By order of the President!

Jim Dunn, Management & Leadership Development Consultant representing the Proton Foundation, received a standing ovation after delivering 18 hours of training by order of the President of Macedonia as part of a new national intensive leadership training programme, which took place in August.

A luxury hotel by a lake on the outskirts of the beautiful resort of Ohrid (temperature 38c) was the setting for a Workshop attended by thirty six high potential leaders. The Workshop, a two week programme of intensive leadership training, is the personal initiative of the President of Macedonia, Dr Gjorge Ivanov, who envisages a similar workshop running each year for the next four years.  The initiative is of strategic importance to the Government who are aiming to cultivate the next generation of leaders in positive ways and is something that was promised by the President during his election campaign. Participants were aged between 23 and 30 years. All are well qualified academically, many having a second degree and some already in key positions in their chosen field of work.

Class of 2010

The Workshop was addressed by the President himself, by the US Ambassador, by  speakers from the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Friedrich Ebert Foundation, the Macedonian Military and other specialists. The Proton Foundation were asked to submit a proposal covering some of the key topics to be dealt with during the Workshop. Jim was subsequently invited to lecture over a three day period on a range of topics including; leadership and culture; human resource management; strategic management and project management.

Jim told us, "Lecturing on leadership and culture gave a good opportunity to reflect upon some of the principles and concepts that the Foundation so highly values. The sessions were relevant and well received. Working with this group was invigorating. They are energetic, enthusiastic and keen to make a difference. The combination of ‘able’, ‘willing’ and ‘allowed’ is always powerful and here a new generation of young leaders who are able and willing and, as Macedonia leaves mono-politics behind, who are sensing increasingly that they are also  ‘allowed’."

"The Workshop was organised on behalf of the President by his Cabinet Office. I was so well looked after during my stay and at the close of my last session the group gave me a standing ovation; quite unusual but a very nice compliment and one that bodes well for the future. I look forward to going back some day."

The Proton Foundation now have some good contacts from among the group to follow up.