Until you read the last point you may have believed I was describing myself - not so. This is my second YES seminar as a participant and Philip Wilkinson is the guest facilitator with a more than impressive bio. Strategic planning has been the theme of the event as YMCA Europe is in the closing year of its most recent 5 year strategic plan and looks forward to creating a strategy for 2016-2020.
Philip has driven the design and implementation of strategies in difficult contexts such as Rwanda and Afghanistan with all sorts of complexities and desires and needs, and history - well some might say he's a bit overqualified for guiding a discussion about the strategic planning of YMCA Europe - although I'd say we're a pretty complex reality ourselves! His stories were fascinating - from objectives to take paramilitary targets in Northern Ireland by any means possible and years later having a pint with that same target who is now a political leader; to having a close relationship with Paul Kagame and the success story of strategic planning in Rwanda.
So far the seminar has been really engaging - the YES board have obviously put much time into ensuring participants get the most out of this week and have kept it fresh with quirky activities including the problem and solution wall, Q&A session energy prep, a new spin on our cultural evening, and peer partners.
As for now the strategic plan is to get through to 4pm and then enjoy a free afternoon and evening in Tallinn!
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