Narration Script (Long Version)
Welcome and introduction
Welcome to the Simulation Room. What we have built here is not a classroom but an immersive learning experience.
It is designed to disrupt habits, engage younger generations, and demonstrate step by step the skills diplomats will need for the future.
The concept
The heart of this room is what we call investigative diplomacy. It may sound unusual, even poetic, but it captures the soul of the project. This is not for everyone. The people who thrive here will be those curious, resilient, and inspired to work differently.
Entering the room
When participants arrive, the first thing they notice is the atmosphere. Music plays to calm and focus them. Scents enhance the mood. And in the corner is the only visible feature: the cabinet of curiosities.
The cabinet of curiosities
Each person is invited to take an object from the cabinet. We ask: how does it make you feel, what does it suggest? This simple exercise breaks the ice and triggers curiosity.
Later, after the whole journey, we return to the same objects. Suddenly, they make sense. This creates the “aha” moment and closes the loop.
The journey begins
From there, we start mapping the blueprint of the investigative diplomat. The journey has chapters laid out visibly on the wall, allowing participants to follow along even without an instructor.
The journey unfolds in four parts:
The Self – building personal capability.
The System – how the embassy organises itself.
The Skills – what diplomats must master.
The Simulation – putting it all into practice.
Starting with the Self
Everything begins with the individual.
Today’s diplomats face a gap.
They are at the front line of information, but often lack the skills to verify it.
They need to know - Is this tweet real? Is this person credible?
Can I trust this data?
They cannot wait for headquarters.
They must act on the spot.
We teach the due diligence mindset.
A blend of essential skills - curiosity, verification, research, and, above all, collaboration.
No diplomat works alone; each piece of information is part of a bigger picture.
Only when shared does the whole story emerge.
The 360 Diplomat Model
This leads to our 360 Diplomat framework:
Managing Up. This requires aligning fully with the ambassador and HQ priorities.
Managing Across. It is about correctly mapping interdependencies with other departments.
Managing Out. Means engaging external stakeholders with clarity and purpose. This takes time and is earned.
This three-axis model ensures diplomats always know where they stand and what matters most.
Systems thinking
A diplomat must think of themselves as a “situation room” in their own right.
That means:
Preserving institutional memory - what came before me?
Developing daily habits of open-source scanning and research.
Mapping stakeholders and relationships.
Planning, anticipating meetings and calendars.
Always being ready to tell the right story to the right audience.
The Situation Room system
What we learned during the blockade is that the same gap at the personal level also exists at the embassy level.
The answer was the Situation Room. Its motto is simple: clarity in chaos, unity in action.
The Situation Room is not just for crises. It has four functions:
An open-source intelligence fusion hub, turning raw information into insight.
An embassy-wide communication hub, breaking silos between departments.
An institutional memory hub, preserving knowledge across rotations.
A crisis management hub, responding effectively when the inevitable happens.
Practice and tools
Theory is not enough. Participants will practice skills in two ways:
An OSINT game that teaches clue-based investigation.
A case study library with real examples that can be replayed and simulated.
These lead into the final phase - the simulation, where diplomats must act as if facing real events in real time.
Daily workflow
In practice, the Situation Room produces a rhythm:
A daily situational awareness meeting at 11 am.
Weekly reports and urgent memos.
Due diligence briefs before meetings with leaders.
Systems to share cases quickly between embassies.
Regular institutional memory updates.
Quality assurance processes to learn from mistakes.
The human priority
Finally, the core message: technology and AI are helpful, but they only enhance human ability. The real investment is in people—their mindset, skills, and culture of collaboration. If those foundations are strong, the tools will serve them well.
Closing
And that is the whole arc - from curiosity at the cabinet, through the 360 Diplomat journey, into the Situation Room, and finally to practice in the simulator.
The goal is simple - to prepare future generations of diplomats to be surprised again, but to meet complexity with clarity, confidence, and unity.
Narrative Script
The short version
Welcome
Welcome to the Simulation Room.
This is not a classroom.
It is an immersive experience. Disruptive, sensorial, engaging, and designed to show the future skills of diplomacy.
The Concept
At the centre is investigative diplomacy.
It may sound unusual, but it captures the spirit.
This work is not for everyone — only for those curious, resilient, and willing to think differently.
First Impressions
When participants enter, the room feels different.
Music and scent create calm.
The only thing visible: a cabinet of curiosities.
The Cabinet
Everyone takes an object.
We ask: what does it mean to you?
Later, at the end of the journey, we return to the same object. Suddenly, it makes sense.
That “aha” moment closes the loop.
The Journey
The story has four parts:
The Self.
The System.
The Skills.
And the Simulation.
The Self
Diplomats today face an information gap.
They are on the front line, yet lack the skills to verify and analyse.
They must be able to act quickly, not wait for headquarters.
This involves developing a due diligence mindset, cultivating curiosity, verifying information, and fostering collaboration.
The 360 Diplomat
Our model is simple:
Manage Up - align with the ambassador and HQ.
Manage Across - build the network across departments.
Manage Out - earn the right to engage with stakeholders.
Systems Thinking
Each diplomat is an individual - a Situation Room on their own right.
Keep the institutional memory.
Build daily habits of scanning and research.
Map stakeholders.
Plan ahead.
And always be ready to tell the right story, to the right person, at the right time.
The Situation Room
At the embassy level, the same gaps exist.
Our answer is the Situation Room: clarity in chaos, unity in action.
It has four functions:
Fusion hub - turn information into insight.
Communication hub - break silos.
Memory hub - preserve knowledge.
Crisis hub - act fast when needed.
Practice Tools
Skills are learned by doing.
Here we use two tools:
An OSINT game for investigation.
A case study library for replay and simulation.
Daily Rhythm
Every day has a workflow.
Morning situational meetings.
Weekly reports and urgent memos.
Due diligence briefs before key meetings.
And continuous updates to institutional memory.
The Core Message
Tools and AI help, but they are only support.
The real priority is people, their skills, culture, and ability to work together.
Closing
From the cabinet of curiosities, to the 360 Diplomat, to the Situation Room, and finally the simulator, the journey is complete.
The goal is simple: never be surprised again.
To meet complexity with clarity, confidence, and unity.