JCI European Academy

Gothenburg, Karlsruhe (lama)

The JCI European Academy is a multi-national leadership training, traditionally organized by a pan-European team and taking place in Gothenburg, Sweden. Fostering connections without borders, the Academy brings the European Dream to life, gathering future leaders from across the continent. In this interview, Lama shares firsthand insights from behind the scenes of this long-standing European flagship project. If you’re curious about how the Academy can shape one’s leadership journey and expand one’s network, read on!

WJKA: Hey Lama, you are just back from Sweden where you spent 8 days of your holiday and before that quite some time of preparation supporting an international JCI project. What made you spend your vacation this way?

Lama: Hi, thanks for having me today! For me, it’s always the people that make JCI/WJ projects worthwhile. Over the past years, I was lucky to experience and learn many unique things thanks to our network. Some time back, I started feeling that it was time to give back and support those who make these experiences possible. While training isn’t my day job, I always found it rewarding and insightful to support others sharpen their skills. Academies like the JCI European Academy (JCIEA from here on) are magical places where personal development happens.

Having participated in similar events in the past, I was curious about the behind-the-scenes experience and more than happy to contribute. It was a wonderful experience to be part of this multinational team in 2023. And seeing – after months of preparation – the puzzle pieces came together was so fulfilling that simply had to apply for a COC position in 2024 again.

WJKA: From your point of view: How does your role as part of the organizing team differ from the experience as a delegate?

Lama: First of all: I think that the experience is remarkably similar and vastly different at the same time 🙂 Both groups, the delegates and the crew, are assembled from all over Europe. This year, we had 100 delegates from 27 countries and the crew came from 13 different national JCI organizations: A truly European experience.

As a delegate, almost all work happens during the Academy itself. Yet for the crew, the busy time starts months before, with intense planning and preparation. During the event, our focus shifts to ensuring everything runs smoothly. Many things happen in parallel so sharing the workload and effectively communicating is key to success. Being responsible for 100+ people adds a bit of stress sometimes: It’s about creating the foundation on which the trainers stand, facilitating a smooth and impactful Academy for the delegates.

WJKA: But that’s something you can have anywhere, can’t you?

Lama: It certainly is something you can experience in various places, yes. But looking from the perspective of a JCI Member, I think that large, international projects bring experience that’s invaluable to one’s development. There’s much to learn – think about intercultural projects, crew members speaking different languages, organizing something for 100+ people without even being there… Also, you experience that you can trust in your/our network. On top of that: getting to know so many great people from all over Europe and working with them closely isn’t something that happens every day. At least not in my days and not in such a distilled way.

WJKA: What’s in it for someone who applies to be a delegate in the European Academy?

Lama: Oh, that’s a lengthy list. Let me boil it down to a few things and let’s start with a quote from the JCIEA website: “The JCI European Academy is a leadership academy and a once in a lifetime experience. The academy provides personal development as well as the tools and knowledge to take on leadership positions.” And that’s absolutely true. JCIEA targets incoming JCI Local Presidents who – for sure – will take on a leadership position and will learn very much through a personal journey as individual, part of a team and as a leader. And it does not stop there: JCIEA also is a learning platform for trainers and the COC team. So, either as a delegate or as part of the crew, there is much to take home from Sweden.

Let me add one more thing: JCI (Wirtschaftsjunioren too!) lives from exchanging ideas, getting to know each other, and building a reliable network. And during such an intensive week(end), you will make many meaningful connections. In contrast to an international conference where you can meet many more people in the same time, here you have the opportunity to really get to know and appreciate them. And it’s “not only” the delegates: you can also meet some really seasoned and experienced JCI members. This year, the Academy was honored by visits from Manuela Weber (Executive Vice President for Europe), Keisuke Shimoyamada (Executive Vice President for Asia and the Pacific and also the candidate for 2025 JCI President), Kim Salsbring (National President of Sweden), Viktor Ómarsson (2023 JCI President), Lars Hajslund [interrupts himself] you see, I don’t like name or rank dropping and still you caught me doing it. But in the end, you can see that the Academy is a melting pot of great and like-minded individuals and a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

WJKA: Ok, now you told us many things – without telling us much about the program. Can you be more specific here?

Lama: No, I will not. What happens at the Academy stays at the Academy. It’s part of the magic that the experience itself stays a secret so that future delegates can fully immerse themselves in the journey.

WJKA: Ok, well then. You’ve been part of the COC twice now. Why do you believe it’s important to give back to JCI by supporting events like the JCI European Academy?

Lama: You see, a network can only strive if you only take from it and then stop – you also need to give back. It’s also a bit selfish, to be honest: it’s rewarding to see how our contributions help others along their own paths. Mentoring younger members – or making that possible – is important to me.

Our network is invaluable – and we all have a role in keeping it that way for future members. If I can ask for two favors from any Wirtschaftsjunior and Jaycee: 1) Solve one problem a day. If we all do this, there’s a bright future waiting for us. 2) Have fun once a day too. If everyone does this, we’ll all have a fantastic time.

WJKA: That would be great indeed. But for those out there who want to apply for the Academy – or have been accepted as a delegate: What is your recommendation, how should they prepare?

Lama: That’s easy: I can only urge you to come open-minded and willing to immerse yourself in the experience. Just follow the flow. There is not much you have to prepare beforehand (and I will, again, not reveal any secrets here). One thing that really helps (you, the trainers, and the COC): Pay attention to emails and deadlines. In doing that, you will make the most of the exceptional time and you’ll find that the Academy offers a lot to learn about teamwork, leadership, others, and yourself.

WJKA That sounds fair. I’ll stop asking for secrets now 🙂 One more thing though: The role of a COC member touches on many aspects of event management, including planning, communication, and finance. Which of these areas challenged you the most, and how did you overcome those challenges to ensure the Academy’s success?

L:ama I think that each area presents its own challenges. You have to coordinate internal and external communication, for example, so that everyone is on the same page at any given time. We managed to work mostly asynchronously which means that we divided responsibilities early on and kep each other updated through slack. Then, in our monthly meetings and thanks to a well thought-out project plan, we focused on the big picture so that we could see how the overall progress was. With clear responsibilities, you always have one COC member as point of contact and of couse, we could choose what area we wanted to lead. Just like I know it from other JCI/WJ projects, you do not have to choose an area familiar to you but also can opt for a learning path to explore new things. But all in all, every task has to be completed and that means that you sometimes just have to roll up your sleeves and help with whatever pops up.

WJKA: This all sounds like a lot. Is there anything you can tell us about balancing the demands of the Academy with your personal and professional life?

Lama: It is – as always with JCI and WJ – a balancing act, but it boils down to good self-management. Indeed, the Academy week is packed and there’s little time for anything else then – and that’s is why I used my vacation time for it. The preparation itself can be more easily balanced with other commitments, especially because the project is well-organized and there’s enough time to prepare. For me it was particularly good that our monthly preparation meetings started past 7pm, mostly at 8pm. At that time, my kids are in bed.

Also, you work with a select team of great people who share the same goal: To deliver the best academy ever. That said, also remember that it’s ok to say “no” if you’re overwhelmed. Just tell the crew and ask for help if you need it. And with every project, the reward kicks in when you see the delegates graduate from the Academy now being part of a very select family of friends.

WJKA: And what’s your recommendation for someone who read the interview up to this point?

Lama: That’s an easy one! I invite every Jaycee (ja, das schließt die Wirtschaftsjunioren bekanntermaßen mit ein!) to learn more about the Academy. Whether as a delegate or crew member, it’s a fantastic opportunity to make meaningful connections and gain valuable experience. The next edition is scheduled for August 1-5, 2025, and the application window opens in early 2025. (Dear future reader: it’s always like that…) If you happen to be a graduate, you can apply to be a crew member until New Year’s Eve. Visit the official Academy website https://jciea.jcisweden.se/ to learn more and apply.