The Divergence Room

Clifford Brown brings nearly three decades of firsthand experience in international development, having served with USAID across Latin America, Central Asia, and Africa, including leadership roles in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Kyrgyzstan, and Colombia. A former commercial lawyer and multilingual international affairs professional, Clifford has witnessed military coups, civil conflict, corruption, humanitarian crises, and major political transitions while also seeing the impact of development and humanitarian work. In this conversation, he explores the realities behind foreign aid, the challenges within large international institutions, and the personal experiences that inspired his book Inside USAID: An Odyssey of Foreign Assistance. He also reflects on why he believes USAID will be missed and why foreign assistance remains relevant in a changing world.

Aletta Rochat, executive presence coach, global speaker, and Past International President of Toastmasters International, explores why capable professionals can work hard and still struggle to be recognized at the level they deserve. Drawing from her global leadership experience and her own journey of learning to stop downplaying her capabilities, Aletta shares practical insights on communicating with clarity, building credibility, speaking up in high-stakes environments, and becoming visible as a leadership-ready professional. She also examines the gap between confidence and perception—and how small changes in communication can transform how others see and hear you.

Samantha Foote, a Board-Certified Music Therapist, parenting consultant, and advocate for neurodivergent families, shares how her professional expertise and personal experience have shaped the way she supports parents and children. As the founder of Parenting With Confidence and co-host of Every Brain is Different, Samantha helps families move beyond overwhelm with practical, individualized strategies that recognize every child’s unique needs. She discusses music therapy, neurodiversity, parenting, advocacy, and the importance of creating spaces where families feel understood, supported, and empowered.

Jeff Dalton shares a deeply honest story of faith, rejection, mental health, and finding a healthier understanding of what it means to follow Jesus. After years of struggling with depression, low self-esteem, rejection within the church, and being made to feel like his bipolar diagnosis made him a defect, Jeff reached a breaking point after his book launch failed. Through returning to the Gospels, he began to see faith, success, healing, and belonging differently. His story explores the courage to acknowledge pain rather than hide it, break free from performative Christianity, and embrace an honest, loving relationship with Jesus.

Jennifer Man, Director of Science at UK Biocentre, brings a unique perspective on what it takes to move scientific research from the laboratory into meaningful real-world impact. With two decades of experience evolving from an expert scientist into a leader, Jennifer has seen firsthand how technical excellence can fall short when people and leadership are overlooked. She shares insights on leading scientists, building strong research and supplier partnerships, maintaining scientific integrity, and creating environments where talented people can thrive.