"I want to empower and inspire other women to realize that they, too, have a place in MUN"

When searching for people to interview, I couldn’t forget the amazing woman who interviewed me for an SGMUN Chair position. The tables have turned this time, and when I opened this section, I didn’t hesitate to ask her when she would be available to chat with me. Her name is Nele. She is currently pursuing her Master’s in Political Science and International Relations, entering her second year, and moving to Prague—one of my favourite European cities.

With seven years of experience, Nele’s MUN journey began in Indianapolis while she was studying abroad in the USA. She was introduced to MUN through several diplomacy preparation seminars and workshops. 

“Everything was new to me at the time, and as someone for whom English is not a first language, the experience was challenging,” she shared. But that didn’t stop her! Her interest in politics, the idea of stepping into the role of a diplomat, and the opportunity to meet new people captivated her.

Over the past few years, Nele has participated in numerous MUNs and enjoys being both a delegate and a chair. She explained that as a delegate, you are more “in the midst of the action,” while as a chair, she loves guiding delegates, especially beginners.

Nele has a particular fondness for committees related to security. I confessed that I sometimes find such committees intimidating, but she reassured me. One of the reasons she enjoys being a delegate and a chair in these committees is to prove—and help other women realize—that they, too, have a place in these discussions. Having won awards as a delegate, Nele knows what it takes to excel in that role. 

“It’s not about speaking the most,” she added, “it’s about engaging others, showing initiative, and working collaboratively.” She also shared some tips for first-time chairs: “Preparation is crucial—thoroughly research your topics, know the Rules of Procedure inside out, and be ready to explain them to delegates.” She emphasized the importance of communication with your co-chair and being flexible.

Nele also touched on her role as an organizer: “I enjoy seeing the conference come together as an organizer, witnessing the final product of our efforts.” She was the Secretary-General of the first edition of LakeMUN in 2024. Nele confessed that this role came with many challenges, but her previous experiences helped her immensely. These challenges included logistics and crisis management. According to her, one of the key characteristics of a good organizer is being able to “handle situations as they arise.”In addition, Nele mentioned the use of mymun for running their applications: 

As both a chair and an organizer, she found MUN Command incredibly helpful. “It’s efficient for uploading and sharing documents, saving time, and ensuring clear communication among the team.”

I couldn’t resist asking Nele if she noticed any differences between American and European conferences. She observed that in European conferences, there is a “great variety of participants from different backgrounds,” while in the American ones, the organization is excellent.

We concluded the interview with Nele discussing her future aspirations. She is passionate about pursuing a career in diplomacy or security, as these fields deeply resonate with her. The skills she has honed through MUN—organization, language proficiency, navigating diverse perspectives, fostering compromise, crisis management, and adapting to complex situations—are all vital in these arenas.

As our conversation came to a close, we couldn’t help but envision a future where we co-chair a committee together—two women in diplomacy, breaking barriers and proving that girl power can thrive in even the most challenging environments. Here’s to future conferences, shared successes, and continuing to empower one another along the way!