Empowering Leaders Across Cultures – The AIESEC Way
September 22, 2009 by Eugene
Filed under Business and Organisations, Education and Environmentalism
This article is contributed by Jovin Hurry.
Empowering Leaders Across Cultures – The AIESEC Way
It is not common to see some 600 youth leaders flying in from 107 countries to meet to discuss world issues, leadership and management. Yet, this is what AIESEC’s top leaders did at the Palace of Golden Horses in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from August 21 to 31, 2009 for the AIESEC International Congress (IC). This event is AIESEC’s largest annual leadership congress, the biggest and most important event for AIESEC globally. As if it was not big enough, nearly 700 additional members attended the Opening Plenary online on ‘IC Live’. The theme for the 61st AIESEC International Congress ‘Empowering Leaders Across Cultures’ aimed to connect youth leaders across different cultures, beliefs and values to make our world better.
AIESEC is a global, non-political, independent, not-for-profit organization run by students and recent graduates of institutions of higher education. It is present in 1700 universities across 107 countries and territories. Its international platform is meant to enable young people to explore and develop their leadership potential for them to have a positive impact in society. AIESEC is currently the world’s largest student-run organization. It partners with business and higher education and has been developing high-potential students into globally minded responsible leaders for the last six decades.
Global Youth to Business Forum
One of the highlights was the Global Youth to Business Forum. More than 600 youth leaders and selected organizations met, shared perspectives and proposed possible actions around issues of global relevance. The forum gathered youth opinion around the topics of Climate change and Sustainability; Entrepreneurship in the Crisis; Mobility and Diversity. The output of the discussions around each of those three topics is meant to be presented to relevant world institutions and large businesses.
The Forum opened with a keynote address by Amadou Diallo, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding for Asia Pacific, and an address by the President of AIESEC International, Aman Jain. Some of the keynote speakers were: Andrew Fiddaman, Managing Director, The Prince’s Youth Business International; Irene Boey, Founder/CEO, Asia Women Business Network Singapore; Vishen Lakhiani, Founder, Mindvalley Malaysia; and Irene Miller, Director, Ecoleadership Singapore.
Andrew Fiddaman spiced his speech with a few revealing statistics, e.g. he shared that in 2015 there will be three billion people under the age of 25, and that most of the jobs are created in small businesses. He made his young audience realise the pain of being an entrepreneur, and how some get into entrepreneurship out of opportunity and others out of necessity.
He made the attentive youth think through a series of well scaffolded questions that they may discuss in the Congress and afterwards, ranging from skills needed to become an entrepreneur, essential changes in the education system, how the outside world can make it less difficult to start a business to building awareness on being self-employed, building a network of support and ensuring availability of opportunities to everyone.
Irene Miller started with a definition of sustainability, illustrating it with the popular ‘Our Common Future’ statement from the Brundtland Report. What caught everyone’s attention though was the description of the energy cycle, i.e. how our world is a closed system, with things merely existing in different forms. She got her energy cycle, how our world is a closed system and how things do not go away but merely exist in different forms. She got the audience to question the throwaway society we live in, ticking population time-bombs in mega-cities and the difference between acting individually and collectively. She also had delegates personally think of green washing from image-driven corporations.
The Forum concluded with an Open Panel Discussion, chaired in a very engaging way by Houston Spencer from Alcatel-Lucent. The panellists included three organizational representatives alongside of three youth leaders of AIESEC. Several burning issues were discussed, including how AIESEC can move from being relevant to being essential to the world. The youth and business shared their expectations towards each other. The business world wants to see the authenticity of an uncorrupted youth and wants them to go and lead the world sustainably. It recommends them to know how to use their formidable AIESEC experience to influence the world positively later on. The youth look up to the partners for resources and guidance, and some hand-holding at the beginning to compensate for their temporary lack of experience.
After the event, delegates commented on their need to understand the inter-connectedness and complexities the external environment is churning. Many attended with the intention to learn with humility and to shape their minds from the experiences of others. “Today is about opportunity, about impacting the world in the right way,” said an Indian delegate, after he had discussed a few huge societal topics. “The responsibility is in front of us to act in a way as to know there is a future for many generations to come. However, we need to step up, and shed this apathy and inertia that handicap us so badly. In AIESEC, wherever you work, you know, you work on a global platform. To get momentum, we need to engage the other person across the world in the way they perceive things.”
Topics that matter
Understanding leadership
The delegates kicked off the Congress with an energetic Opening Plenary filled with country roll calls – songs and dances from the different countries. They discussed the hot topic of leadership and its meaning to them individually and at the organisational level. They looked at how they can have a big and direct impact on society. They questioned the challenges they need to overcome to redefine destiny.
Participating virtually
AIESECers want to impact the world in a big way, and are using the latest technology of Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn among others to connect people. Virtual participants posted questions during the Congress while a few blogged their thoughts, feelings through comments and photos online. These participations enhanced the experience of the delegations.
Bonding with Partners
The delegates were treated with a series of half-hour sessions from Partners, namely AB InBev, Electrolux and Tata Consulting Services. Several of them honoured the great effort made by AIESECers and Local Committees in impacting their society positively. It was also a time to reinforce each other’s commitment and support for years to come, and also acknowledge this mutually beneficial bond between business and youth.
Achieving impact
Each AIESEC International (AI) team has a slogan for itself. The current team aims to gear the network towards meeting the AIESEC 2010 goal of reaching 10,000 exchanges a year. It wants to build onto what the previous teams laid as foundations. The delegates discussed the meaning of ‘The AIESEC Way’ and how they can attract high potential people to achieve the impact they want in the world. The continuity over the years was highlighted with a few past AI presidents sharing their thoughts and feelings about AIESEC 2010 and its future. The delegates felt a need to spread the message of their activities and to tell the rest of the world about the mark that many AIESECers and AIESEC alumni are leaving.
Interviews
Acting sustainably: How the youth are living their value
In ‘The AIESEC Way’, AIESEC highlights its several core values. Its values provide a way for the collective leadership of AIESEC to encourage norms of behaviour across its global network. The values are: activating leadership, demonstrating integrity, living diversity, enjoying participation, striving for excellence and acting sustainably. The latter means that the members act in a way that is sustainable for its organisation and society that decisions take into account the needs of future generations.
Below are a few thoughts of youth leaders on what the organisation now means to them, how they are living their value of acting sustainably and how they see business and young people working together.
Tabinga is from Pakistan and has been with AIESEC for two years. An active young woman who has been part of several clubs, she believes that AIESEC is ‘something that’s your own’. She feels she is part of a team. There is personal connection with the members. She enjoys learning from people younger and older than her. She is able to express herself in AIESEC. She is concerned that a lot still needs to be done regarding sustainability issues back at home. However, she is positive she will brave the local hiccups. Finally, to get something done in business, one needs to know people. While the non-AIESEC youth may be focused on money, the AIESECers strive to first build relationships in order to help more youth. The youth will work well with business when both of their interests are aligned. Tabinga will move on to an exchange with AIESEC afterwards with more conferences and deeper connection with the youth of the world, professionally.
Cheryl is from Singapore and has been with AIESEC for four years. AIESEC for her means ‘life’. She lives her personal values daily, takes responsibilities and enjoys the diversity it brings. For instance, she has been on the Global Communications Crew and felt great being connected to big goals and passionate members. While sustainable development seems to be a new concept for her, she is fully aware of the need to think of future generations. Sadly, it has been difficult to find caterers who would think on how they minimize resource consumption, for their events. Options are limited. Moreover, as the members graduate from the organisation, the knowledge and behaviour on acting sustainably seems to be lost. She believes that the youth need to learn to negotiate and speak up, and not kowtow to demanding companies, which may look down to inexperienced students. Cheryl hopes to go on an exchange and join an NGO to work on social issues in the long run.
Anouchka is from Gabon, a country in Africa, and has been with AIESEC for three years. AIESEC for her is an opportunity to find herself in the real world. She is encouraged to adapt to modern times, to keep herself abreast of events and to take risks. Since joining the organisation, she has been travelling, experimenting and discovering, even practiced a different language. The family culture may not be that culturally open but she has been visibly enjoying her network of friends. Plenty needs to be done regarding sustainability issues back at home, as many people there do not think highly about cleanliness, especially in the capital Libreville. In AIESEC, there has been other priorities to handle and green issues took a back seat. She believes that business expects the youth to come up with ideas, to propose and not to simply take resources all the time. Business will help and support the youth that takes initiatives. Anouchka has no idea where she will end up in the near future, but the world seems to be her oyster.
Zaruhi is from Armenia, a country in Europe, and has been with AIESEC for three years. AIESEC for her means ‘home’. It is a place for her to achieve, to search for opportunities. Already a very active young person, she is keen to use the international platform to strive to doing and becoming better. She wants to explore more and discover more. Environmental concerns have not been a priority, but a few Corporate Social Responsibility projects may be coming up soon. In the broad spectrum of Armenian youth, she finds many people passive and there is a real need for them to take responsibility. As more partners come on-board, she sees the possibility for change and awareness creation. As a result, she wishes to open a non-governmental organisation in the future, to partly tackle this issue. She thinks that business and youth can work hand in hand for mutual benefits, as long as the criteria for partnership is set and understood. Some companies may be result-oriented all the way though. Zaruhi has many options staring at her for the future. She does not want to leave AIESEC just yet, and will return to Armenia after gaining a host of international experiences.
Bella is from Uganda, and has been with AIESEC for two and a half years. AIESEC provides her with an opportunity to do something different from university studies. She enjoys learning more about event management, information management and networking with a broad range of people. This was her first International Congress and she has befriended members from different continents. She sees the organisation as an outlet for her, bringing her towards greater opportunities. Sustainability issues have not been a priority. Cleaning up has not been seen as relevant as creating jobs and building a worldview. People are more keen as she puts it to ‘save a person than a tree.’ The fact that sponsors themselves are not yet interested does not bode well in this respect. The relationship between business and youth depends on the sponsoring partner to a large extent. Some partners specifically specify what needs to get done while others care only about accountability. Bella thinks of moving on to an exchange with AIESEC and leadership roles internationally, e.g. at AIESEC International. A business person at heart, she plans to start her own business on interior design in the future.
Nastya is from Ukraine, and has been with AIESEC for four years. AIESEC means ‘family’ for her. It has provided meaningful relationships to her, together with a feeling of being wanted by others. She is happy she can have direct impact on people, e.g. the life of trainees in her country. She remembers a particular Turkish exchange participant in Ukraine who established a similar project in Turkey and recommended others for the Ukraine project. She believes in this way she is making the world a better place. While not much has been achieved in terms of environmental protection, some ecological projects are coming up, with new partners. She is even more excited now that the ‘World Without Borders’ project has won recognition. She does not want the situation to remain as it is, with a lot of talk about sustainability and little knowhow and action. Moreover, she thinks that business and youth can generate ideas and projects during discussions. Some companies can be selfish, focusing only on their own interests and making use of an international organisation. Nastya plans to go on an exchange in Asia, after which she will turn to the business her family is running.
Hildur is from Iceland and has been with AIESEC for two and a half years. AIESEC enables her to become a better leader, especially with the huge networking opportunity. As she heads for the future, she wants to live her dreams and AIESEC allows its members to ‘become a better version of yourself’. She has been enjoying the cultural diversity, the youth spirit and the lifelong friends she has made. She believes that everyone needs to have a social responsibility mindset towards the earth. Her wish is to ‘be able to give someone hope’. She does not think that business imposes anything on the youth, as the gains for each party are stated in the contract. What is needed is a bigger outreach campaign by the youth to meet more partners and diversify its portfolio. Both parties have to work hand in hand for win-win collaborations. For this, the youth need to be able to understand the business interests of the partners. Hildur plans to break the stereotype about her generation, also known as ‘generation disappointment’ as she read in a magazine. With Herbalife, she is keen to travel the world and participate in the ‘FeedAfrica’ project.
Julia is from Russia and has been with AIESEC for three and a half years. AIESEC is all about people. She is encouraged to think out of the box. She finds her university teachers boring. The international atmosphere, toolkits found in leadership sessions, connections with different countries, challenges in teams – all these catch her attention more. She seems to thrive on stress and wants to really tap onto her potential inside herself. She believes that more young people are becoming aware of sustainability issues. For instance, delegates at the Congress have been given a cup meant to be re-used several times. They are reminded to use the flipcharts carefully, and to plug off their computers when not using them. She sees that ecological projects will be coming to the fore, e.g. recycling of cans. For her own travels, she would need to balance time and money in her attempt to check on her carbon footprint. She further thinks that partners are interested in getting youth opinions, youth energy. Language remains a concern in major cities though, with the youth having to learn the way business is done and spoken. She finds that the youth are making a special effort to engage companies and that some of the companies remain indifferent to their plight and wish for partnerships. With such an international exposure so far, for Julia to feel normal, she says she needs to work on projects internationally now. She is open to explore and see what is out there. Her flexibility will allow her to be opportunistic and develop herself better.
AIESEC Alumni Global Conference 2009
The AIESEC Alumni Global Conference 2009 (AAGC 2009) was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 28th August to 31st August 2009. It was the global AIESEC Alumni network’s largest event of the year and was Malaysia’s first attempt at hosting this global alumni event. The AAGC 2009 was held side-by-side the AIESEC International Congress, AIESEC’s largest global gathering.
The aim of the AAGC was to strengthen friendships in this network of leaders and to share knowledge, particularly in the areas of leadership and entrepreneurship, social and community responsibilities as well as international cooperation amongst AIESEC alumni. AAGC 2009 is focused at reaching out to AIESEC’s large international network of alumni in 105 countries, currently estimated at a whopping estimate of 800,000 and increasing.
The theme of the conference was Knowledge and Friendships. Knowledge was seen as a key enabler for the alumni to share resources and exchange ideas on how to make our communities better. The well attended and fun social events testified the shared values and lifelong relationships that AIESEC has offered to the alumni.
Bringing the alumni together
Ram Kumar, the Chairman of the Organising Committee for the AAGC 2009 got the ball rolling with some eye-opening statistics. Far too few alumni are networking presently. The objective is to bring the number from 20,000 to 100,000. Several AIESEC alumni met in Budapest and Rome before and were keen to follow-up with their ideas on how to bring the alumni together during the Kuala Lumpur Conference. He highlighted the strong conference objectives, among them the role alumni fulfill in impacting positively their communities.
Victor Loewenstein, President of AIESEC Alumni International (AAI), reminded the audience of the alumni contribution towards AIESEC, in businesses and in the society at large. He believes that that alumni can move forward faster. The Kuala Lumpur Conference brought the largest number of nationalities and that was a good sign. The alumni should spread the word further, and decide on where the alumni should head to and how the AAI can achieve that objective.
The Guest of Honour was Yang Berhomat Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad, a member of Parliament in Johor Bahru, Malaysia and also an AIESEC Alumnus. He shared how he spent his AIESEC years. He had his audience think of how AIESEC values have shaped them in making them better individuals and making a difference in the world. He stressed that it is work that gets things done, and not politics. Effort and results are what count.
Creating a strong networking platform
The Leadership Forum after the Opening Ceremony had a distinguished panel of accomplished alumni. Hiro Kinashi emphasised the need to create a platform that allows all the alumni to connect together seamlessly. The organisation’s brand, cross-generational diversity, internationality are very strong. He questioned on how these can be leveraged upon. His personal network is seen by many as a model on networking more broadly to non-active alumni. Professor Jae Chang Lee counted his own touching AIESEC story in the rose garden. His points were aligned with the theme of the conference. He stated that ‘friendship brings knowledge which is not present in the public domain.’ He encouraged the alumni to tap onto the knowledge informal sector, and to think of how this can be of benefit to one and all.
The ensuring discussion with the floor acknowledged that progress happens at the grass-root level. Some asked how alumni can work together to have a greater impact, and how to tap onto the network for support for their organisation’s social causes. Others questioned the problem of continuity and motivation among the alumni. A few brought the attention to pressing global sustainability issues, and how the database can be properly used to better communicate on these issues.
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