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February 16

First Chinese Trainee to the US via Denmark

This is a classic AIESEC story of three continents and three friends.  Ni Xiaoming was an MBA student from China who joined AIESEC at the University of Southern Denmark in 1992.  He heard about AIESEC from a university bulletin and attended an AIESEC information session.  Xiaoming was immediately interested.  "One thing that really got me on-board with AIESEC was the statement that we have been quoting for more than 50 years: Once an AIESECer, Always an AIESECer.  I felt this organization is special and different, something I wanted to be part of."



Meanwhile, in the US in 1992, AIESEC Berkeley’s VP Exchange Lisa Johnson was trying to match one of their companies. "Autodesk was one of AIESEC Berkeley's strong supporters. They had taken trainees from Israel (Gal Kimmel) and India (Jagdish Amin), who both helped expand Autodesk's business into their home countries/regions.  Autodesk wanted a trainee from China, which was a near impossibility at the time, but then by luck Xiaoming applied for a traineeship.  Xiaoming stayed with me when he first arrived and I was astonished to watch him eat spaghetti for breakfast.  I couldn't stomach the idea of pasta first thing in the morning.  Now, after having lived in Asia for 7+ years I miss my morning bowl of noodles!" Lisa’s exchange efforts at Berkeley were a success, and she went on to serve as AIESEC US NCEC 1993-94.



After his initial arrival to the Bay Area, Xiaoming became the roommate of trainee Jagdish Amin from Mumbai, India. "We coming from India and China were definitely having cultural challenges adapting to the US culture.  We enjoyed each other’s company and gave each other a lot of moral and emotional support, and of course we partied quite a bit.  I was involved in Xiaoming’s traineeship at Autodesk.  We wanted someone to work with us to open the China market.  Xiaoming was a perfect person for this role."



Xiaoming’s traineeship lasted from May 1992 to November 1993. "At that time, Autodesk did all international business in the US headquarters. During the traineeship, I was trained on Autodesk’s Asia business practices, and was involved in doing the first China business deal as well as receiving China visitors. Later, my training and work scope extended to support Singapore, Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, and India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh business as well.  After Autodesk formed the new Asia Pacific organization, the VP wanted to officially opening up China operations, and sent me over to China to establish a subsidiary in 1994."



Fast forward to today, these three friends still keep in contact with each other and many other AIESEC friends they share.  Xiaoming speaks Chinese, Danish, and English, and currently is in Beijing and serves on the board of AIESEC in China.  Lisa lives in Istanbul, working from home while raising her son.  Jagdish is now in the Bay Area, meeting regularly with AIESEC alumni there, and is co-founder of Harabara.  So the classic AIESEC story of three continents and three friends goes on.


Ni Xiaoming training at AIESEC conference in China in 2009.

Ni Xiaoming (far left) with fellow board members and MC of AIESEC in China.

(Photos courtesy of Tzyy Wang, Ohio State and current Board Chair of AIESEC in China)




3:27 PM GMT  |  Read comments(0)

December 15

JoAnn Boland Scholarship Recipient Nisha Chittal Attends International Congress in Brazil

International Congress 2008 in Sao Paolo, Brazil was an experience I will never forget. I have been involved in many leadership roles and been to many small conferences in AIESEC, but there is really nothing that compares to the energy and the feel of an international conference.

We were in a fantastic hotel with bright college students and leaders from over 100 countries for almost 2 weeks. There’s probably no other time or place in the world where you can make friends with so many people from so many different countries all at the same time. And the people you meet are already great people, but they’re also the cream of the crop of AIESECers – the LCPs and MCs of each country are represented there and are some of the most brilliant minds this organization holds.

It was a really energizing experience to learn from all these people from different cultures, listen to inspiring alumni speakers, and experience traditional Brazilian culture as well. International conferences are a  very unique experience, though are often out of reach for many members because of the high cost of travelling abroad. I would not have been able to go to IC last year if I hadn’t received the JoAnn Boland fund scholarship – it helped reduce the cost of the trip tremendously.

It’s funny to look back at the conference because the thing that stands out the most about IC to me now was the really incredible, inspiring individuals I met, and how they changed me. I’m so glad that I was able to attend an IC as part of my AIESEC experience and to have made such incredible friends as a result, with whom I still am in touch today.

Nisha Chittal on the left



9:25 PM GMT  |  Read comments(0)

November 17

It's Good to Be Home: Letter from the Western Regional Conference
By Dee Olomajeye, AIESEC Cincinnati LCP '96 and MCVP AIESEC Belgium '97-98

Twelve summers ago I left my LC (Cincinnati) to join the national team of AIESEC in Belgium. That was the very last time I participated in any way in an AIESEC conference in the United States.

Three weeks ago, in Simi Valley CA, I had the unexpected opportunity to "break the fast". I took part in my first AIESEC conference in the US — ROKS, the Western Regional AIESEC conference and all I can say is — IT'S GOOD TO BE HOME.

Now, I had expected the usual alumni-type activities — some mock sales calls, share some titillating and entertaining stories about the good old days, encourage some young AIESECers along and then continue on my merry way — in time for happy hour.
 

But then something quite unexpected happened the minute the alumni walked into the room - something changed.  As we began to address the group, the energy went from room temperature to 110 degrees. So much so that I am certain that if anyone in that room had struck a match on the wall, they would have started a fire – it was that amazing! And this level of “amazing” stayed throughout the rest of the conference.

 

 

Thank you to three alumni who volunteered to speak and share their AIESEC experience at the AIESEC West Coast Regional Conference on October 24 in Simi Valley CA. (L-R) Dee Olomajeye (Cincinnati), Trice Mason (UCLA), and Jason Call (UCLA).

 

I started to wonder what it was that made the experience so magical? What was it that inspired these young AIESECers about their alumni? Was it our impeccable mock sales call skills?  The fact that we re-established “AIESEC Sales is Tough As Nails” as the sales teams’ call to arms? Our regaling stories about that “one time in Prague”? What was it?

 

As I drove home, it hit me – the word I was looking for was VALIDATION.

 

You see, we all need encouragement, we all need appreciation and we all need some sort of corroboration from a trusted source, that what we are doing in this world is not in vain and that it means something. Those young AEISECers may believe that AIESEC can change the world but it sure helps if every once in a while, an alum who has been in their shoes and continues to believe in AIESEC, stops by, gives them some “words of wisdom” and a pat on the shoulder. “Carry on, press on, for what you do here does make a difference – I guarantee it!”

 

The lesson I learned from ROKS was this: We as alums have a lot to give back to AIESEC.  And as we consider how we go about doing this, we should never forget that the most powerful gift the alumni have to offer IS the alumni. 

 

First, start with yourself.  Give of yourself, and the rest will follow.

 



9:55 PM GMT  |  Read comments(0)

JoAnn Boland Scholarship Recipient Gina Palmisano Attends International Congress in Brazil

International Congress 2008 in Sao Paulo Brazil was absolutely one of the greatest experiences of my life.  It is one of those many adventures that travelers come across so often that are difficult to express adequately to anyone who has not been on the journey. 

How do you appropriately articulate being in a room with 600 delegates from over 100 countries and territories, plus such incredible alumni and influential world leaders?  How does one express the incredible sensation of walking into a room to see my mentor when I first joined AIESEC, who in 2008 was on the MC in Colombia, and is now going to be living in Rotterdam and working for AI?  Or, the excitement of dancing before a session with hundreds of other people who have learned the exact same moves you did when you did not even comprehend what "AIESEC " could mean to you? 

Gina Palmisano on the right

The simple truth is, it is not possible.   I realize continuously how each day of IC impacts my life in a new and enriching way, and while I can give glimpses of the joy, growth, challenges, excitement, knowledge and passion, the most important thing is to encourage others to make the plunge and go for themselves.

That is why I am so incredibly lucky to have been given the chance to go to IC through the Jo Ann Boland Fund.  If I had not received this scholarship there is no possible way that I could have made the journey, and I would honestly be a less well-rounded, internationally influenced and driven person had I not been given the opportunity to attend.  I am a self-proclaimed proud conference junkie.  To me conferences are where I see the potential in myself and others most groomed and the spark to be a change agent shine the brightest.  They are the foundation for building a stable local community and for brainstorming how to create a better tomorrow, and realizing the implementation process that can actually get everything accomplished. 

The period right after a conference is when I see people being the most productive because they are riding the high of what they experienced.  Conferences provide the environment for expanding your mind and spirit in so many ways including world view, AIESEC competencies, global network, and so much more.  Given that AIESEC has a conference somewhere in the world happening almost every single day of the year, just think of how motivated AIESECers around the world are at any given time!  I truly believe that this motivation and spirit manifests itself into progress towards a more culturally aware and collaborative world.  I cannot help but use a quote I wrote down during a presentation at IC 2008 to sum up the impact AIESEC makes, "The Future Lies in AIESEC.  Better leaders.  Better world," Martin Stier, Deutsche Post World Net.

Thank you again for providing me with the means to participate in the greatest AIESEC conferenc e of my life to date!  I am eternally grateful.    



6:19 PM GMT  |  Read comments(1)

From AIESEC Seattle to the Middle East North Africa Region
For a look at AIESEC's fastest growing region, Lili Hein interviewed Annika Rudback who recently completed her term as AIESEC International's Director of the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA). Annika joined AIESEC Seattle in 2001 and also served as MCVP in Jordan and MCP in Egypt.
 
Who is in the MENA region and what are the most recent extensions?
There are now 11 countries in the MENA region: Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.  When I joined AIESEC, there was no MENA region and the only countries where AIESEC was present were Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt.  The most recent expansions to Algeria and Saudi Arabia are being led by AIESEC in Tunisia, which is exciting to see.  I'm always amazed by the enthusiasm and drive with which the young people in AIESEC in MENA live their AIESEC experience, always pushing to be more relevant, to dream bigger and to show that AIESEC has a special place in their country.
 
Annika attending the 2nd Gulf Conference in Qatar
 
What are the annual exchange numbers for the MENA region?  Who are the top 3?
This past year, we did 417 exchanges.  The top three performing countries are Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia.  The Salaam internships this summer with Oman, Bahrain and Qatar really boosted their performance and gave many of the members experience in raising, matching and realizing internships and of course provided the opportunity for several interns to come to the US for internships and to live incredible experiences.
What are your observations of AIESEC alumni in the MENA region?  Which have the best alumni networks/contacts/activities? 
There are many alumni doing incredible things in the MENA region, whether it's holding senior positions at the top telecom companies, working as a Minister or running non profits.  The challenge that the countries are facing now is how to reconnect to alumni.  There were some great efforts in the past year by AIESEC in Tunisia and also AIESEC in Egypt to host events for their alumni to bring them back into the fold.  The more recent extensions have also been able to capitalize on having alumni from other AIESEC countries who are working in the MENA region and have raised internships with several different alumni.
What was your most memorable experience while growing the MENA region?
I think one of the most memorable experiences while growing the MENA region was attending the 2nd Gulf Conference in Qatar held November 2008.  Having talked to the first two expansion teams extensively and heard about the massive challenges they faced, including not being able to host a mixed gender conference, to see the Gulf conference come alive because of the belief and passion that the members had for AIESEC in the Gulf to thrive.  I vividly remember attending global village where though there were only 5 AIESEC countries represented, there were 25 nationalities present!  Nowhere else in the Gulf would you see Qataris, Emiratis, Omanis and Bahrainis working together with Indian, Pakistani, Somali, Syrian, and Egyptian expatriates, as well as males and females discussing ideas around sustainability.   
How did AIESEC manage arrangements to overcome the mixed gender issue?
The MC managed to get the support of Sheikh Faisal, who is a part of the royal family and one of the most influential people in the country.  He came to the opening day of the event and the Qatar Businessman's Association held the conference in their name, which allowed it to happen.  So part of it was getting someone who is very high profile to support. 
2nd Gulf Conference in Qatar
What were some of the lessons you learned while growing the MENA region?
I think one of the most important lessons is that local support is vital, particularly identifying and cultivating local champions.  Another lesson is that because in many places AIESEC is so unique that people don't quite know what to think of it and therefore it is important to be aware of how AIESEC is perceived and to build up a strong positive brand. 
How was the experience different from country to country (eg Jordan, Eygpt, and then as regional director)?
Jordan was a very entrepreneurial experience; where we would come up with our initial plan and a month later scrap that because the local reality was clearly different than anticipated.  We had the advantage of having a market where we were responsible for developing those first impressions amongst students and businesses about what AIESEC had to offer.  Egypt was more in the vein of trying to get an established AIESEC country think big, and members were very independent and driving growth.  As a growth network director, it was more important to figure out what to focus on and to work very closely with the regional board to implement these focuses. 
Anything else you would like to mention to AIESEC Life newsletter readers?
Here is the link to the AIESEC International 08-09 Annual Report.  There is an article on MENA and all the MENA countries getting legal (p. 15) and then one on me as a female leader (p. 14): http://www.aiesec.org/cms/aiesec/AI/partners/publications.html
Annika graduated in 2005 from the University of Washington, speaks French, Arabic, Portuguese and Swedish, and is now on a traineeship in Brazil to expand a music school into an Art Center.


5:51 PM GMT  |  Read comments(0)

October 19

Kelly Fuson's First Trimester at Thunderbird University

I joined AIESEC while attending Cal Poly State University (San Luis Obispo) in 2003 and that is also where I heard about Thunderbird for the first time. My advisor, who also happened to be the advisor for our LC, recommended that I keep Thunderbird on my radar after I graduated if I was serious about wanting to be involved in international business.

Several years later I started to investigate further and made a trip to visit the campus during one of their Hospitality Weekends (now known as a 360 Preview Weekend) which invites prospective students to spend an entire weekend on campus meeting current students and alumni. The weekend ends with a Regional Night, full of food, music and dancing. I couldn’t help but feel completely at home. It was as if I had gone back in time and was attending just another AIESEC regional conference.

Kelly A. Fuson and her classmates at the Thunderbird Pub

Now that I am an official student (1st Trimester, Traditional MBA program) I can say that it’s not exactly like old times. There is a lot more reading, a lot more writing, and a lot less free time than when I was an AIESECer in undergrad. But that’s what I came here for: to be challenged intellectually and culturally.

Thunderbird has absolutely lived up to its reputation for being a truly global business school. Just last night I was out on the town with thirty of my classmates. I turned to my right and spoke to two friends from South Korea, then I turned to my left and joked around with another classmate from Iceland. My learning team, which I was assigned to for all of my classes, consists of myself (Californian), a girl from Jordan, a guy from South Korea, a guy from India, and another guy born in France. This is typical for Thunderbird, but not so for other business schools.

But enough about my experience. Let’s hear from some other current students about their previous experience with AIESEC and reasons for coming to Thunderbird.

Jesse Markham was a member of AIESEC at Arizona State University (ASU) located in Tempe, Arizona. Jesse was in the process of being matched with a company in Australia last fall until the global economic downturn ended the process.

Much in the same way that I heard about Thunderbird, Jesse first heard about the school from his advisor at ASU. Also, being located near the school itself meant that he occasionally crossed paths with former T-birds (affectionate term given to students who have attended Thunderbird). He, too, attended a Hospitality weekend and “realized I truly belonged at Thunderbird and the other schools I was considering were not even close.”

“Thunderbird embodies everything in an educational institution that AIESEC represents as an organization. I believe that if you loved your AIESEC experience and want to further your career in a global setting that Thunderbird is the next logical step in achieving that goal. There is no other graduate business program where you can find the kind of diversity, cultural understanding and global mindset like you can at Thunderbird.”

Saloni Lahkani joined AIESEC in 2004 as a member of Mumbai, India. In addition to matching trainees to internships, she organized the first AIESEC MUN (model united nations/mock UN debate) for AIESEC Mumbai.

She agrees that the same force that drove her to join AIESEC also drove her to choose Thunderbird.

“The fact that so many countries are represented on campus makes it overwhelming (in a good way). I just hope that behind all the assignment, mid terms and finals chaos we do break international cultural barriers and get to know everyone a lot better!”

That brings up another point as to why more and more multinational companies come to Thunderbird to hire their students. The classes here don’t just emphasize business practices, rather, they emphasize the practice of business across different cultures. Therefore, every lecture and every assignment provides us with an opportunity to learn about the perspective of our international classmates.

As Saloni says, Thunderbird is “the next best thing after AIESEC that will keep cross cultural interaction, intellectual diversity going.”

Tamaho Quinn was also a member of AIESEC at Arizona State University from 2001 to 2003, where she met her AIESEC love who is now her husband of five years. Tamaho was in charge of building relationships with local businesses in the Phoenix area and organizing social activities for the members, including a trip to the Grand Canyon. Since she was already an international student who came from Japan, she did not end up going on a traineeship.

According to Tamaho, the “sense of an international community is very unique to Thunderbird, it's not just a diploma mill, where people go to school and then leave. Thunderbird has really established an international community, something that AIESEC strives to achieve.”

Tamaho Quinn at her wedding

But how about from the school’s perspective? According to the Director of Admissions and Recruiting, Jay Bryant:

“AIESEC and Thunderbird are a perfect match for each other since our missions are so similar. The Global Mindset that we appreciate so much here at Thunderbird is found in every AIESEC member that I have had the opportunity to meet. “

In case you’re wondering, Thunderbird’s mission statement is: “We educate global leaders who create sustainable prosperity worldwide.”  



8:30 PM GMT  |  Read comments(0)

JoAnn Boland Scholarship Recipient Cynthia Wong Attends International Congress in Brazil

IC is SUCH an experience! This was all I heard about International Congress prior to going. As it turns out, there truly are no other words to describe the magnitude of such a 10 day conference.

I was in India on my second developmental traineeship when I applied to be part of the US delegation at IC. There, I worked closely with the founder and president of a globally broadcasted NGO called ArriveSafe, the only NGO in India dedicated to Road Safety. As he was paralyzed from a car accident and I had experienced personal losses due to car accidents, the two of us were part of a team determined to challenge a country’s attitude about the severity of an issue barely turns heads, yet annually leaves over 100,000 Indians dead, impacting so many millions. I gained a crucial sense that summer of the potential one individual has to make monumental impact.

Cynthia Wong (Illinois) on the far right

It was during this time I became a recipient of a scholarship founded to honor JoAnn, the former MC VP HR in 1992, who herself was a victim of a fatal road accident. I was touched that the JoAnn Boland Scholarship provided me with the financial capabilities to attend International Congress 2008 in Brazil and enable me to play my role in growing AIESEC and ensuring more socially impactful experiences like mine.

Fast forward a couple months and I found myself caught in the crazy world that is the IC Global Village. Over 100 booths brimming with scrumptious delicacies and embellishments brought from faraway lands.  Eager AIESECers at each booth clad in traditional wear, ready to bless you with an orange Hindu dot on your forehead or paint your name in Arabic or Chinese calligraphy on your arm. You find yourself lost in the sea of AIESECers getting lost in the aroma of each country as you traveled around the world, table by table. Cue Bebot by Black Eyed Peas, and the building erupts in cheers as hundreds flock to the central dance area to follow the AIESECers onstage from all corners of the world leading the dance made an instant international sensation when the AIESEC US delegation introduced it at the previous IC. Indeed, International Congress enabled me not only to grasp the scope of such a global organization, but to fully engage in it. Never in my farthest reaching dreams did I imagine that I would have friends from such exotic countries like Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, and many more to complete the alphabet. Yet, here I am today with a truly global network, having transversed 26 countries for AIESEC internships, conferences, and reunions.  

AIESEC was founded in 1948 after WWII on the key principle that direct student interactions will foster cultural understanding and international cooperation for a peaceful and sustainable future. Nowhere else did this become ever more apparent than 60 years later at IC 2008. National pride in one’s own country as the Summer Olympics in Beijing, China captivated the world audience. A cultural dosage during Brazilian night. Countries such as Morocco and Mexico woven together side-by-side at Global Village. Swapping AIESEC t-shirts. Constructing kites in workshops to build group social-venture enterprises. Collectively sharing and brainstorming with LCPs across the world about how to dream big for our LCs. Country meetings to build partnerships between countries to increase exchanges.  Global unity in classic AIESEC dances such as Le-Le and Tunak Tunak. World issue discussions about AIDS/HIV, climate change, the Israel Palestine conflict and how AIESEC plays a role. Applauding the growth of AIESEC in countries like Iran, Algeria, and Oman. Talk about how we could further expand AIESEC into North Korea and Saudi Arabia.  And at the Closing Ceremony, AIESEC Togo singing We are all AP… We are all MENA...", and AIESEC China adapting the Olympic theme song to One Dream, One World, One AIESEC….

So much of the IC experience illustrates the relevance of AIESEC in our world. AIESEC has not merely existed for 60 years, we have thrived. As the conference theme would most accurately articulate, Responsible Youth. Sustainable Future.



8:21 PM GMT  |  Read comments(0)

September 14

AIESEC Trainees Who Don't Drink
By Angelika Ilina and Joel Sanders (LCP, AIESEC Colorado '93; U.S. VP '94-95)

It was the night before Ramadan, and a dozen or so AIESEC Colorado alumni found ourselves with a half dozen current members of our LC and three trainees from Oman. The trainees were sponsored by alumnus Jeff Popiel through the SALAAM program, which focuses on placing Middle Eastern trainees with U.S. companies. (Jeff sponsored five trainees in total, but only three could make it to the party).

Yes, booze was to be served, and no, the trainees weren't going to be partaking, and yes, we had cleared it with them, and YAY! they were cool with it. But would we still make them uncomfortable? These were AIESEC trainees who DON'T drink and WON'T do body shots, balloon dances, or buffalo slams. How else do AIESECers break the ice?

AIESEC Colorado alumni with Oman trainees

So we met two lovely young women (Aiesha and Asma) who were dressed in traditional clothing, complete with head scarves and long-sleeved shirts. A cheerful young man (Ammar) jumped into Jeff's arms for a huge bear hug, and we were off to the cultural understanding races! Only one cultural blunder of note: a couple of male AIESEC alumni extended hands in greeting to the women, only to be told that touching a man's hand isn't allowed. Oops. Yes, after 60 years of AIESEC, we can still use a dash o' cultural understanding. And aren't we lucky to have the chance to get it?

OK, so on with the juicy stuff: Rules on dating and marriage in Oman.

It turns out that women and men are not allowed to "date" before marriage. Instead, they get "an engagement period." In other words, guys, you're either on the train to marriage or you're not going out with girls. They don't fool around in Oman. Pun intended. :-)

So here's how it works: If a guy likes a girl, he comes to her parents with a proposal. If she likes him, she accepts the proposal and the engagement period begins. Or she declines the proposal and awaits the stud she's REALLY got a crush on.

The engagement period lasts anywhere from two weeks to two years. They can go out together, but always with a chaperone. The gal can stop the engagement period at any time, and continue having several engagement periods until she finds a man she'd like to marry. Overall, it doesn't sound too bad, except for the third wheel that's present at all times.

International Potluck

Interestingly, there are lots of cousins who marry in Oman. The reason? There aren't many places where men and women can meet. They aren't allowed to socialize together. So other than meeting in school or the workplace, the only other place to meet is through family. And since cousins grow up together, there's built-in trust.

It just MIGHT be a better system than our AIESEC girls watching a balloon dance and trying to figure out if there might be chemistry there. Or dare we say physiology? (We actually described the balloon dance to the trainees, which resulted in an expression of horror on Ammar's face and giggles from the gals).

But what about America itself? Thumbs up? Thumbs down? Aaisha commented that, before arriving, they were all preoccupied about how they'd be treated here. Would they be insulted because of their traditional clothing? Spit at? Or worse?

"We LOVE it here," she exclaimed, her eyes beaming. "We don't want our traineeships to end!"

Hmm. Five trainees return to Oman, overjoyed with enthusiasm about their experiences in America. Think AIESEC still has a place in the world today?


6:44 PM GMT  |  Read comments(0)

August 18

AIESEC Life's Blog
AIESEC Life is trying out a new blog to post on its website www.aieseclife.org.  AIESEC Life's past blog entries have shared stories about alumni since September 2007 at aieseclife.nomadlife.org, along side the blogs of many other AIESECers. 


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