Speaking Peace- Rea Alba Mehra

I’m Rea Alba Mehra. My work explores how language and empathy shape negotiation.

Bridging words, culture & understanding

My story

Raised in a Spanish-Indian household and guided by my father’s diplomatic career, I grew up moving between countries and conversations that shaped destinies — and my own. Studying International Relations at IE University deepened my fascination with how language, translation, and emotion influence negotiation. My thesis, Speaking Peace, examined how multilingualism can soften conflict perception.

Today, I focus on transforming these insights into practice - helping negotiators and institutions communicate across languages and cultures with empathy and clarity.

Beginnings

The early spark — growing up in 5 different countries, and the world of diplomacy

IE & The birth of Speaking peace

My IE experience and where I discovered how language and empathy can reshape negotiation

Future Vision

Expanding this work beyond academia — towards real-world peacebuilding and collaboration

Speaking Peace

How multilingualism and translation shape negotiation.

I offer strategic consultations tailored for diplomats and international relations professionals. My focus is on utilizing language to navigate the complex emotional landscapes of negotiations.

Overview

Overview of Speaking Peace

My thesis explores how multilingualism and translation affect perceptions of escalation in international negotiation. By studying emotional reactions to specific words, Speaking Peace examines how second-language English can soften conflict perception.

Findings

Visualized findings

Implications

What this means in the real world

These findings reveal that language choice can significantly alter how negotiators perceive emotional escalation. Understanding these subtle shifts allows diplomats, mediators, and interpreters to manage tone and intention more effectively - building trust in high-stakes contexts.

Future Applications

Thought Leadership

I aim to collaborate with embassies, peacebuilding institutes, and the UN to integrate linguistic empathy into training programs and international mediation practices.

The MEAF Model

The MEAF Model - Multilingual Escalation Awareness Framework - is a framework I designed during my thesis, Speaking Peace. It visualizes how language, emotional tone, and cultural framing interact in multilingual negotiation contexts.

Rather than focusing on words alone, MEAF maps the emotional resonance and escalation potential of terms across languages, helping negotiators and interpreters anticipate reactions and communicate with greater empathy.

Today, I use this model to explore how linguistic empathy can enhance both diplomatic practice and international communication strategies.

Download Executive Summary