What does it mean for us being in MC?

”MC Estonia is like a professional playground. You are put in the middle of highly talented people, you are given resources to make change and all the rest is up to you!  If you are looking for a 5 years of professional and personal development speeded up and packed into one year, then MC experience is the ONE for you.

Being 25 I feel I have the experience of a CEO, CFO, organizational strategy, team development and the networks to take it all forward - and I still have the whole life ahead!

Why say no to such an experience? “

Kristina

“When I applied for MC position last year my main argument for it was that I want some link between my student life and adulthood. Right now I can truly say that working in MC has fulfilled this need. As I am not anymore a student, nor I don’t think that I am an adult also, MC gives a nice opportunity to combine those areas. So fun combined with work, I would say!

Though MC life is going extremely fast, there is a lot to do; I have learnt to plan my life and time (thanks to many trainings, people around me) in a better way. Although I’m working full time in MC, I still find time for choir twice a week, sports 2 or 3 times per week, for my personal life and also for some extra work beside MC. I do not think that I would have the same level of energy or the experience while working in some company as there you will be stuck in the routine quite easily.

For three summers I worked in big companies being the small nut in this machine work and I was never happy or satisfied. MC work is the first job I feel happy to go in the mornings as it develops me personally as well as professionally. Also I can really do something important for the community. Being in the MC you are a big and important nut! ”

Maarja

 

“To be honest - leading an organization with 150 members is just something really great! Some time ago I compared it to managing a company with 150 employees - in Estonia only small % of all companies are larger than that. Now I consider it even more challenging. Leading 150 people who work on voluntary bases - if I would be an employer in the future, I would consider 1 year of this experience fu**ing relevant and valuable.

Still, at the same time it’s like a hobby. Coming to the office every day and knowing that you can do the things which you like and want to do. Pure fun! Doing something for a purpose, e.g making world a better place to live, is the thing that gives meaning. MC experience gives a right attitude to a young person, no matter if you continue in business, governmental on NGO sector in the future

 Being 23 and being fully responsible for the partnership-based income of the largest student organization in Estonia - when entering to the university I couldn’t even think about this kind of possibility. Today I cannot imagine myself without that journey... ”

Marko

“While thinking of applying for MC abroad, I was sure that it will be a small AIESEC country, which is ambitious enough for achieving growth year by year and from where I can be developed personally, being in intense working and cultural environment! And I took the right step and enough courage for applying to AIESEC Estonia MC! Being an international MC in Estonia is very unique, as you are always being challenged by the situations and intense team work you have with people. One of the most amazing things I’m admiring in this country also is innovative approach to everything you do, no matter what! This proves also, that Estonia is one of the most IT developed countries in Europe and this has been also positively shocked me… Working as MC member in small AIESEC countries like Estonia is also valuable, as you are interacting very close with members and see how striving they are for new knowledge and development…”

Aika

„ Being part of the MC of AIESEC Estonia has given me many different skills and knowledge and I still keep learning.  I have had the chance to meet with a lot of interesting people from the new members of AIESEC Estonia to the CEOs of companies. I have grown as a person and I think that I really start to understand the influence this year has had on my life in the years to come.  Every day I’m happily walking to the office by the streets of Tallinn Old Town, because I simply like, what I do! If you find the thing for yourself that you like to do in MC Estonia then I wish you grab the opportunity! So you could also walk those cobble stoned streets of Tallinn Old Town next year enjoying the tourists and sunshine in the summer, nice breeze and falling leaves in autumn,  snow and a nice Christmas tree at winter and the fresh air in spring on your way to the work you like!"

Marian

I believe that the goodness of a working environment can be seen by how creative you become while working there. During the last six months in MC I have discovered that more often I leave the office in the evening with an idea banging in my head and shouting: "Lauri, that's fun, you have to make it a reality!". And by those ideas I mean both AIESEC-related thoughts but also ideas that will change my own future like business ideas, social campaigns, trainings and even one book idea.

Of course it's not just about ideas, but also learning to believe in them and making it all happen. MC work is full of small successes that in the build up a stronger, faster, funnier and of course sexier you

Lauri

How is it to be an AIESEC intern?

Whole AIESEC Estonia, but especially OGX people, are in one of the HOTTEST and EXTREMELY EXCITING time now, which is called “AUTUMN EP RECRUITMENT”!!!

Our team has an ambitious plan to drive the best ever EP recruitment for the recent years! And sure one of the key tools for that is the PROMOTION CAMPAIGN, which we are using this year - “I’m an AIESEC intern”. 

As you may guess it’s based on “I’m an AIESECer!” campaign launched for member’s recruitment this year. Our returnees (mostly AIESEC alumnus) or people, who are currently abroad on internships, share their stories being an AIESEC intern at the promotion materials and web-page – www.aiesec.ee. Check their stories as well!

Wishing all of us to have the best ever recruitment and expand one of the uniquest opportunity AIESEC gives to young people – experience other countries professionally and culturally!

Stay tuned,

Aika

  

 

 

   

What does it take to make the MC happy?

When did you last see so satisfied people?

I would especially like to draw your attention to Maarja´s face...she is so satisfied. Marko is having the day of his life. Aika wants to jump up and down. Marian goes wuuuhuuu. Lauri is trying to stay cool.

But what happened?

We got something for free! Yay - free nightclub tickets!

So what does it take to make us happy - free stuff!

So remember:
-if you come to the office bring us something to eat and will be happy
- if you see us in the bar buy us a drink and we will be happy
- if we come for a meeting with you, pay our bill and we will be happy
- if your mom bakes a cake - save a slaice for us and we will be happy
- ........

You may continue the list!

FREE = HAPPY

“Ready for Anything – 52 Principles for an Increased Productivity” by David Allen

Hey AIESEC Estonia!

I’m Philippe, LCP from Belgium, and I would like to tell you about a book that helped me a lot in this crazy-busy AIESEC life…

Surely you know a lot more about your own life than I do… but if there’s one thing that I might know about it, it’s this: busy as all AIESECers, you are often spend the whole day running around and doing things you needed to do for this or that person, buying things you need for meetings or maybe filling out applications for Belgian conferences (Hint: we have great TtT’s!). Then, at night, you come home and say “aah damn, I forgot to send that mail!” and you absolutely needed to do that, so you need to open your laptop and start… again!

Having a short-term memory, it happened to me all the time, UNTIL I read this book called “Ready for Anything – 52 Principles for an Increased Productivity” by David Allen, who also wrote “Getting Things Done”. 

Honestly, I never read ALL 52 principles, because I wouldn’t remember them anyways, but it did teach me a few things that have been very useful up till now: 

• Keep a list of everything: write down all of the things that are in your mind, doesn’t matter if you need to do it now, later, maybe someday or yesterday! 
• The author himself had a list of 137 things to do… impossible it may seem, but at least he KNEW what he had to do, because it was written and he could always remind himself. In the same time, this list gives your mind a great freedom of thought and creativity: instead of constantly trying to remember what you had to do, you can use your mind now freely to think about how to change, create, design, do… which is far more productive! Plus, it allows you to make up more free time to relax your mind, go for a walk in the parc… don’t worry, everything is written down…
• Keep this list in an easily accessible, preferably digital way, always within your reach. Use a gadget, palmtop, cell phone, or just a small book in your pocket, but make sure you can reach it whenever you need it!
• Don’t fool yourself: if you think of something now, you probably won’t remember it in 1 hour… write it down immediately or you will lose it.

 All of this, and much more, allows you to understand how to design a working style that enables you to use your mind in a much more productive and effective way!

It helps you to become better, at (almost) everything you do. I sincerely hope your LC invests in this, and other books, for its members to read about this type of topics, so that in term, you and your LC can benefit from increased productivity.

 AIESECly yours,

Philippe Verschorren
President
Local Committee of AIESEC VUB

Brussels, Belgium
www.aiesecvub.be 

Going global - is there any other way to survive?

Ahoi AIESEC Estonia and its friends.

I`m just doing the wrap-up of JCI GoGlobal conference which I participated last weekend and wanted to share some thoughts from there. I hope that at least AIESEC members get some good ideas and motivation to work really hard with our Market Expansion projects...

Jaan Järv (formerly in Baltica, currently in Versus Invest):
- "It is good to test business ideas in Estonia - the ones which are successful here will bring profit also elsewhere"
- "In longer perspective successful are those companies which have activities in international markets"
- "Foreign markets which are closer bring more value/profit" (=CEE and Scandinavian markets for Estonian companies). It is also because of more similar environment, background etc. For Estonia he listed TOP markets to expand your activities: 1. Baltic countries 2. Ukraine 3. Russia 4. other CEE countries 5. Scandinavia 6. Western-Europe 7. USA 8. Asia
- Even if Polish, Romanian, Bulgarian and Russian markets develop extremely fast during next few years there is still enough space for new ideas and foreign companies.

Andri Avila (Olympic Entertainment Group):
- "Estonian business environment gave a good opportunity to experiment your business idea. At the same time the borders of Estonian market are narrow and success will come faster than expected. It means that for further growing there is no other opportunity than to expand to foreign markets."
- "The presumption of expanding: your business model works well in the business environment with lower risks"

Indrek Neivelt (Bank Saint Petersburg):
- "Before expanding Hansapank to Latvia (years ago) we had been only to Riga zoo - we had no idea about international business"
- "It is easier to take products to foreign markets than services. Services are more local."

Kadri Tali (Nordic Symphony Orchestra):
- "The best thing which Estonians have in competition with other world - our brain"

Andres Agasild (MarkIT):
- "Going global is a key to success, especially for a company from a small country"
- "Milk in our office lasts for 3 months, IT products in our portfolio 30 days"
- "While going global don`t copy-paste your current business model. Think even bigger!"
- "Small company with 40 employees (MarkIT has 40 employees and they produced 28 million EUR revenue last year!) can compete with big international companyes only by focusing to one narrow aspect"
- "Why Riga? Why not London?" Andres told that if there is a super idea - it is successful everywhere. So why not to start directly from bigger markets (like London) which would bring more value from the very beginning.
- "Going global - is there any other way to survive?"

- - - -
If to add here a headline from todays Äripäev:
- "2009: export saves the business" ("2009: eksport päästab äri", Äripäev 25.09): Next year will be the most difficult for the companies selling Estonian internal market. Strong exporting countries win the most.

There have been a lot of articles and some conferences about taking business international, expanding to foreign markets, exporting - all having the same message: only these activities can save Estonian economy and help companies to be successful.

Good luck with Market Expansion projects, AIESEC Estonia. Now or never?
Marko

I`m an AIESECer!

I`m an AIESECer!

I`m an AIESECer

I`m an AIESECer!

Apply as a facilitator to Baltic conference ENERGY 2008 - Deadline 10.September

Energy 2008 facilitator applications are opened! Come and experience the Baltic countries.

More information: http://www.myaiesec.net/content/viewwiki.do?contentid=10025066

Energy this year will be a leadership conference with two tracks: newies and oldies.

What kind of background facilitators are we looking for?

• LEADERSHIP experienced
• Attendance to a TtT
• Attendance in an Leadership Development Seminar
• Facilitating experience around the topic of leadership
• Excellent English
• Exchange experience is preferred

Important dates to remember:

Application package deadline: 10th September 20.00 GMT+2

Interviews: 22.-24th September

Facilitators announcement: 25th September

Faci applications are opened!

The faci booklet, application and Energy agenda you can find from here:

http://www.myaiesec.net/content/viewwiki.do?contentid=10025066

Submit the applications to: simona.serb@aiesec.lv

WELCOME TO ENERGY 08

21.-23.November in RIGA

Marko and Marian enjoying IC in Brazil

For those who don't know, Marko and Marian are always presented with us at the International Congress in Brazil. They are as well as us enjoying our common delegation meetings, attending the parties and sessions... YES! :)

How come, you didn't know about that? 

Happy delegation hours all together. Do you see Marko and Marian?

Not so happy delegation meetings. Hey, what Kristina is doing with Marian?

Marko with CC girl, trying to get beer for free :) And he got it!

Here Marko got Global partnership with Alcatel-Lucent

Colombian girls love Marko! :)

Marian found a pretty Belgium guy from WENA GN Board :)

Ohhh, Colombian MCP loves Marian! :)

Marko and his former LCP from Parnu - Helena :)

Marko and Marian enjoying party on turkish delegation shoulders

Marko trying the taste of spanish cocktail

Marko and Aika together at the party with Anuala (WENA GN Board) and MCP Poland

Marko is enjoying the session even after the party :) We don't know where Marian was that time...

We feel the greatest spirit of our team when we are all together! :)

See you already soon in Tallinn!

Global Village and Opening Ceremony of IC

Hey, dear AIESEC Estonia!

The very first day of every International Congress is always celebrated by the official opening and Global Village, but this IC is very special one, as the whole organization is celebrating its 60th anniversary around the globe this year. It’s one of the richest and flashy celebration of success of our organization since it was established in 1948 after the II WW, capitalizing on what was achieved and what impact brings AIESEC to country communities until now.

Opening ceremony

Speech of PAI - Juan

Brazilian capoeira show

Gaucho dancers 

Congress Committe team - around 60 people from 25 countries, they are really doing a great job here

One of the most amazing events when the International Congress starts is Global Village, when more than 106 countries of AIESEC present their diverse cultures and nationalities and everyone has the opportunity to know more about them - it's a showcase of the countries through this festival of music, food, drink and traditional clothes.

AIESEC Estonia was one of the most beautiful delegation at the Global Village and all the time we were more than welcome to be taken the pictures with us and visitors as well as IC delegtes were interested to know more about our country, food and cultural features.

Before the Global Village started

Estonian table at the Global Village

 

Right now only 2 days of the conference left and we are really looking forward to come back home and start everything happen in AIESEC Estonia :)

Missing ours dearest Marian and Marko a lot! Warm brazilian hugs! :)

your Aika, Maarja, Lauri and Kristina

First experience with Brazil

Hi all,

Though it is already our 5th day at IC and 14th in IC, we manage right now to do a posting about study tour now, as it is extremely hard to get into internet here.

Just wanted to share a bit about our study tour which we decided to spend in Goyas instead of Rio De Janiro. It seems that people in MC are more into nature than sightseeing in famous places.

Goyas is a state in Brazil, which is situated in the middle of the country, more north from Sao Paolo state.

Which we learnt about Brazilians?
They are extremely friendly and smiling even if things are going wrong

When they say it is close, it is actually really far

When they say it takes one hour to get to some place, then double this time. Trip from Sao Paulo to Goyania should have taken 12 hours, but it took 16.

As we didn't have a change to wash, we used other means for that

What we experienced?
That Brazilia is extremely big and getting from one place to another needs patience and plenty of time. We travelled 16 hours to get from one city to another which is comparable with driving to Poland, but at the mean time you have seen already 4 countries.

That’s why the weather is completely different. It was cold and raining in Sao Paulo, but it was 30 degrees and very dry in Goyania. It was even so dry that we saw many field and forest fires, but as it turned out later the locals are setting the fires themselves to prevent the huge fires.

There is a weird system in the gas stations and every bar as well. When u enter the gas station you will get a sheet of paper and all the things you wanna buy will be labeled by the shop assistant and then written on the paper. So in the end you will pay by the sheet of paper. We figured it out that maybe people who are serving the food are not allowed to touch the money. Even in the hotel we get the coupons to buy something.

In gasstations it was good to strech ourselves

Extremely beautiful waterfall, with extemely gold but refreshing water

Culture experience by rehershing capoeira. Aika as Estonian master on that:)

The one and only ecofarm where everything is handmade and grown on spot which makes it sustainable and good

The famous coconut drink

In the capital Brazilia. The house of the parliament. An interesting thing about Brazilia is that the city has a shape of an aeroplane. The main body belonges to all administrative institutions and people are living in the "wings" part.

Stay tune for more updates as it seams that there will be more internet from now on.

Boa noite,

Maarja