Our Leadership Program LEAP brought together a big cohort of young leaders from diverse cultures and backgrounds, united by a vision of responsible leadership. However, one thing that sets them apart from each other, making each of their LEAP journeys unique, is the aspirations with which they went into it. To best understand and cater to the needs of our participants, we like to take their input, which helps us create a bigger picture of what this journey looks like from their perspectives. That’s why we asked them about the aspirations behind their participation and are bringing you the snippets of what they answered.
Going into a program like LEAP, it’s a natural expectation that throughout the program, they would get to learn, connect with others and grow both personally and professionally. Perhaps a sign of good leaders in the making is their realization of the importance, while at the same time embracing, the continuous improvement of leadership skills, along with finding a place in a supportive community of like-minded peers. Furthermore, their openness to diverse perspectives, especially in the context of sustainability and social impact, is what truly solidifies the foundation upon which the program can build a truly responsible leader.
Continuous Learning and Personal Growth
The intention for expanding knowledge and skills is common within the cohort. It’s what makes participants eager listeners and engaged contributors, making the most out of what the program has to offer, be it through workshops, peer interactions, or real-life experiences. By nurturing the importance of and embracing this openness, they have taken the first steps in cultivating the mindset of lifelong learning.
Community Building and Networking
Community is one of the key aspects of LEAP. By placing importance on it, our participants have shown they can see the value in things that both unite and set them apart from one another. A network of supportive peers is an important element for not only strengthening personal growth but also finding a space to exchange and give life to new collaborations. Their diversity opens up interdisciplinarity, emphasizing the value of enriching conversations and enhancing the learning experience.
Leadership Development
While it may be only one of the final outcomes of the program, leadership development remains at the core of the program. Therefore, it is the natural aspiration of participants going into LEAP to learn what it means to be a leader and build their leadership capacities. Many of them see this as a pathway to making a positive difference in their communities, while inspiring others to do the same. As good leaders, they want to understand better emotional intelligence and community engagement to support others to thrive.
Sustainability and Social Impact
Our cohort is well aware and shares a concern for the environmental and social challenges the world is facing today and in the future. Through LEAP they wish to learn about sustainability and social innovation as well as how they can contribute to it. The aspiration to understand how principles of sustainability can be integrated into various contexts points to an intent to translate learning into actionable outcomes that benefit broader society.
Diversity and Global Perspectives
The sheer scale of LEAP and the participation of young leaders from many different cultures are an enriching element of the program. It’s no surprise our participants have attached great value to it. It’s an opportunity to get deeper insights into challenges, solutions, and perspectives from different parts of the world. This theme underscores the importance of intercultural dialogue and understanding in developing responsible leadership.
We are grateful to our participants for their eagerness to share these aspirations. As previously mentioned, they give us a clearer picture of the program from their perspective, while at the same time painting the character of the cohort as a whole as well as helping us shape LEAP to meet these expectations.
