These are all of the slide handouts from the Next Generation Leaders of Slovakia in one book

1. Preparing Tomorrow’s Leaders
of
Slovakia
A Conversation about the Future we are Inheriting
1

2. When a generation believes…

3. This week is about your future…
• We are grateful to be here
• We have more to learn than we have to offer
• How we got here is amazing
• What happens here after we leave should be more
amazing
• Your story as a generation is full of promise
• Your future story as a nation needs you in it
• This week, we hope to watch you start writing it…
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Page 3
Slovakia

4. What we hope to accomplish this
morning…
• Set the stage for our conversations and our work
over the next two days
– The world in which we find ourselves
– The story we heard from you…about you
– Our hope for the next chapter of that story
– How we will start writing it this week
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Page 4
Slovakia

5. The world we find ourselves in:
An age of paradox and opportunity
• Where are you seeing and experiencing change in
the world around you?
• Where do you see paradox (contradiction)?
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Page 5
Slovakia

6. The world we find ourselves in:
An age of paradox and opportunity
• ENIAC vs. Pentium 4
– Uneven progress in some industries over others
• 1999‐2009; The International New York Times
– Information vs. learning
• 40 % increase in Slovak university graduates in one year (07‐
08) with no change in education quality
• HPV, HIV, Genome
– Dramatic advances in health sciences and decrease in
quality of global health care
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Page 6
Slovakia

7. The world you find yourselves in:
Slovakia at the intersection of the future
• The “Tatra Tiger” – 6% GDP
• Economic growth – problem & opportunity
• Population aging and people exiting the workforce; yet fewer
employment opportunities entice people to leave, leaving
fewer people in the workforce to support more retirees
• Ahead on automotive production
– Energy an opportunity?
• Behind on I/T and knowledge management
– Opportunity to advance?
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Page 7
Slovakia

8. What does this mean for you?
• Unprecedented degrees of choice (many of which
you may understandably struggle to see)
• The first generation to raise the first generation of
“true Slovaks”
• You are “living between parentheses”
• You are privileged with the opportunity and
responsibility to write the course of history that will
be the most radical departure ever from the past
• Little in your history has prepared you for this
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Page 8
Slovakia

9. In this context, AIESEC is more
important than ever
Producing leaders…
• who can lead transformation
• of integrity: actions match words
• who can develop other leaders
• who aren’t afraid to try new things even if they fail
• who are comfortable with uncertainty
• who are not complacent or satisfied with the status
quo, but push for ever greater results
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Page 9
Slovakia

10. The story you told us about you
Page 10

11. The story you told us about you
• Surveyed over 100 emerging Slovak leaders around
the world
• Both quantitative and qualitative questions
• Clear themes and a story to be told…
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Page 11
Slovakia

12. Who responded?
Total of 120 respondents have participated on the survey
Gender
Female 55
Male 65
• Survey was available online for respondents within the period of 28th August till
15th September
• All the following numbers and percentages in the demographic analysis
calculate its values from the total sum of 120 respondents
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Page 12
Slovakia

13. Age range of the respondents
80% of the respondents belong to
the age group under 30 years.
They are representing the next
productive and active generation
of Slovakia.
Let us hear their voices!
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Page 13
Slovakia

14. You are smart & educated
Educational level of the respondents
74% of the total survey participants hold the university
degree.
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Page 14
Slovakia

15. Where are they?
46% of the total survey participants have experience with
life in the foreign country.
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Page 15
Slovakia

16. Milujete Slovensko...
„Vysoká úroveň medziľudských vzťahov, predovšetkým
silné rodinné zväzky sú doma úžasné.“
„Mám tu priateľov z detstva a spomienky.“
„Slovenčina je môj materinský jazyk.“
„Slovenská krásna príroda.“
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Page 16
Slovakia

17. Aj keď, stopy minulého režimu v
spoločnosti vás odrádzajú
Neotvorenosť ľudí a intolerancia k rozdielnostiam
„Celkový pohľad na život a mentalita Slovákov je
frustrujúca.“
„ Závisť, negativizmus a ohováranie...“
Nedôvera v politických lídrov a ich ľudské vlastnosti je
najväčšou bariériou k nádeji, že sa niečo zlepší:
„Korupcia, osobné záujmy o obohatenie sa,
a rodinkárstvo v politike.“
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Page 17
Slovakia

18. Túžite zvýšiť úroveň vášho osobnostného rozvoja
a byť adekvátne odmenení za vašu prácu
„Chcem školy, kde sa podporuje kreativita študentov a
vzťah s učiteľmi je na partnerskej úrovni.”
„Viac možností priamo spolupracovať s expertami z
celého sveta.”
„Mzdy, na takej úrovni, že človek si môže dovoliť
zaplatiť byt, auto a ísť raz za rok na dovolenku.”
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Page 18
Slovakia

19. Uvedomujete si svoj vlastný potenciál, ale
neviete si predstaviť ako by ste to mohli
využiť na Slovensku
„Pokiaľ doma bude moja výplata neporovnateľne nižšia
ako v zahraničí, tak volím možnosť odchodu tam kde
si moju prácu vážia.“
„Na Slovensku, by sa musela úplne zmeniť mentalita
politických predstaviteľov aby to tu fungovalo.“
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Page 19
Slovakia

20. Niektorí si zvolili realizovať sny mimo
Slovenska
„ Životný štandard, ktorý mám v zahraničí by som
nemohol nadobudnúť prácou na Slovensku.“
„ Na Slovensku nie je multikultúrna pestrosť.“
„V zahraničí je oveľa viac pracovných príležitostí a
priestoru na rozvoj kariéry.“
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Page 20
Slovakia

21. Ale aspekty ako národná identita, rodina, či
spomienky nemožno nahradiť odchodom
„ V zahraničí budem stále cudzincom.“
„ Moji najbližší a ľudia, na ktorých sa môžem spoľahnúť
sú ďaleko.“
„ Materinský jazyk a domov je len jeden.“
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Page 21
Slovakia

22. A viete čo chcete...
„ Mzdy, ktoré mi na Slovensku zabezepčia komfort,
ktorý je štandardom v zahraničí.“
„ Školstvo podporujúce individualitu a talent študentov.“
“ Transparentných a čestných lídrov krajiny.“
„ Chcem, aby Slovensko bolo krajinou, kde chcem
vychovávať svoje deti.“
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Page 22
Slovakia

23. Ok, now what do we do?
Page 23

24. “They saw themselves as part of–not apart from–the problem
they were trying to solve. Their fundamental orientation was that
more than one future was possible and that the actions they and
others took would determine which future would unfold. They
did not believe they had to wait passively for events to occur.
They believed they could actively shape their future.
They understood that one reason the future cannot be predicted
is that it can be influenced.”
Adam Kahane, Solving Tough Problems
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Page 24
Slovakia

25. One big conversation made up of
important questions…
Day One: Friday, November 6
Why does how we What doors are
How did we get
Why are we here? got here matter for opening to our
here?
the future? future?
Day Two: Saturday, November 7
What could our future look What’s the story I How can we keep How have our voices
like? What do we want it to hope to tell one this conversation really mattered all
look like? day? going? along?
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Page 25
Slovakia

26. The plan for our next two days
Agenda Day One Friday 6 Nov Agenda Day Two Saturday 7 Nov
9:30‐9:45 Welcome – Ivana
11:00‐12:00 When a Generation Believes Ron 9:45‐11:30 Future Search 1: Building
Slovakia’s Tomorrow
12:00‐2:00 Community Conversation: The
Heritage that made us who we are 11:30‐12:00 Seeing one another’s work
2:00‐3:30 Lunch 12:00‐1:00 Lunch
4:00‐ 4:30 Seeing one another’s work 1:00‐3:00 Future Search 2: Stories from the
Future
4:30‐5:30 How today shapes tomorrow: The
choice of our generation Jon & Josh 3:30‐4:30 Seeing one another’s work
4:30‐5:30 Keeping the conversation alive
6:30‐7:30 Dinner
Where do we go from here
7:30‐9:00 Community Conversation: 5:30‐6:30 The final conversation: How our
Recognizing Open Doors voices matter: Stories from Slovakia’s
Next Generation Leaders
Next
Generation
Leaders of
26
Slovakia

27. The fundamental question:
Do you believe that the choices and actions you
make today can and will directly shape the future of
Slovakia?
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Page 27
Slovakia

28. How we’d like you to approach this…
• Playfully – have fun
• With belief
• With activism
• Realistically
• As if it really were your future…work hard at it
• Believing Ghandi was correct…You must be the
change you want to see in the world
• Ask for help if you need it – with English, or with
anything!
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Page 28
Slovakia

29. What we hope for you
• A vision for your future you believe you can achieve
• To be as clear on what you do want as what don’t want
• A broadened view of the world and your place in it
• Your passion to change the world (starting with Slovakia and
AIESEC)
• That you understand the powerful opportunity you have in
AIESEC to prepare for being world‐changers
• That you understand how you must change in order to change
the world
• The beginning of a conversation that turns into a movement
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Page 29
Slovakia

30. Appendix
Detailed data and analysis from survey
Page 30

31. Next Generation of Slovak Leaders
Survey Results
November 2009

32. Introduction to the Survey Process
The survey was designed by Veronika Kopcik of Research Bridge,
Ivana Sendecka and Ron Carucci
The survey was administered in the Slovak language and distributed only
to Slovak nationals
The survey was administered online for a period of two weeks between
August 28 and September 15, 2009
In total, 120 responses to the survey were received
Rated questions were asked on a 7-point scale where 1, 2, and 3
represent negative responses, 5, 6 and 7 represent positive responses,
and 4 is neutral
Results are shown only for groups of 3 or more respondents
2

33. Demographic Description
of the Participants

34. Participants are about evenly distributed between males
and females
4

35. 80% of the survey participants are 29 or younger
80%
5

36. Majority of the survey participants have University degrees
75%
6

37. By their own assessment, most respondents have solid
command of English
88%
7

38. Self-reported English skills are fairly strong even among
those who have never lived abroad
8

39. Participants encompass various levels of work experience
9

40. About half of the respondents never lived abroad and about
half have experience living abroad
46%
10

41. Of those who have experience living abroad, three quarters
lived abroad for at least 2 years
74%
11

42. Key Findings

43. Only 21% of those who haven’t lived abroad are definite
about wanting to remain in Slovakia
Virtually everyone who left Slovakia is happy with the
decision and very few would consider coming back
13

44. Interestingly, although the vast majority of those who
returned to Slovakia are happy with that decision, most of
them would consider leaving again
14

45. This results is driven primarily by those who experienced
shorter stays abroad (up to 3 years) - they may be
considering another shorter term study or work stay abroad

46. Slovak schools were evaluated very low by all demographic
groups in terms of their ability to foster creativity/innovation
and develop leaders
Not surprisingly, those who live abroad are the least
satisfied with their career opportunities in Slovakia.
Similarly, they rate Slovak employers’ ability to develop
high potentials lower than those who live in Slovakia.
16

47. Friendly atmosphere / mutual respect among employees is
by far the “top” job attribute, followed by good boss,
interesting and challenging work and expertise of colleagues
17

48. Community Conversation:
Exploring the heritage that made us
who we are

49. The goal of this conversation
• To think about our Slovak culture, its benefits
and limitations to our future
• To think about our assumptions about our
future in Slovakia
• To begin defining the future we hope for, and
what it would take to get there
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

50. Instructions
• Break into groups of 8‐10
• Using the outline, have a conversation about the questions
provided and complete the worksheet as a group
• All of the questions are important to spend time on
• Create a flip chart page that summarizes your group’s
responses to the five questions marked with an *
• Facilitator’s will be available to help your group
• Post your flip charts
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

51. Questions for the Conversation
Question Group’s Responses
What about the data from the
survey most surprised you?
*What does the data say about
how our generation “sees the
world” in Slovakia?
*What parts of the Slovak culture
do we want to take with us into
the future? For what benefit?
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

52. Questions for the Conversation continued
Question Group’s Responses
*What parts of the Slovak culture
do we need to leave behind as we
move toward the future?
What assumptions about
Slovakia’s future, and our place in
it, are we making?
Which of them might be wrong?
How much do we really believe we
can influence the future of
Slovakia and our place in it?
Why?
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

53. Questions for the Conversation continued
Question Group’s Responses
*If we do believe we can influence
the future, what must we as a
generation start doing/stop doing
today in order to write the story of
our future as we would want it to
be?
What do you believe your parents
and grandparents are most proud
of as it relates to their Slovak
heritage? Do you share that
pride? Why or why not?
*In 20 years from now, how do
you hope your children will
answer the above question about
you?
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

54. Browsing the Gallery
• What patterns do you see across the various
group’s responses?
• What new questions do these responses raise
for you? Note those on a post‐it note and put
them on the flip chart page
• In what ways do these responses inspire you?
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

55. How Today Shapes Tomorrow:
The choice of our generation

56. The Flow of Grounds us in
Great Stories time and space
– “I am alive!”
Broadens
perspective on
Place Implies
an old story ‐ “I
see new connection – “I
possibilities!” am not alone.”
Envision Relationship
Invites
Constraints
contribution –
abound – “I
“I/We have
don’t see a way
much to offer!”
forward.”
Struggle Create
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

57. The Power of Your Story
• There’s common ground between us – story connects
• You’re born into a story
• It is the strongest link to your identity (e.g. within, between
and among – see 3 levels slide)
• Our stories are interconnected and extremely complex
– …yet not beyond understanding
• Your story shapes you regardless of your
understanding of it
• Past‐mindedness vs. Past/Present/Future‐
mindedness
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

58. My Story… “I am moving to
Seattle with a
friend.”
Place
“We make new
friends.”
Envision Relationship
“We try to build
our own non‐
profit.”
Struggle Create
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

59. Our Stories Shape Us
• We become our stories
• Can be a great thing…
• Can be a difficult thing…
• Being shaped happens regardless of our desire
for it.
• How you are shaped has implications for your
future.
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

60. The Power of YOU
in YOUR Story
• Become an anthropologist
• Uniqueness – no one is exactly like you
• Your role is an extension of your uniqueness
• It is not only about you…it is about others too
• Extend trust before its warranted
• You have the choice to live into and out of
your role(s)
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

61. Exposing and Understanding Choice
• You get to choose how you are shaped and
how you shape
• Small roles = small future
• Power and perspective
– Seeing others as authority vs. co‐creators (power
and authority and its connection to choice)
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

62. Broadening Perspective
What do you see?
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

63. Constraints and What They Sound Like
• Barriers in our stories that make choices more difficult and
complex
• What constraints sound like:
– “I am too busy to volunteer.”
– “There’s only so much I can earn here.”
– “No one is listening to me.”
– “Our universities don’t prepare us.”
– “The government takes forever to change!”
• Reveal and shape character/integrity of individuals and
groups
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

64. How Constraints Impact Choice
• They are a part of life and cannot be avoided
• Internal (fear) and external (Too few multi‐national
companies vs. exchange deadline coming) constraints
• What is the biggest “internal, external – controlled,
uncontrolled” constraint
• What (when) triggers your reaction to the
constraint?
• Alternative approach to the triggers when your
reactions to the constraints surface.
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

65. Types of Constraint:
Influence on Choice
Internal: External – Control: External ‐ No Control
Happens when: Happens when: Happens when:
Usual Response: Usual Response: Usual Response:
Alternative response: Alternative response: Alternative response:
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

66. My Story… “I am moving to
Seattle with a
friend.”
“A deeper more
meaningful Place
friendship “We make new
emerged.” friends.”
Envision Relationship
“We try to build
“We fought
our own non‐
because of our
profit.”
differences.”
Struggle Create
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

67. New place…New Story Begins.
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

68. Casting Off Constraints: Writing a new story
in the face of Opposition
• Suspend disbelief – How it is vs. how it could be
• Fight to see anew – ask “Why?” often
• Confronting required changes individually and collectively
(within, between and among)
• Acknowledge the cost of those changes
• Identifying my willingness to sacrifice toward that end
• Go first
– Recognize my responsibility in the creation and perpetuation of the
problem
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

69. Grace for the journey (You’ll skin your
knees)
• Don’t expect to do this perfect
• Everything that needs to happen can’t overnight
– Remember, what has taken years to develop will take years
to restore
• Commitment will come and go, perseverance
is a must (the long view)
• Much of your life is on behalf of those whom
you may never meet
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

70. A Story to Celebrate
"In the human world, abundance does not happen automatically.
It is created when we have the sense to choose community, to
come together to celebrate and share our common store.
Whether the scarce resource is money or love or power or
words, the true law of life is that we generate more of
whatever seems scarce by trusting its supply and passing it
around. Authentic abundance does not lie in secured
stockpiles of food or cash or influence or affection but in
belonging to a community where we can give those goods to
others who need them—and receive them from others when
we are in need.” ‐ Parker J. Palmer, Let Your Life Speak, p. 107
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

71. Community Conversation:
Recognizing open doors
Leadership that welcomes differences

72. Questions for this conversation
• What associations or feelings come to mind with the word
“sameness”? “Other”?
• Why are differences important to welcome?
• Where do you see intolerance around you? Of whom or what?
What are the consequences of that intolerance?
• What existing divisions, if bridged, would make a significant
difference in Slovakia? What would be different?
• How are you perpetuating the intolerance?
• What can you change today?
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

73. Sameness & Difference
How do you see it?
• What comes to mind for you when you hear the words
“sameness” and “difference”? How was this shaped?
Why?
• When you consider your families, work, friends, and the
other circles you run in, which direction do you feel
yourself leaning? How was this shaped? What
perpetuates this?
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

74. Thoughts on Sameness…
• Sameness can mean safety, belonging, acceptance, and
celebration
• We all need places of sameness
• A permanent residency in those places isn’t recommended
• Constant expressions of sameness is an illusion
• Sameness isn’t without risk: it produces an underlying anxiety
along with a few question:
– What if I am seen?
– What if I am not accepted?
– Are you free from tension/conflict?
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

75. Thoughts on Sameness…
• Are you living your life like you are a fan in the stands, or from
time to time are you actually strolling on the field to give us all
something to cheer about? What if you don’t? What is the cost?
• How might you encourage others around you to consider
strolling out onto their own field? What if you don’t? What
might be the cost?
“There is something in every one of you that waits and listens for the sound of
the genuine in yourself. It is the only true guide you will ever have. And if
you cannot hear it, you will all of your life spend your days on the ends of
strings that somebody else pulls.”
- Howard Thurman
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

76. Thoughts on Difference…
Quarantine vs. Cast off
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

77. Thoughts on Difference…
• Differences are strongly connected to identity and a good story
• Recognition of differences ≠ agreement or approval
• Differences are the raw materials for creativity.
• There is power in being different (e.g. Other): you are seen (the
myth of weakness).
• The risk of difference and “otherness”: comparison and
judgment.
• Unchecked, comparison and judgment bleed into:
– Nasty competition
– Arrogance, better than mentality (same as Intolerance)
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

78. Thoughts on welcoming difference…
• Sameness can turn into intolerance.
• Intolerance of differences (prejudice, bias, bigotry) results from many factors
• Intolerance cannot be changed by “intolerance of intolerance” – it only
makes the problem worse
• The ability to embrace those who are different than ourselves happens when
– Curiosity replaces ancient , embedded assumptions
– We confront our own fears and perceived threats
– We understand the potential benefits that differences can bring
– Compassion wins over historical blame and anger
– We have the courage to understand
• It happens over time, generations, and with persistent hard work, educational,
and multiple approaches
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

79. The power of welcoming differences
• Differences become powerful assets when they intersect long enough to create “friction”
• The greatest disservice a person can make at points of friction are to leave (not so much
geographically, but possibly) and never come back
• Friction:
– Opens up the possibility for new, often unforeseen realities
– Creates a broader sense of ownership with all involved
– Makes collective genius from individual intelligence
– Creates common ground built on individual “uniqueness”
– Decreases the risks of group think
– Builds relationships capable of thriving in the face of increased complexity
– Culture evolves in an environment of openness to friction
• Friction doesn’t come without a cost…but neither does sustainable change
• The challenge of difference: comparison.
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

80. Exercise on Difference…
Select five friends, relatives, or co-workers
1 you are close to, 1 you are not, and 3 in “the middle”
Person A:
Person B:
Person C:
Person D:
Person E:
Compare 3 of these people at a time. Determine which 2 are similar to
each other and different from the third.
ABC ABD
ABE ACD
ACE ADE
BCD BCE
BDE CDE
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

81. Analysis of Exercise on Difference…
•What did you learn about your own intolerance to difference?
•On what basis do you judge others?
•What will you need to do to guard against some biases that might
obstruct your view of the organizations you are studying, their leaders,
or the data you collect?
•How will you work with difference in such as way that bring people
together rather than push them aside?
•What if the differences between us resulted in beautiful conflict and
seen as a necessity for real, good, and lasting change to occur?
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

82. My plan to welcome differences
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

83. Our conclusions
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

84. Recommended resources
• Cose, Ellis. Color‐Blind: seeing beyond race in a race‐obsessed
world. New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 1997.
• Carucci, Ron A. Leadership Divided: What emerging leaders
need and what you might be missing. San Franciso, CA:
Jossey‐Bass, 2006.
• Buber, Martin. I Thou. Hesperides Press, 2008.
• Exercise: spend some time where you feel different (approx. 4
hours). Journal and analyze the experience with someone
you consider different.
• Jaworski, Joseph. Synchronicity: The Inner Path of Leadership.
Berrett‐Koehler Publishers, 1996.
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

85. Community Conversation:
Recognizing open doors
Leadership toward hope

86. Questions for this conversation
• Why will hope be so important for Slovakia’s future?
• What is at the root of the culture’s negativity/cynicism?
• Where do you specifically see these behaviors/attitudes?
• If this aspect of the culture were to change – from negativity
to hope, from discontentedness to action, from cynicism to
optimism, what would happen?
• What would happen within AIESEC?
• In what have you experienced hope?
• In what ways are you perpetuating the negativity? What can
you change today?
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

87. A perspective on hope
• It’s not an emotion, it is a choice
• At the root of its absence is often a lack of resilience (why
bother?) , a lack of gratitude (nothing in my life is good) and a
faulty “theory of constraints” (there are too many obstacles)
• Ironically, those with the least evidence to have it often
discover the most of it
• Centuries of cultural hopelessness, powerlessness, and
systemic distrust will need sustained exertion to see reversed
• Gratitude is almost always the most powerful antidote
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

88. What is it? What’s if for?
• Hope = belief (this is possible) + faith (I will trust despite the
unknown) + desire (I want this)
• Expectancy; helps embrace and refocus constraints
• Spurs movement; it’s action oriented
• It’s not the absence of fear
• Accompaniment through grief and loss
• A vehicle through which to channel discontent
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

89. Stirring hope
• Select a difficult circumstance in your life for which greater
hope is needed (e.g. chronic health issue, strained
relationship, unemployment, etc.)
• If someone were to stir hope in you, what would they do or
say?
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

90. My plan to hope
What I am grateful for The hope this provides
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

91. Our conclusions
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

92. Recommended resources
• Crossing the Unknown Sea Whyte, David
• Three Cups of Tea Mortenson, Greg & Relin, David
• The Audacity of Hope Obama, Barak
• The Healing Power of Stories Taylor, Daniel
• Between a Rock and a Hard Place Ralston, Aron
• Pilgrim at Tinker Creek Dillard, Annie
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

93. Community Conversation:
Recognizing open doors
Leadership that develops talent

94. Learning & Development - How you see it…
• What is it? For you personally?
• If it were more effective how would impact AIESEC? Future of
Slovakia?
• Think of an experience when you have learned
– What did that experience include?
– What does this experience reveal about how you prefer to learn?
– How did the experience come about?
• Why does your development matter?
– To you? AIESEC? Slovakia?
• What is your current sense for who or what you want to become?
– How will your current development path get you there?
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

95. Perspectives on learning
• Learning is the result of thinking…not teaching (e.g.
analysis of experience)
• Learning requires the entire cycle (e.g. think, plan, do,
evaluate, think…)
• Intentional efforts increase capacity and results
– What you go for is what you get (e.g. expect a lot get a lot)
• Approach must honor the uniqueness of the individual
• Preparation for specific contribution(s)
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

96. Attributes of a effective learners
• Reflective
• Curious
• Analytical (science)
• Creative (art)
• Confident - Belief that I can learn
• Self-aware
• Flexible in learning style
• Humble - Start with presumption that there are things you don’t know,
aren’t good at, and need to practice
• Focused - Know what you want to contribute
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

97. How learning happens
• Action learning (e.g. solving a real problem,
working on a real project, internships)
• Master and apprentice (e.g. role models)
• Training (recognize limitations, participation vs.
attendance)
• Reflection on successes and failures
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

98. How learning impacts talent
development
• Personal responsibility, not an entitlement
– Those who don’t take responsibility for their own
development risk forfeiting their career potential
• Organizations that don’t actively invest in developing
the talent of their people risk their future
• Professional development, even self-directed, can be
meaningful if you remain committed and disciplined
• It requires planning and creativity, regardless of
perceived constraints
• Development costs (e.g. time, money, energy)
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

99. Focusing your development
efforts toward unique contributions
• Powerful results come from having the
necessary skills, knowledge, attributes
(competence) for your contribution(s)
• Three areas to build competence:
– Skills (e.g. what you do)
– Knowledge (e.g. what you know)
– Attributes (e.g. how others experience you)
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

100. Personal Development Plan
NGLS 2009 Particip
ant Develop entPlan
m
How/Whe I’ll purs e
re u
Contributionwan to
I t Specific lear required(Sk
ning ills, development in those are Timeline:priorityandorder
make: Knowledge, Attributes): (e.g. approach
) matters:
AIESEC S
K
A
Slovakia S
K
A
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

101. Our conclusions…
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

102. Building Slovakia’s Tomorrow
Asking “What if….?”

103. What if…?
• …the beauty of your heritage could be translated into relevant
and meaningful culture for tomorrow?
• …the cynicism and other cultural patterns of yesterday that no
longer served you well could be left behind?
• …you understood how your own story mattered in ways that
can and will shape your own future?
• …you believed that “a sense of cultural belonging” and “the
opportunity to develop, advance, and prosper” were both
possible here in Slovakia?
• …your insights and ideas about developing talent, welcoming
differences, and hope were actually applied by you?
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

104. What would happen to…
• Industry/commerce
• Education
• Technology
• AIESEC
• Public policy
• Culture
• Families
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

105. We believe the results would be
transformative and extraordinary
• Today is about “rehearsing the future you want”
• To prepare for it, you must first imagine it
• Two conversations to imagine it
– Combining and applying yesterday’s work
– Writing a story from the future
• You will work with two of the six identified “sectors”
– One we will assign you
– The other you will choose as a team
• Complete the worksheet as a team and create a flip chart version for
posting, including the “taking action” worksheet on slide 11
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

106. Rehearsing the Future:
Building a blueprint
What if… Impact on Industry/Commerce
Applying this
specific aspect
of our heritage
Shedding this
specific aspect
of our cultural
heritage
The impact of
my story on
this story
We developed
talent
We welcomed
differences
We hoped
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

107. Rehearsing the Future:
Building a blueprint
What if… Impact on Education
Applying this
specific aspect
of our heritage
Shedding this
specific aspect
of our cultural
heritage
The impact of
my story on
this story
We developed
talent
We welcomed
differences
We hoped
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

108. Rehearsing the Future:
Building a blueprint
What if… Impact on Technology
Applying this
specific aspect
of our heritage
Shedding this
specific aspect
of our cultural
heritage
The impact of
my story on
this story
We developed
talent
We welcomed
differences
We hoped
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

109. Rehearsing the Future:
Building a blueprint
What if… Impact on AIESEC
Applying this
specific aspect
of our heritage
Shedding this
specific aspect
of our cultural
heritage
The impact of
my story on
this story
We developed
talent
We welcomed
differences
We hoped
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

110. Rehearsing the Future:
Building a blueprint
What if… Impact on Public Policy
Applying this
specific aspect
of our heritage
Shedding this
specific aspect
of our cultural
heritage
The impact of
my story on
this story
We developed
talent
We welcomed
differences
We hoped
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

111. Rehearsing the Future:
Building a blueprint
What if… Impact on Culture
Applying this
specific aspect
of our heritage
Shedding this
specific aspect
of our cultural
heritage
The impact of
my story on
this story
We developed
talent
We welcomed
differences
We hoped
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

112. Rehearsing the Future:
Building a blueprint
What if… Impact on Families
Applying this
specific aspect
of our heritage
Shedding this
specific aspect
of our cultural
heritage
The impact of
my story on
this story
We developed
talent
We welcomed
differences
We hoped
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

113. Taking Action:
What we can start doing tomorrow
What “we” will do… What “I” will do…
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

114. Building Slovakia’s Tomorrow
Writing “Stories from the Future”

115. “You are your stories. You are the product of all the stories you have heard
and lived - and many that you have never heard. They have shaped how you
see yourself, the world, and your place in it…Our stories teach us that there is
a place for us, that we fit…the more conscious we are about our stories, and
our roles as characters in them, the more clarity we have about who we are,
and why we are here, and how we should act in the world.”
Daniel Taylor, The Healing Power of Stories
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

116. Seizing your Future
• The pen for writing Slovakia’s next chapter is in your hands –
whether you believe that or not
• The second element of “rehearsing the future” will be to write
a scene from that story – a “story from the future”
• We’ve seen this activity transform individuals, entire
communities and organizations
• It’s not about vision
• Creative, compelling and fun
• There’s nothing like a good story to inspire change
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

117. The importance of story
• We need a sense of place and time in history
• If we don’t know how we got here, we can’t navigate forward with
confidence
• If we don’t master our own story, we may end up living someone else’s
– “Know your story, or your story will live you.”
Gertrude Mueller‐Nelson
– Act III, Scene II
• Creating narrative in community gives us glimpses into one another’s most
sacred place – the place where we create
• The fusion of our respective creativity is what stitches together our
common story…and unifies our differences
– ….and reveals to us the future story we are meant to create together
Next
Generation
Leaders of
4
Slovakia

118. The process
• Creation: You will create the assigned narrative together
– Brainstorm, decide on your direction for the story
– One person scribes on flipchart (neat handwriting ☺)
– A powerful Slovak scene – conflict, characters, plot, challenges, positive ending
– In every story, give yourself a “big” part – the hero, the “one who makes it happen”
– Story elements will be provided for you
– Post your story on the wall
• Gallery walk: Interpreting the stories
– As a team, “tour” the other stories in the room
– Using the provided post‐its, mark what provokes you in the story and fasten to the story
on the wall
– Notice what you are noticing as a team
• Group Reflection: What patterns do you detect in the stories?
• Large group synthesis: What do the patterns reveal about our future?
Next
Generation
Leaders of
5
Slovakia

119. Story Elements: Industry/Commerce
• Largest multi‐national Slovak company, headquartered in Bratislava, with
locations worldwide in 8 countries on 4 continents
• Organically grown, founding entrepreneur a Slovak scientist/engineer
• New Slovakia‐born CEO, educated in Slovakia, USA, and Japan
• Created 3000 new jobs in one year in Slovakia
• Breakthrough advance (e.g. energy, life sciences, etc.) with global
implications both economically and socially
• New industry to Slovakia; generates great national pride
• Annual revenue of $20 billion Euro
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

120. Story Elements: Education
• Appointed 6 years ago, Comenius University Rector from New Zealand,
which is a country renowned for leading‐edge education, with charter to
reform programs that train educators
• Lots of resistance in the face of important progress
• Slovakia sees highest increase in start‐up businesses and patent
applications which some speculate is related to education reform
• Enrollment in education programs increases; new degree programs raise
intrigue and controversy around the world, but seen as very effective
• Rector hosting EU summit on education reform
• Slovakia moves from # 46 globally in mathematical literacy to # 17 in
same time period
• Slovakia asked to contribute to education change in developing world
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

121. Story Elements: Technology
• Social media craze sweeps Slovakia
• Huge increase in Slovak based web‐usage and websites
• Used to mobilize grassroots support to take on major Slovak
social crisis (e.g. drugs, poverty, homelessness)
• Slovakia becomes world leader in internet security products
and technology
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

122. Story Elements: AIESEC
• AIESEC Slovakia reaches record # members/branches
• Multi year membership retention percentages on the rise
• Brand new partnership with global corporation
• Significant national/EU recognition for major Slovak
contribution
• Brand new offering/product sets AIESEC International
standards
• Exceeded goals on most performance assessments as a result
of deepened relationships between “newies” and more
experienced AIESECers
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

123. Story Elements: Public Policy
• Cost of living vs. wage and earning potential taken as serious
issue
• Special tax structures for employers who retain employees for
longer periods of time and demonstrate clear career
progression
• Barriers to establishing new start‐up businesses for Slovaks
significantly reduced, leading to many new small companies
• Special incentives for start‐up businesses who are creating
new products, markets, or services
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

124. Story Elements: Culture
• New Slovak music genre fuses “Eastern Euro Indie” with Euro‐rock and
creates pan‐European fad
• Three new bands have produced global platinum records
• Unique style appeals to multiple generations
• Underlying distinction of this genre is the deep messages of meaning ,
purpose, and positive regard for life
• Music is being used in national TV and radio ads
• One of the bands has partnered with Slovak art institute to build major art
installations around Slovakia in connection with their concerts; European
and Asian tourism increases in Slovakia as a result
• Success of the genre is strongly linked to making an impact on severe
social justice/human rights pandemic (e.g. sex slave trafficking, water,
genocide)
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia

125. Story Elements: Families
• Recent changes in public policy and culture have led to a significant
revitalization of the relationship between parents and children
• A resurgence of traditional Slovak customs and heritage have found great
acceptance alongside contemporary, emerging cultural norms
• New Slovak web sites and blogs aimed at older generation are leading
Slovak parents to be more open to the ideas and social differences in their
children, and encouraging them to pursue broader goals in life
• Many see this trend linked to decreases in youth consumerism and
passivity
Next
Generation
Leaders of
Slovakia