Aspen Institute Central Europe’s Post

This conference should be interesting

This should be a good seminar.

“Conferences aren’t worth the investment.” That’s what I hear from folks who doubt their value. So, here’s what they’re missing. Conferences are gold mines. This year, I’ve attended more conferences than in the last four years combined. And let me tell you, the conversations are richer and more meaningful. You can map out next steps right there. You get people’s info and follow up immediately. The problem isn’t the conferences. It’s the lack of a system for meaningful follow-ups. Sure, not every conversation is a lead. There’s still qualification and segmentation to do. But the interaction is invaluable, even if it’s exhausting after a day or two. Stop poo poo'ing conferences. They’re worth every penny.

Last week, I had the pleasure of attending the Estoril Conferences - A Future of Hope under the theme "Re-think". This topic is close to my heart, as in all fields of life we rarely allow ourselves the time to have a second thought. It is aligned with the 2 books I have been reading in parallel - Thinking Fast and Slow and Think Again. But then again, how can a simple conference make you Re-Think? As always, Nova School of Business and Economics had an ambitious program for the 2-day event, spanning politics and policies, planet, AI, technology and health. They sought to have the audience rethink in 3 steps - by unpacking preconceived ideas and beliefs, by connecting like-minded individuals and by exploring actionable solutions. With this in mind, I am sharing my top insights from the 2 days, in more detail in the article: 1. "Peace requires enormous courage to sit down and resolve differences". 2. "Discussion has to translate into decisive action".  3. "What has democracy done for me?" 4. "We need to be in discomfort to convert the way we think about our future" 5. "Purpose is about creating value even if you did not need to do this" 6. "Where there is chaos there is opportunity" 7. "History tells us that technology has been a job creator, not a job destroyer" 8. "Patient Reported Outcomes (PROs at the centre of action". All in all, I enjoyed allowing myself the time to enlarge my mind and engage in thinking about what action I can take. It would be easy to call it a day and keep these notes in a drawer, alongside many other conference notes I have taken. But this time, I decided to take action. I will share, I will investigate, I will re-think. #rethink #challengeyourbeliefs #growth https://lnkd.in/dCG9tCwb

One of the key concepts I discuss at conferences is "bridging the eyes." Imagine that the eyes represent impact and inspiration. When you find yourself between these two powerful forces, you are truly discovering your "why" and your sense of purpose in life. This bridge between impact and inspiration is where fulfillment lies. It’s where our actions resonate with our deepest values and aspirations. I encourage everyone to explore this bridge, to find what fills them up, and to understand the profound connection between the impact we make and the inspiration we draw from it. Join me in playing in this bridge and uncovering the powerful alignment of purpose and action.

Can you believe it? Our social project, the exhibition “No age. Just number!”, has been nominated for the finals of the world’s biggest event and experimental marketing competition, Eventex! 🤗 🙏 Nominated and shortlisted by the jury in FOUR categories, it is in the running for the title of THE BEST IN THE WORLD, even in such prestigious and important categories as BEST CULTURAL EVENT and BEST SOCIAL EVENT that has made a difference. 💙 To give you an idea of the scale of this competition, how many countries are entering in the hope of taking their country’s name further, and how many mega-projects have been submitted, here are the numbers. This year, 1207 projects were submitted from 62 countries! The competition is cosmic. 🌏 We would like to thank the jury from the bottom of our hearts for this mega-appreciation and those involved, without whom this project would not be possible. And finally, thanks to the author of the idea and the driving force behind the project – our very own Inese Lukaševska - who proves every year, with every project, what excellence is and what it means not to betray values. The results will be available on May 7th. Fingers crossed. 

Are you coming to the On Think Tanks Annual Conference in Barcelona in May 2024? Do you want to find out more about it? The Conference welcomes think tank leaders, think tank funders and others in the sector. We have limited spaces. You can see how the agenda is shaping up: https://lnkd.in/d3Jwkcdx Sessions include: ☞ Keynote: Changing roles: why and how think tanks evolve ☞ Keynote: Building bottom-up accountability with grassroots communities in Malaysia ☞ Keynote: Do think tanks need to start rebuilding trust? ☞ Keynote: Think tanks and youth: moulding active and responsible citizens ☞ Parallel: How does an evidence community survive? Drivers, challenges and values to sustainability ☞ Parallel: Jumpstarting AI for think tanks ☞ Parallel: Global minds, local hearts: the role of think tanks in advocacy ☞ Parallel: How can think tanks maintain their integrity in a flawed democratic landscape? ☞ Parallel: 2024 a year of elections: the role of think thanks ☞ Parallel: Think tanks: new challenges, new models ☞ Parallel: Think tanks: adapting to a rapidly changing world ☞ There will be regional think tank meet-ups and plenty of networking opportunities. And more!

The bi-monthly 🔴BetaCodex Network🔴 Research Gathering is TODAY (3/4/24) AT NOON EST! (6 PM CET) If you are willing, in principle, to contribute to or to conduct BetaCodex Network research, then this gathering is for you. 👉Join the gathering at https://lnkd.in/gENvNv5x Learn more about the basics of the why and how of our research, here: https://lnkd.in/gTuX73gU Learn more about existing projects here: https://lnkd.in/g_h4hkFk ⚠️This space is for having highly interactive discussion, and maybe a bit of constructive, respectful disagreement, while we are at it. ‼️We invite you to challenge “conventional” thinking and to contribute “unconventional” ideas. 🚨Criticism in this forum is about IDEAS, not PEOPLE. 👀WHAT TO EXPECT👀 ➕At our gatherings we typically have an opening welcome, and joint agenda-setting. ➕Depending on the amount of participants and the suggested topics, we will have a joint exploration of the proposed themes, or we might break up into two or more breakout sessions. ⛔️This is NOT an introductory meeting about Beta, but a work meeting around projects and research around Beta. ⛔️There will be NO "Basics of Beta" orientation session during the gathering. So please be prepared to discuss the topic of collaborative research. For more information on the Beta Codex: https://lnkd.in/gn2dFD3A For more information about the BetaCodex Network: https://lnkd.in/g6eNFcPh

Reflecting on an invigorating Day 1 at the WEN Conference, it's clear that the energy of the group is as dynamic as the industry we're all passionate about. The day started with a refreshing yoga session and ended with the WEN 30-year celebration gala. Here are the top 7 key takeaways from yesterday's sessions: 1. Multifaceted Professional Journeys: Speakers shared their diverse backgrounds, from chemical engineering to policy work, emphasizing agility and adaptability in our fast-paced industry. 2. The 3D Energy Transition: Decarbonization, decentralization, and digitalization are interlinked forces driving sustainable change. 3. Policy's Pivotal Role: Policy development is crucial, with industry expertise needed to guide outcomes that are both favorable and sustainable. 4. Digital Transformation: Modernizing legacy systems and embracing digitalization is key to improving efficiency and supporting new energy solutions. 5. Innovation and Investment: Continuous innovation and investment in both existing and emerging technologies are vital for the industry's future. 6. Collaboration for Change: Internal and external collaboration, including employee education and supply chain integration, is essential for the energy transition. 7. Geopolitical and Regulatory Navigation: Managing geopolitical and regulatory pressures is a must, with stakeholder management and risk mitigation being top priorities. As we look forward to today’s sessions, let's carry forward the momentum and the shared commitment to shaping a sustainable energy future. Julie Heckman and I are heading to catch our colleagues Linette Casey and Danielle Guccione presenting and moderating at the educational session “The Changing Technology Landscape” next. #WENConference #WomenInEnergy #TeamPurple

Generation A to Z. There are already very different life experiences, soft skills, and perspectives between a 24-year-old and a 50-year-old delegate. The needs of Generation Z are different still and with Generation Alpha on the horizon, understanding the generational diversity of delegates can enable companies and event organisers to achieve heightened productivity, creativity, and more cohesive teams Check out our research with expert Chloe Combi on how age needs to affect the meeting agenda.