Report: Aspen Young Leaders Program 2018
The seventh edition of the Aspen Young Leaders Program was held from March 15 to 18, 2018. Thirty-five young leaders in business, public administration, the NGO sector, the arts, media and science from Central Europe gathered in the Low Tatra mountains in Slovakia to get inspired by experienced professionals and fellow participants and to reflect on the role and challenges of leadership in today’s world. For four days the group engaged in interactive workshops, lectures, and discussions with experts from various fields.
Tanja Vainio, Country Managing Director Czech Republic and Slovakia of ABB shared her personal story and experience with leadership in practice.
'The best way to get a great job in the future is to do your current job very well.' @tanjavainio @AspenInstCE #leadership #aylp
— Adela Zabrazna (@AdelaZabrazna) March 16, 2018
The discussion about populism and extremism in society was opened by Péter Krekó, Executive Director of Political Capital and AYLP first edition Alumni, preached caution when political parties confirm all your opinions.
An exciting, vibrant and thought-provoking discussion on populism and extremism yesterday at #aylp , thanks a lot for @JiriSchneider and @IvanHodac for having me! @AspenInstCE collected a wonderful group of young leaders again with original thinking and personal stories to share pic.twitter.com/RWJAg7VnL4
— Peter Kreko (@peterkreko) March 17, 2018
Michał Boni, a Member of the European Parliament, spoke about emotions in modern politics and the necessity to create new trust between politicians and citizens.
EU has a lack of charismatic leaders. Finding new is not easy – it is not chemistry, it's alchemy…. @MichalBoni @AspenInstCE #aylp pic.twitter.com/HR8JYuzKcb
— Lukáš Řízek Werner (@rizek244) March 16, 2018
In one of the workshops, choreographer Miřenka Čechová helped participants experience how to be a good leader and how to be a good follower.
James Pritts from the Center for Machine Perception at the Czech Technical University raised the question of opportunities and risks of artificial intelligence.
Something from the quant world for a change, brilliant James Pritts from @CVUTPraha on some fascinating developments in Machine Learning. #aylp pic.twitter.com/1YJYGae7t7
— Richfox Capital (@RichfoxCapital) March 17, 2018
A debate about inclusiveness and its role in society was spurred by Martin Vavrinčík, Director of the Social Integration Program of People in Need Slovakia.
It is our role and the role of the society to help people break the circle of poverty – Martin Vavrinčík from People in Need issued successful cases on social integration at #AYLP.
# integration #poverty @ClovekvOhrozeni pic.twitter.com/Pk6h0yyuMv— Aspen Institute CE (@AspenInstCE) March 17, 2018
Possibilities for sustainability of prosperity in Central Europe outlined Sergiu Manea, Chief Executive Officer, Banca Comerciala Romana. After that he created a space for live discussion about social capital in the V4 countries.
In another workshop two trainers from Centrum Dohody, Lukáš Rumlena and Tomáš Mertin, encouraged participants to develop leadership through sharing. The groups of discussed some significant leadership issues and attempted to find solutions by sharing their personal experiences.
Participants in Aspen Young Leaders left the program enriched with practical knowledge and self-reflection skills. Empowerment workshops were again among the many highlights of the program. Networking and informal activities, such as a visit to the steel mill in Podbrezová, were also included.
Just came home from Aspen Young Leaders Program, ready to start new week and definitely a new period as well: stronger, more resilient, happy and empowered! Huge thanks to @AspenInstCE for your work! Happy to be a part of the family! #AYLP #leadership pic.twitter.com/VFKyJjYgjL
— Sylwia Piekarska (@s_piekarska) March 18, 2018
And these are some of the reactions we got from the participants of the Program:
Thanks very much to everyone in Aspen Institute CE for putting these 4 amazing days together. It felt like a different world – it was intense, fun, exciting, challenging all at once. Amazing, once in a lifetime experience that was over little too quickly.
I am very grateful for the opportunity to join the group, I got so much from the 4 days. I appreciate the work you are doing and hope to stay in touch as much as I will manage. I have already recommended the programme and your events to my colleagues and friends and will surely support it further, it would be nice if they discover Aspen activities for themselves too. Great work you are doing, thank you for that! :-)
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