According to their website, “Eisenhower Fellowships engage emerging leaders from around the world to enhance their professional capabilities, broaden their contacts, deepen their perspectives, and unite them in a diverse, global community – a network where dialogue, understanding, and collaboration lead to a more prosperous, just, and peaceful world.”

Lucinda hadn’t heard about the program until a colleague and Alumni Fellow, Steve Walsh one of the founders of DreamIt nominated her.

“I read about it and was instantly excited – by the opportunity to travel, to meet key leaders in other counties, to become part of a great, diverse, global community of Fellows,” she told me recently.  “You’re immersed in the process for a year, and it forces you out of the day to day, which has always stimulated my thinking and helps me to think bigger… The alumni network is so impressive, including four heads of state.  I like people, but I’m not crazy about ‘networking’.  This program was an amazing opportunity to create real connections and relationships while expanding my horizons. ”

The application process was daunting – similar to a college application,” she shares with a laugh, “Obnoxious essays and all. But I applied and was lucky enough to be selected.”

The Eisenhower Fellowship organization brings two groups of approximately 20 outstanding mid-career Fellows drawn from 47 different countries to the U.S. annually for an intensive, individually designed program in the Fellow’s professional field.  Fellows are identified by high-level in-country nominating committees and selected by a committee at Eisenhower Fellowships headquarters in Philadelphia.  The participants from the United State go abroad for an individually designed program in the country of their choice.  Lucinda chose China.

“I wanted to go to China for several reasons… First, although I’m fairly well traveled, I’d never been to Asia. Secondly, the development of the Internet in China is very different from the U.S., and I wanted to understand that and its impact on society there. I was also interested in how the very different Internet search environment will affect my business; two of my competitors are actively entering that marketing.  Most importantly, though, I saw and see China as the most important and fastest changing force in the globe today and I wanted to experience the place first hand.”

Lucinda learned a great deal during the yearlong process… and I’ll be sharing some of her thoughts in one of my next blog post.  But if you’re intrigued, are interested in meeting other “Enlightened Executives” and want to participate in what should be a great discussion about the Eisenhower Fellowship, the global economy and doing business in China – join us on Tuesday, April 5th for our Fifth Annual Growth Strategies breakfast.  Click here for more info…

And thanks to National Penn Bank for their sponsorship of this event!

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