VIEW
Getting Fresh with the New Generation
It was Friday evening when Marc Avanzo phoned asking for directions to the EBBF board's annual strategy weekend. Marc explained he would be taking the Eurostar over in the morning and would arrive in London and then make his way north into the English countryside where our meeting was being held and then return to Paris that evening. When he asked me "Do you think it is worth it for me to come?" I gave Marc directions and said we would be delighted to have him share in the consultation but left the decision-making entirely up to him.
By the time Marc arrived, the board had been identifying key issues for the organization over the next few years. Each board member had been asked to ponder what they felt to be the most important burning issue for EBBF moving forward. Anticipating and answering the needs of our ever changing global business community was deemed key, as was continuing to promote universal spiritual values and the prosperity of humankind. On an operational level the need was expressed for more management capacity to fulfill the ever increasing market demand for EBBF's knowledge and to expand and meet the requirements of its membership. Consideration is being given to accessing future generations of businesspeople before they begin their working lives or before they attend university - forming possibly the beginning of a life long relationship with EBBF.
We also pondered how the organization could better recognize and benefit from the unique and valuable capacities of our members and at the same time help them address the issues they feel most passionate about. This will culminate with a joint board and EBBF member scenario building session in May in Italy (More on this in the Opportunities for Action section ).
On behalf of the EBBF Young Professionals, Marc explained they felt the key issue moving forward was the global need for values based leadership. We worked together and came up with a concept for implementing a pilot project to train the trainers prior to launching a series of values workshops. The project goes live next month!
Over the last three years, in my role as a member of the capacity building team, I've had the privilege and the pleasure to work with the EBBF governing board facilitating the strategy and communication process. I can honestly say there were few dull moments - and as boards go EBBF has benefited from a diverse, dedicated and values based leadership. For years the organization relied on the efforts of a handful of committed individuals. Today EBBF is represented in over 60 countries and its organizational structure is spread across Europe. We are well on our way to "getting to know each other, getting to know EBBF, getting empowered and getting engaged."
Marc confessed around midnight on Saturday (by the way he decided to stay on for the Sunday morning session), that no one from the Young Professionals wanted to join the board meeting because they thought it would most probably be boring and a line-item by line-item type of agenda.
"I cannot believe how different each board member is, said Marc. The consultation works so well because each of you compliments the other. I was not bored by the board but rather inspired ... what a surprise ... you are truly artists!"
Tammara Anderton Boyd, EBBF Capacity Building Group and Strategic Communications expert
