The document describes the author's experience in AIESEC from 2007 to 2011. It details their various leadership roles and projects within the organization, including organizing exchanges and representing their local committee at national conferences. They gained skills in project management, public speaking, and cultural exchange through these experiences. The author completed an internship in Benin where they helped develop the local committee and immersed themselves in the local culture. Overall, AIESEC provided opportunities for personal and professional growth, developing the author into a leader within the organization.

1. My AIESEC Experience- A Journey of Self
and World Discovery
Joined @ officially in 2007 with a lot of uncertainties and hopes but with a well defined
focus and goal oriented attributes. My initial view for @was a place where the crème
de-la-crème converges and ifyou aint buoyant, you aint fitting in. Conference
attendance and parties were the things attributed to @ers during the period. Induction
was boring and unorganized to me but I had good mentors to assist with my goal
settings and personal development plan. I was eager to do something .
Applying for an LOD position was thebeginning of my taking responsibilities. It was a
real eye-opener to what leadership really meant inpractical terms. This stage was the
stage where I realized who I was and what my potentials were .Ijoined the ASK team
and was the TL for learning team .My key learning s were understanding how raising
partnerships and sponsorships, report writing and communication skills acquisition
.My competency in public speaking grew fast that I was confidently chosen to
represent my LCP in proxy at the National Congress, Zaria,2008.That conference
changed everything about me .I was also active on the virtual platform but not
participatory .I was also active in other activities of the LC and was given an award of
been the most proactive member on the ASK team that year.
In 2009, I wasn t active in the LC activities at the beginning of the year due to school
work but later was appointed the TL,exchange team for the ASK project .we realized
one exchange from Belgium (though small but significant at that period). I learnt
about EP/intern management during this period... that year,I represented my LCP
once again at the national congress, Jos, 2009. At this moment, I was living fully by
the @ Xp principles and was developing fast. On getting back from the conference, I
had to face schoolwork and so didn t participate fully in LC activities but maintained
my membership status .I attended conferences in between and worked on my
individual and team competencies
Taking Leadership role came to actualization towards the end of 2009 when I
contested for the position of the LC VPP for @ Ibadan LC and was elected into office
that July. Spontaneously, everything about me changed drastically compared to my
first 2 years because I saw the double effect of power (admin rights) and leadership
responsibilities (VPP).I saw the management of an organization from another
perspective and my leadership abilities were polished immensely.
I started facilitating at conferences, seminars and trainings within and out of @ in
functional areas,organized projects at the: LC level, helped with recruitment and
selection processes in other LC and associations within campus. I aspire for a greater
level where I can explore and define the real me as a global player wherever I find
myself. I have worked on development programs relating to organizational
management such as change mgt, conflicts mgt, rightsizing, mentoring and coaching,
establishment of the IM unit in my LC, career planning and all fields concerning
projects management. Though financial support may fast track your development
through acquisition of resources and skills, it wasn t a primary requirement for I

2. learnt more than my colleagues who were very comfortable back then when I was a
newee.
What a positive transformation!
Masturbatingmoh -------------------> Mentormoh ,
These is just a tip of an iceberg, there is still more to uncover. I added some principles
to my @Xp principles; aiming high and missing it rather than aiming low and getting
it, Winning or losing is a by-product; the end product is the learning you acquire,
Persist people never fail; they only run out of time. Learn to buy time. Now my view of
@ is simply where the crème-de-la-crème are brewed from nature.
Tired of been all and no action?
Check out for my exchange
story!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was tired of been a local champion, I wanted to complete my @ experience and so
went on a 9 weeks developmental traineeship (now IDP) to the Rep. of Benin as a
cultural envoy for exchange development (CEED).
Prior to my new adventure, I did a thorough research of my options taking in to full
considerations my school work, savings and yearplan. I remember my boss (Taiwo
Siyanbade) telling me on his return from his internship in Brazil that it s not so much
where your internship falls but the quality of internship (JD, working conditions , Key
learning s). I consulted my coaches and mentors and shared the thought with my
mentees and peers which immensely contributed to my planning,logistics,
andmotivation towards travelling.
At last, the adventure began on the 6th of Feb., 2011.I informed my reception/ host LC
of my movements and called my old friend on the Benin Member Committee to
ascertain preparations for arrival.I travelled by road via Lagos borders to my
destination country, our neighbor to the south. Been a francophone country, I
expected some difficulties during the travel but was saved by my identity (AIESEC
branded T-shirt) as I was identified by a pocketly recruited EP that actually belonged
to my LC but I never met. She could speak French well and out of curiosity
approached me in the vehicle conveying us. This pink God sent full member (Judith)
facilitated by travel within the country as I was taken straight down to my destination.
Surprisingly, my host LC, MC,Interns and committee members warmly received me
and somewhat adjusted to my new realities. Let me remind @ers that most times the
description on your TN forms may not exactly be what it is in reality when you get to
your new internship place. And so, it pays to be modest in our expectations most
especially when you go for IDPs.

3. My home was okay with basic household facilities. I had access to a motorbike for
transportation and feeding was done at my dispositions or desired periods. My host
once has a bad experience with Nigerians and so building the trust was a herculean
task but necessary for survival. I had a mobile office, no clear JD but I knew I had to
make sense out of the whole scenario all I had as motivation and support asides my
basic needs was the ever-gingered LCP AIESEC UAC, its friendly members and my
drive to make a footprints on the sands of time.
My welcome pack was! 144 packs of CDs (acting sustainably) which I never used until
my departure not because I couldn t, but there was hardly any free and conducive
moments for it s used. (My libido was suppressed by hard work)-how pitiful
My routine was Mondays to Fridays (0700hrs-2345hrs)-work, Fridays; night-club,
Saturdays; night-bar, Sundays; beach .Come rain, come sun, come night, come day, I
realized humans are the greatest resource you can ever have and as a leader, I never
cared about who or what the nature of the job was so long it was legal and with
dignity, I ensured it was done-results. Half-day, full-day, over night trainings , active
use of the GLEs were a sine qua non for member development , raising new
partnerships and reviving old ones, creating better business models and
organizational structure ,understanding members & creating a healthy LC culture. In
no time, I became a superstar-blakmoh and mentormoh was all around the nooks and
corners of the universite D Abomey Calavi.
Benin Rep is a country still embedded in its cultural heritage with old religious
practices, peaceful with nice countryside scenery-beautifulplains, white sands and
beaches. Other than Cotonou(economic capital) where I lived most of days, I travelled
with my motorbike to Porto novo (ancient capital )and some major towns and cities to
the north of Benin Rep.
The LC UAC members were 16 in number, a small but committed unit. I could not
speak MUCH FRENCH but the Beninese were very friendly people, effortlessly trying
their best to understand and learn from me using body languages and all forms of
gesture to express myself .the living culture in my home country is somewhat different
from theirs .Their living pace is slower but really fulfilling and interesting as they put
all their efforts in whatever they do.
I feel my exchange has changed me as a person because totally living in a different
culture for almost 60 days will definitely raise new challenges . Don thesitate , don t be
scared , immerse yourself in it and emerge as a changed person-for the better of
course with a flexible approach to life and having a change agent characteristics. I
came back to be more calm, articulate and composed with a better view of life.
Embrace a life changing AIESEC Xp
H4TF is always a reliving phase in @ because by its literal meaning, you are leaving
the everyday traffic of doing the @ activities in a gradual manner. But alas! @ in it

4. changing nature , modified the @ Xp. Guess What? H4TF turns to LIFELONG
CONNECTION.
On my arrival back to the LC after re-integration, I was operating at a higher
frequency and saw all my LC work as easy. I served mostly advisory capacities ,
helping in planning and marketing when required or necessary and most importantly
focused on member development by sharing Xp and wealth of professionalism
(experiential learning). I met with elders (EX EB members)and organized a mentoring
program(flashbacks with mentorMoh) for the LC with the singular objective of giving
back to @ by living the @Xp principles and the new leadership style (experiential
leadership development). Anchored world café for AIESEC week, Project RED closing
ceremony and made presentations for trainings in project creativity in my LC for
2011.
Presently I work with Mutual Strides Travel and Tour in Ibadan where I function as a
Marketing Officer and Products Development Manager. Keep your eyes opened as I
share my wealth of experience form my on-coming management traineeship early next
year.
AIESECly
Mohammed Ahmed Ademola
mentorMoh