Over a long weekend in late July, 15 Asia Pacific Leadership Program alumni met in Bangkok to renew ties to the program, refresh their knowledge of leadership concepts and launch a new initiative. The participants from varied nations, professions and age groups represented eight different APLP cohorts including members of the first and the most recent generations of the program.

The gathering, called Alumni One (A1), was intended to help develop new cross-cohort links and renew practical application of APLP teachings, as well as to draw upon the unique skills of this diverse alumni group to explore how new fiscal opportunities might be developed for EWC.

In a collective report on the event, participants wrote that they soon discovered that the dual functions of the workshop were highly compatible: “As agents of change in our respective fields, we were able to draw upon reflections of our time at EWC and our motivations for remaining engaged in the APLP program to explore emerging leadership development needs. Our aim was to conceptualize meaningful and sustainable professional development programs that could generate revenue for the Center while activating program alumni as partners. Together we discovered that our alumni are invested in the long-term success of the program, and it was truly amazing how harmoniously this unique team worked together.”

During their time together participants created a road map for future alumni development workshops, designed prototype training products, and identified potential clients. In addition, they committed to deepening the in-country presence of the APLP and other Center leadership programs across Asia.

An Alumni Two meeting is already being planned for the coming months, and the roster of alumni signed up for the next workshop has grown by over 50 percent. If any APLP alumni want to get involved in this initiative, contact Scott MacLeod or Saw Thinn. And if you know of organizations or businesses who might be interested in the kind of training APLP does so well, let them know!