Leadership Experience in AIESEC

One of the most important goals in AIESEC has always been to facilitate the development of leadership skills in students and recent graduates. Through membership in the organisation, AIESECers are provided with a multitude of opportunities to hone their team, motivational, project management, inspirational and leadership skills.

What does leadership mean to you?

Source: "Scent of a Woman" (1992)

AIESEC & Leadership

Leading a Team

After an introductory semester in the organisation new members get the opportunity to become a team leader of one of our teams in the Local Committee. The role of team leader involves the planning of action steps for the semester in question, the motivation and coordination of the team members and the realisation of the set plans. The whole process is facilitated by trainings, conferences and coaching by experienced members, alumni, corporate and training partners which provide the members with a framework for their leadership experience.

Becoming a Trainer

A second leadership opportunity in AIESEC is becoming a trainer who successfully passes on valuable frameworks, skills and information. In this case, leadership is realised through a coaching and training relationship with other members of the organisation.

Conferences

Around the world AIESEC organises conferences with a focus on passing on leadership skills, methods and varying levels of knowledge concerning different leadership styles. These national and international conferences form a platform for exchange on leadership topics between corporate partners, active members, alumni and different cultural circles

Organising a Conference

AIESEC, as an entirely student-run organisation, additionally offers its members the opportunity to take over the organisation of an event. In form of a project, a team of members is charged with the planning, coordination, promotion and execution of events of varying sizes spanning from a local action day to international conferences.

Leadership Experiences

In the Beginning

„The international platform for young people to explore and develop their leadership potential”

“Yeah, sounds nice, but what’s behind it?”, that was my first thought when I stumbled upon AIESEC for the first time 3 years ago. I am still surprised that I joined AIESEC at that time, since I am usually quite critical towards student organizations. I guess it was the open-minded spirit and the internationalism which was displayed in the info-evenings which moved me to fill out the online application. In AIESEC, we entirely work in teams that are either related to functions (e.g. marketing, finance, sales, etc.) or topics (e.g. sustainability, China, etc.). I started to work in the “Marketing Team”. We were responsible for all communications and branding activities which at that time were mostly targeted at students. I had a lot of fun, but also discovered a pool of opportunities still stretching out before me.

My First Steps in Leadership

Therefore, I decided to apply as the Marketing Team Leader. For another semester, I lead a team of 4 people. That was when I first had to deal with issues concerning Leadership. My goals and strategies may have looked good on paper, but communicating them to my team and putting them into practice together was another story. I made some mistakes and didn’t achieve what I planned to. However, instead of becoming frustrated and de- motivated, I realized how valuable practical experience is. I learned that realizing mistakes is the first step towards future improvement. Consequently, continued to take on opportunities in AIESEC.

Going One Step Further

I decided to take on a greater challenge by joining the executive board of AIESEC in Vienna. For one year I was responsible for strategic decisions concerning for the area of communications, sales and the organization itself. In a nutshell, I was negotiating with companies about partnerships, creating and selling new products, designing and implementing marketing campaigns, coaching and tracking three different teams with a total of 25 team members, speaking in front of student and corporate audiences, training new members, exchanging ideas and networking at international conferences while still attending my university courses.

“It’s all about the people”

Personally, I really learned to understand different kind of personalities and the value of clear communication. These two elements form the basis for every successful team while holding the greatest potential for causing conflicts. Coaching individuals with different cultural backgrounds and transforming them into productive teams cannot be taught by a book. You have to experience the unexpected.

Furthermore, I improved my ability to stay calm in stressful situations because at one point you just realize that it simply makes no sense to freak out. I definitely learned to work and manage my time more effectively simply because I had to.

Learning by Doing

From a professional view point I gained valuable experience in the corporate world. Talking and negotiating for one hour with the HR Director of a multi-national company can give you more memorable insights than a course running for one semester at university. Effective Communication, effective delegation, negotiation skills, structural thinking and other personal qualities are essential if you want to make things happen.

Leadership in AIESEC

Summing it up, I consider the leadership opportunities that you have in AIESEC as extremely diverse and valuable for anyone’s further career. There are AIESECers out there, maybe the same age as you are, managing and directing AIESEC operations regarding whole countries or regions. You will soon realize that theoretical knowledge is important and needed, but it will not define your personal nor professional success in life. The practical experiences that you gain will shape you as a person. You will have to motivate and guide people with your personality which I consider a very important asset in a world that gets more dynamic and complex every day. I made a lot of mistakes during my journey in AIESEC, but I am glad that I did. I learned from them now rather than during my professional career. If you consider the opportunity as valuable to you as well, stop wasting your time thinking about it. Start doing! Leadership is action, not position.

Chung Anton