Aspen YLP2009
Aspen Young Leaders Program
Aspen Institute’s Young Leaders Program 2009
The aims of the training program are to promote and advance progressive leadership within Romanian and European society and to create a regional network of young future leaders based on shared values and common interests.
Module 1, April 2009: The concepts of political and economic thinking that have shaped modern open societies. I had access to a selection of writings by the key political philosophers of the past two centuries. These readings formed the basis for debate. Together with the other particpants, we debated the ideas in the context of present-day Romania and Europe. In one of the days we did an orientation exercise in the woods near the hotel, guided by a compass and location coordinates.
Module 2, June 2009: Assessment of leadership qualities and styles. The two moderators, Marian Stas (Director, CODECS Foundation for Leadership) and Andy Szekely (leadership trainer) lead discussions and group activities on several topics like: Measuring Individual Behaviour; Understanding Constructive and Defensive Styles; Leadership vs. Management; Group Styles Inventory. Understanding Group Synergy; Leadership, as Capacity to Orchestrate Effective Response to Challenges; The physiology of anticipation; Language and the power of anticipation; Neurological levels alignment; How to become aware of your own hierarchy of values; How can a leader align his team to follow him and value the vision that he represents; Tools for productivity, focus and execution in teams.
Module 3, September 2009: Table sessions where participants debate key issues. We made presentations on a pre-given topic of 20 min, followed by a group debate on the topic and possible solutions to the raised problems. This was a module about debate, solutions and awareness of regional and national realities. I wrote a few posts about this module at http://raduoprea.eu/en/archives/231 and http://raduoprea.eu/en/archives/239.
Module 4, December 2009: Proposal for a Community Service Project. In this final part of the Young Leaders Programme 2009, every participant presented a Community Service Projects in front of the Aspen Romania General Assembly and Guests. The module is an exercise to be carried out by participants over the year involving the identification, design and implementation of a community service project which will illustrate the participant’s talent for creativity, persuasion, planning, delivery, team-working and overall leadership. My proposal is called “Candidez.ro (I Run for Office):”
I also made two posts about this module at http://raduoprea.eu/en/archives/426 and http://raduoprea.eu/en/archives/412.
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