The document summarizes seminars from 2016-2017 on various topics such as intercultural competences, European policy and social affairs, cross-generational marketing, international sales, marketing and logistics, and debates on the economic crisis. Key points from several seminars are highlighted, such as the importance of self-awareness when working with other cultures, challenges of entering new markets, and how customer bases can change seasonally. Overall impressions note interactive aspects, relevance of topics to studies, and benefits of hearing real-world experiences.

2. Seminars 2016-2017
Matthijs
Monteyne

3. The why, what and how of intercultural competences
• Self-awareness
• Awareness of surrounding
• Difficulties of interpreting foreign experience
• Forever unknowing of cultures
• Preparation is key
• Gut feeling
• Presenting yourself consciously
22 November 2016 - 18.15 - A3

4. Most notable topics
• Get to know yourself!
It was very clear that knowing yourself and being self-aware is
essential when working with other cultures. We will never understand
other cultures as much as we do with our own. Having an open mind
and being self aware helps to create successful partnership.
I find this the most important part of the presentation because I have
experienced this before and have struggled with it. I thought this was
the most truthful statement of the presentation.

5. Most notable topics
• Don’t ask for input if they don’t have any. If they have ask it!
Working with other cultures can be made easier if you have a good idea
of what they perceive to be ethical business. Mr. Buyens indicated that
as long as you don’t know the market you should be collaborating.
Interesting about this is that you first have to know a culture before
knowing what they want. Knowing a culture demands having
experience with a culture. Only after this business can go smoother.
Experience is important!

6. Overall thoughts on the seminar
• Interesting to hear from own experience
• Good combination between theory and cases
• The purpose of the seminar was clear & was achieved
• Beneficial for self-awareness
• Stimulating

7. European policy/ Social affairs
15 November 2016 - 15.00 - A 3
• What does it take to educate everyone to a
certain level
• Sustainable job creation
• Policy making
• Funds

8. Most notable topics
• It is possible to be sustainable
Sustainability is possible when policies are in place and people are
satisfied with those policies. We require a minimum learning for
citizens which will help out overall.
I think the idea of having an overall minimum requirement for learning
could be a good thing but I think it’s a long way from the truth as we
can’t function without lower ended jobs.

9. Overall thoughts on the seminar
• Overall very technical information which made me lose track
sometimes
• The idea behind promoting Social Rights is very interesting but
policies seem hard to make and it could mean that it’s far from
finished
• It’s a good thing someone is working on it with such care
• Having a more flexible economy sounds very appealing to me

10. 18 October 2016 15.00 - A4
Cross Generational Marketing
• Only thing that is certain is change
• Interactive presentation
• The young play huge role in marketing
• Awareness of generations
• Fast moving

11. Most notable topics
• Self-awareness and awareness of others
Looking at generations before something mayor is happening is
important to predict the future. But remember the future cannot be
predicted! Generations give a good indication of what is happening,
what will work & what will not. Making it universal is hard but not
impossible
Something I would of never thought of brought in a very interactive
way. Generations are the future and we should look at the
developments around us even though it’s not always relevant (example
emoji's)

12. Most notable topics
• Fast moving consumer market
Things are happening fast and you should jump on every change you
get to make money.
I think he combined the reality with marketing very well. Out of a lot of
courses we get the memo that the market is now moving faster than
ever. Having this interactive experience confirmed this and even gave it
more power.

13. Overall thoughts on the seminar
• Interactive aspect of the seminar made it interesting from start to
finish
• School related topics could be extracted from the presentation
• Gave insight on how generations can be relevant in business
• Enthusiasm of the speaker made it easy to sit through
• Cases were very clear and relevant

14. International sales in practice
• Belgian culture in other markets
• Barriers for business
• Problem solving
• Miscommunication/Misinterpretation
• Intercultural management
25 April 2007- 18.15 - A2

15. Most notable topics
• Problems entering new markets
Countries have other standards making it difficult to make your product
universal. A lot of things about a product have to change to enter
another market. The management of people is done in a different way.
She brought everything from her own experiences. It was interesting to
hear her talk about problems that occur when not completely aware of
the market.

16. Most notable topics
• Problems when selling in retail
When selling in retail you can’t take up to much space and you have to
be very clear of what it is you’re selling.
Again, her own experience was a good way to explain problems which
occur even in our own country. It is something notable that I will
remember just because of the way she brought the information.

17. Overall thoughts on the seminar
• Own experience was a good way to show possible problems
• The level of English was a little bit lacking but personally I didn’t have
a problem with it
• She also had a purpose of promoting her facebook and I thought that
was a nice way to finish the presentation.
• The content of the presentation was clear and relevant for
international business management
• It gives you an idea of what can happen after the studies

18. Marketing and Logistics of Hello Fresh
• New concept distribution
• Steps in reaching in growing a small company
• Unexpected problems
• Concept illustration
02 May - 16.45 to 18.15

19. Most notable topics
• Customer base changes during seasons
There is a seasonal change of customers in businesses. Reason being
that interests change because of weather and overall feeling. They
illustrated this by saying that there is an outflow rate of 30% of the
customers.
Interesting to get insight on how customer base can change and how
you can survive those periods.

20. Most notable topics
• Use of hubs to win terrain
Using new “hubs” to transport to new parts of countries (Benelux) is
needed for their business plan. Management of transport is been
looked at and this is the overall best method keeping in mind freshness,
economy and reserves.
Seeing something like happening in real life is interesting because we
only see this in business cases. It’s a good thing that we see school
related theory been performed in real life.

21. Overall thoughts on the seminar
• The first speaker had an interesting topic to talk about. I think a lot of
people lost track of the second speaker because of the topic
• A lot of school related topics done in real life, made it interesting
• The presentation was not very deep
• The overall enthusiasm of the speakers made it hard to keep track of
the topics
• It gave me the idea that they value profit making more than branding
this is visible in the decisions they make about distribution. This with
continues payment instead of one time deals, etc

22. Own interests
I have done many seminars over the past year but these are the most notable

23. AIESEC Possibility of internship abroad
• Company information
• Practical information about foreign internship
• Testimonials
• Networking event
• Proposals of internship for IBM
21st of March – 19.30 to 21.40

24. Most notable topics
• Possibility for internships are endless
A lot of companies abroad need western internships with language
skills. A lot of westerners get multiple languages and only a little
knowledge is often enough to make the decision
The presentation was exactly what I hoped it would be. There is an
open environment to talk to people who went abroad and had similar
struggles. It gave a lot of confidence.

25. Most notable topics
• Testimonials
People across the entire world are connected through AIESEC and are
in contact with each other. If something goes wrong there is always
someone to help you in the area.
This again gives confidence of going abroad to take an internship. I
think it’s a good thing that this company exists since there is a clear
demand for it.

26. Overall thoughts on the seminar
• Topic which was relevant for IBM students
• Presentation was interesting since there were a lot of speakers
• Networking event was well organised with people being open to talk
about their experiences
• There was a drink afterwards which most of us could appreciate!
• Some proposals could be done, which for IBM students is more
convenient than the system currently in place.

27. 10 years after the economic crisis (debate)
• Looking at past economic situation
• Looking at current & future economic situation
• Debating about who is to blame
• What is happening to save the economy
• What has to happen to save the economy
4th of May – 18.30 to 22.00
https://www.facebook.com/CapitantGent/
(students organising this)

28. Most notable topics
• We will need another crisis to learn from out initial mistakes
Not a lot has been learned since the economic crisis of 2008 and
everyone could agree that something radical has to change to save the
economy.
This was incredibly interesting for people who have an interest in
banking. I feel like small banks are being focussed without them
causing the problem leaving them small. Big banks take advantage of
this and small banks therefore are sloping towards extinction.

29. Most notable topics
• Big banks still have unsafe collateral debt obligations
The bank crisis of 2008 stemmed out of mortgage debt obligations
which were given to everyone making them risky. Banks nowadays do
the same on other parts of the economy creating the same hazard.
It was interesting to see how big bank spokespersons competed against
facts and figures about this happening. Overall very fun experience

30. Overall thoughts on the seminar
• Topic which was very relevant for IBM students
• Created by students for students!
• Bringing complex matters to the public is something that hasn’t been
done before. It has been a while since I've seen something so
interesting.
• Networking possibilities and possibility to give input made it
interactive and fun
• Sometimes things are explained very complex and you could see
some people losing track.