SEOUL / GLOBAL — Dr. Anna Jihyun You, a leading media professional, academic scholar, and former spokesperson and executive member of SWC22, recently delivered a powerful speech to the Agora Forum, an elite global intellectual network encompassing alumni and students from the Harvard Kennedy School, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and MIT.
Leading Through Crisis and Artificial Intelligence
On May 23, Dr. You addressed the forum on a timely and critical theme: “In the Age of Conflict, How Leaders Build Trust and Persuade: Strategic Communication in Times of Crisis, Division, and AI.” Drawing from her extensive 30-year background as an anchor, media journalist, correspondent, and international event spokesperson, she presented a sophisticated blueprint for high-level international crisis management, showing next-generation global leaders how to navigate the complex intersection of digital polarization and emerging technologies.
This high-profile address beautifully coincided with the recent release of her new book, “The Moments When Conversation is Needed,” which debuted in step with this year’s World Communications Day.
The Theological Anchor: Re-Centering Human Dignity
A key highlight of Dr. You’s lecture was her integration of communication strategy with the foundational principles of human dignity—a vision that mirrors Catholic social teaching and the historical legacy of Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical, Rerum Novarum.
Dr. You reminded the audience that just as Pope Leo XIII stood at the forefront of the Industrial Revolution to protect human dignity against raw mechanization, modern leaders face a parallel duty in the AI era. She argued that artificial intelligence, while a powerful tool, must never overshadow the irreplaceable value of authentic human interaction. In times of crisis and deep social division, she emphasized, true persuasion and trust can only be built when communication is anchored in mutual respect, empathy, and the defense of human dignity.
Solidifying Global Leadership
By bringing this deep, ethically grounded perspective to some of the world’s most prestigious academic and professional alumni networks, Dr. You solidified her role as a global communication leader. Her lecture demonstrated to the international community that the future of media and leadership lies not merely in technological mastery, but in safeguarding the human spirit within the digital landscape.