AIESEC 60 years, a book and an alumni event

Yesterday it was time for a national alumni event to celebrate AIESEC's 60th birthday. Held in a beautiful location at Amsterdam's Keizersgracht, some 500 people gathered not only for this birthday but also for a book. Eske, former member of AIESEC Amsterdam got it into his head that we wanted to write a book on leadership and youth. He pitched the idea to a publisher and it worked. Yesterday we all got a copy of this book.

I was reading trough it this morning and again so impressed. Some of my friends are in this book,Atma Mumbai is in this book, AIESEC is in this book and big names like Ruud Lubbers, Tex Gunning and Ben Verwaayen are in this book. Many elements of my life of the past 5 years come together in this book. Very proud of Eske for taking this initiative.

At moments like these I remember how special and amazing my time in AIESEC was and the people I met were. It is hard to think about these lessons in everyday life but at least I learnt them. The way I feel about leadership and good ways of doing business make me stand out. I already expressed earlier my struggles to combine a career in a world where everything revolves about money and my own beliefs and motivation. Nights like these at least make me wonder.

It was also great to talk to some long lost friends. Joost, who flew over from London especially for this. I had no idea who to talk to first since I knew almost everyone in the room.

It was a very good night.

For Dutch readers:
"Jij maakt het verschil- inspiratie en leiderschap voor the next generation, Eske Scavenius en Patrice van Riemsijk"