Entrepreneurship Panel, April 15, 2009

Just a few weeks ago, AIESEC at Georgia Tech hosted a panel discussion on the "Contribution of the Young Entrepreneur in Rebuilding the Global Economy" drawing around 100 students and professionals to the World Trade Center Atlanta, who generously facilitated the event. Christopher Klaus, Dimitri Moore, and Vela McClam-Mitchell each shared the victories and travails of carving oneself into the world and solving business problems in novel ways. Each of them revolutionized the way their clients conduct business. One of the themes of the night was to "just go for it." McClam-Mitchell explained how she pursued a number of degrees and worked inside companies, believing that preparation was the key to success in business start-up. In the end, although preparation is crucial, she realized her father's advice to simply get started was the ticket. Take some time to assimilate the videos below, replete with the wisdom of inventors and innovators.

Congratulations Johanna!

Congratulations to Johanna DeCotis - the new MCVP OGX of AIESEC Southern Cone!
We're so proud of you!!

MENAXLDS 2009!

Denise's review of the conference, and mine of the global village. Let's hear about your conference experiences!!

@ Love from Egypt,
Maddie and Denise

Way to start off the year GT!

After a stellar recruitment, @GT has created an entirely new set of acronyms and begun its series of weekly Monday night meetings. This semester, rather than holding a General Participant Meeting (GPM) every other Monday, AIESECers attend Local Committee Meetings (LCMs) and Home Group Meetings (HGMs) every Monday on an alternating basis. So far, this method has seen great success, with attendance averaging 55-60 weekly!

Spring 2009 Schedule:

February 2: HGM Music Videos!
February 9: LCM Michael and Sean share their traineeship experiences
February 16: HGM world issue discussion--Financial Crisis and Stimulus Plans around the world
February 23: LCM Roger Scovil on his Seven Rules for Successful Management
March 2: Development Session--CV workshop
March 9: Development (open to campus)--Spring Asher on public speaking
March 16: SPRING BREAK--INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES
March 23: HGM international potluck, Tiffany speaks on IPM, members speak about international conference experiences
Marach 30: LCM (open to campus) International Rescue Committee refugee panel
April 6: HGM Dinner and Discussion
April 13: LCM Speaker from the Carter Center
April 20: Final meeting of semester--awards and "graduation"
April 27: think @ thoughts while studying for finals :)

Check out a few of the Home Group music videos on YouTube:
Igloos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBYTtkl_Uxk&feature=related
Beach Houses: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZL0pIyePyy8&feature=related
Treehouses: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hYhxn173Ng
Mansions: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEZPY_UK9-s
Castles: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=en6W_FJsI4o
TeePees: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipN0T8dbzIM&feature=related
Apartments: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHU4oNPPYFE&feature=related

Recruitment 09!

Miss Melissa McCoy Wrote earlier this week on her efforts in the Spring 09 recruitment:

This spring, AIESEC at Georgia Tech had a revolutionary recruitment of new members. With a pool of 120 applicants to choose from, the LC accepted 46 new members into its mitts, all excited and ready to help AIESEC at Georgia Tech reach its full potential.
The marketing campaign for new members started last fall when professors were contacted in regards to making classroom announcements to their students. After much correspondence and organization on the part of the LC, over 60 classes were spoken to in the first two weeks of school before applications were do and these visits spanned all majors and schools.

Other marketing tools of campus were also vehemently utilized. A new “I am an AIESECer” banner was hung from the Student Center Balcony, an attractive easel board was displayed in the library entrance way advertising the application process and information sessions, and flyers showcasing our current members’ exchange and leadership experiences were hung in all department buildings and critical areas. Chalking was another extremely effective marketing strategy and holding the campaign in the first two weeks of school ensured that there would not be many competitors for sidewalk space. Emailing was an extremely effective marketing tool as well and we were able to include our recruitment announcement on almost all major Georgia Tech newsletters and lists. Lastly, tabling which entailed presenting a tri-fold and handouts on Skiles Walkway and the Student Center Commons, was done Tuesday through Friday of both weeks.

Most of these display devices were just teasers to get students to come to the information sessions given on January 14th and 15th where the LC could truly communicate what was AIESEC is. There were significant turnouts to these sessions, with 30 attending the first session and 40 coming to the second, record numbers in comparison to past years. After applications were submitted by January 16th, the individual interview process began and throughout the week a total of 95 applicants were interviewed.

With the commitment and strength of the LC, the organization and leadership of the VP of Campus Relations, Melissa McCoy, and the fervor and message of AIESEC, the recruitment effort ended with a group of amazing new members, new passion and excitement for AIESEC at Georgia tech, and new beginning for us all.

The Incredible Shrinking World

AIESECers are everywhere. Sometimes you don't even have to look for them. Like the magical beings they are, they just appear and astound you with their awesomeness.
For example:

1. In Charles de Gaulle, waiting to take off for Cairo after visiting a pretty sweet AIESECer from GT, striking up a conversations with a gentleman from Germany who turned out to have been in AIESEC back in the early 80s. He used his experience in AIESEC to start building a better team relationship in his company, as well as change the way the company interacts with its surrounding community. Bonus fact: he loves AIESEC dancing almost as much as I do.

2. Walking around the streets of Alexandria, I hear somebody yell "Hey AIESEC!" Turns out he was a delegate at the Egypt National Conference I faci'd at, and was forced to figure out the fastest way to get my attention. He then proceeded to ask advice about where he should take his traineeship and offered to drive me around Alexandria and meet his family.

3. At a football match (the real, international version of soccer) for Al-Ahly (the most loved club in Egypt), I met three AIESECers from Madison who also are studying at the American University in Cairo for the semester. Man, those awesome kids are everywhere. They also happen to love Bebot.

And those were all just in the past three weeks. Get out there GT, and you'll see what I mean.

Belatedly, but a tradition nevertheless

Although it's not readily apparent from looking at the photo, we spelled out AIESEC under the famous St. Louis Gateway Arch following that historic winter conference.




Arcadiy and I are the "A", our LCP Amira is contorting herself into the second half of the "S", and I suspect Preston is hunched over as the bottom half of the first "E". I also want to say that our very own Kate is the top half of Preston's "E"? I wish I could identify everyone else in the photo, but suffice it to say they are awesome AIESECers from around the nation.

Photo courtesy of the equally awesome Sohaib.