to find purpose via the concept of "Ikigai" – a Japanese term referring to the intersection of what one loves, what one is good at, what the world needs, and what one can be paid for. It literally means “a reason for being.

MAD Courses has recently crafted and launched a microlearning course about Ikigai in partnership with Deloitte to empower an initial 10,000 students and teachers to reflect on purpose. But this got us wondering: ‍

Is purpose really inclusive? Can anyone focus on their Ikigai? What about those young people who are in lower income brackets?

We may be reluctant to talk about Ikigai with students whose economic situations are not optimal, thinking: How can we ask them to “follow their passions” or “just do what you’re good at” while they may need to focus on gainful employment in order to support themselves and/or their families.

Financial constraints may limit immediate choices, but exploring Ikigai can be transformative. Understanding Ikigai helps students to identify interests and skills and empowers them to pursue holistic fulfillment, contributing to well-being and long-term success. Loving what they do increases the likelihood of long-term success, enhancing their overall financial situation.

We recently launched the course at Foundation University in the Philippines, and gathered the insights of the first 81 students to take this course:

A huge thank you to Foundation University for having us on their campus, and to Deloitte for collaborating with us to make this course happen, as part of their global #worldclass campaign.

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We're hoping it sparks more conversations and reflections around one of the most important (and yet under-valued) careers-related questions we ever get to ask ourselves!

If you are interested in exploring your Ikigai, email us at suji@madcourses.com to apply for this course.

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