Coming to Asia Pacific Internet Governance Academy (APIGA) 2025, my mission was to make the experience the best it could be for participants. Being a youth leader meant I was there to make the experience meaningful for every single participant. For the participants, this meant having someone they could rely on to guide them through both structured sessions and unexpected challenges. For myself, it meant learning how to step back at the right time, balance group dynamics, and practice leadership that puts people first.
The following are some of the lessons and approaches that shaped both the participants’ journey and my own growth.
Managing team dynamic
One of my biggest lessons was that every individual works differently. As a youth leader, I found that dynamics affect how I should assist each of them, and I constantly had to adapt. In my proposal group, participants came in very enthusiastic with a curious mind as they were tasked to organize a workshop proposal. But each of them had very different experiences and priorities. Some wanted to stick to the plan we agreed upon prior to the event, while others wanted to change direction entirely as they kicked off the week, learning new things. In respect of this, I found that bringing in quieter members into the discussion often balanced the tensions and helped the group move forward better.
Debriefing as a teaching tool
There were times I felt debriefing was the most effective way to guide participants. A technique of reinforcement learning I have found is providing people the freedom to discover first, so they better appreciate the reasoning during the post-experiment discussion. For example, in the string objection exercise, I used debriefing to highlight the importance of focusing on the eligibility of processes, and participants responded with understanding.
Encourage leadership
In another exercise, I engaged with another group of participants and helped them to prepare for the Model ICANN conference. The topic and stakeholder role were new to many, and participants were just beginning to work together as a team. I encouraged them to appoint a chair early so that leadership could be established from the start. This gave the chair credibility and trust within the group and allowed them to get into the motions of leading right away. Within a short time, I could already see the chair grow more confident. The importance of guiding the chair as well must not be understated. At times, a simple nudge or small message reminding the chair to assign roles or recall the tasks for completion at each point was all that was needed for the chair to excel.
Bond the team
Most importantly, there was the importance of bonding. A successful leader does not do everything by themselves, but with a team. I found that in both groups I led during the week, icebreaking made a huge difference. Participants who were observably quiet during the first few gatherings gradually opened up with the help of a few icebreaking sessions over Zoom and in-person activities. They became noticeably more comfortable with each other, and this helped create a more collaborative atmosphere.
Let them shine
There were some passionate moments during roleplaying where I found that not intervening and letting it play out also helped participants shine. Some rose as natural mediators, and giving them the space to be confident and seeing them shine was a rewarding part of the process.
Supporting comprehension
Beyond group activities, I also noticed some broader challenges during the week. At times, I noted that some participants found it difficult to follow when speakers present without slides. Since English was not the first language for most participants, I transcribed speeches into notes for participants to review. The art of this was to be careful not to overdo it. It came as a nice surprise when participants received the notes, but ultimately, training them to be able to deal with situations like this is part and parcel of learning.
Ensuring equity
I felt that one of the main duties as a youth leader was to ensure every participant was supported equitably. It was clear that not every participant had the same level of experience and understanding. Being able to identify that and find the right time to teach, while making sure they were not taken away from group discussion yet also not falling behind, was part of being a good leader.
Closing reflections
Looking back, I felt my mission in APIGA 2025 as a youth leader was met satisfactorily, and I am happy to see my group members thriving in further Internet governance fora. I learned that leadership is not just about guiding others but also about being changed by the experience myself. Through APIGA 2025, I became more patient, more adaptive, and more aware of how small actions can empower others to grow.
This journey was made possible thanks to the support of NetMission.Asia, which gave me the opportunity to take on this role, and DotAsia’s sponsorship, which continues to make programs like NetMission Academy and APIGA accessible to youth across the region. Their investment in the next generation of leaders is what allows us to learn, lead, and bring these lessons back to our communities.
Written by Au Yi Teng (Edited by Jenna Fung)