Leadership in an Era of Change: David McNamee’s Interactive Seminars at KAFU

On October 1, 2026, two interactive seminars by Professor David McNamee were held at Kazakhstan-American Free University as part of the International Scientific Congress “The Future of Science and Education: International Experience, Innovation and Leadership.” Both seminars focused on servant leadership in the context of today’s global challenges.

David McNamee is a PhD, Professor, member of the KAFU Advisory Group, and a Senior Research Fellow at the international organization Co-Serve from South Carolina, USA.

The first seminar, “Servant Leadership in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, Uncertainty and Global Change,” focused on the role of leaders in a rapidly changing world. Participants discussed how the principles of servant leadership can help address challenges related to the development of artificial intelligence, uncertainty, and large-scale social changes.

The second seminar was titled “Servant Leadership When the World Is on Fire: Lessons from Mentoring Leaders in Times of War, Crisis and Forced Displacement.”

David McNamee shared his personal experiences, as well as his parents’ memories of wartime and the crises they experienced. “It is good that we live in peacetime,” the speaker noted. Particular attention was given to the role of leaders in resolving conflicts and finding solutions that contribute to their peaceful resolution.

Both seminars were held in an interactive format. Participants analyzed various situations, shared their views, and discussed how the principles of servant leadership can be applied in community activities and in resolving conflicts of varying complexity.

The meetings provided a platform for meaningful dialogue and the exchange of international experience. They demonstrated that leadership based on service to people, responsibility, and respect remains highly relevant both in an era of technological change and in times of serious social crises.