Santiago Aparicio is a former Applied Imagination student with experience in environmental issues in Colombia. I originally wanted to focus the conversation on research, but the most valuable part ended up being the personal side: his experience in the course as a Colombian, his future plans, how his interventions worked, and how the program has helped him professionally.
What surprised me most was how generous he is with his contacts. He was very open to connecting me with interesting people and offering feedback. That was probably the most valuable outcome of the conversation.
He also clarified an important point about my approach. He warned me to be careful not to fall into a “saviour” dynamic, where it seems like I’m bringing oratory to people from the outside. It’s a useful reminder, although it’s something I had already discussed with Carlos León.