03/25/2026
Strong leadership starts with knowing how to navigate conflict.
Our Ambassadors joined a session on navigating conflicts led by Karisma Yumnam, our PhD student and graduate researcher in the Cultivate ACCESS Nebraska program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
The discussion focused on skills needed to handle challenges that arise in teams, classrooms, and professional environments.
Karisma introduced different types of conflicts, including personality conflicts, structural conflicts, and misunderstandings that can happen in group work.
She explained how conflict, when managed well, can become an opportunity for learning, stronger communication, and better teamwork.
The session highlighted the importance of empathy, flexibility, patience, and problem-solving skills when working with people from different backgrounds and perspectives.
These skills are especially important as ambassadors mentor high school students while also collaborating with peers and program leaders.
During the session, ambassadors completed an interactive activity to reflect on how they personally respond to conflict situations.
This helped everyone better understand their communication style and think about ways to grow as leaders and mentors.
Sessions like this help prepare ambassadors not only to mentor students, but also to develop professional skills needed in agriculture, natural resources, and STEM careers.
We sincerely thank Karisma Yumnam for sharing her knowledge, experience, and guidance with our Cultivate ACCESS Nebraska 2025–2026 ambassadors.
