Artoujours - An Idea

What happens when a Greek, Brazilian, American and Indian come together to work on a business idea? Apparently, nothing short of a miracle! Artoujours is an idea developed by four such minds, so alike yet so different. This paradox creates a spark of innovation.

The future belongs to a different kind of person with a different kind of mind – A Whole New Mind (http://www.danpink.com/wnm.html). Left brain dominance is a thing of the past; right brain qualities of empathy, inventiveness, and expression create the landscape of our times.

How many young people today have the opportunity of free expression? How many women around the world could live a more secure and happy life by choosing art as a vocation? How many cultures are watching their art forms fade away into history? How many children have never held a paint brush or a musical instrument?

The need of whole new minds, some haunting questions and our passion for creativity gave way to Artoujours, art forever. Artoujours is a dynamic center of arts, where people have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of creative expression, through classes, experimentation, production, performance and connection with art forms and artists from around the world.

At Artoujours we are passionate about arts of all kinds, we believe in the power of art to transform lives, inspire creative thinking, cultivate expression and develop character. Art is for everyone, and artistic talent can be found in every human being.

Our way of making this real is through six approaches –
1. Art School for everyone
2. Art foundation running projects addressing specific social risk groups
3. Art Production connecting themes from across the world
4. Art gallery promoting artists
5. The Art shopping experience
6. Casual Arts where people can explore their creative side through different art forms over a cappuccino and applie pie

Annika, Mauricio, Sophie and I are working on feasibility studies in different parts of the world to see where we want to start up the first Artoujours. Mauricio already runs an art center in Santa Maria Brazil called Musiartes (http://www.musiartes.com.br/) which he will build further.

The feasibility study includes these elements:The legal framework of setting up an organization; overhead costs; competition; grants and Government policies; supporting network; market; local business culture; financial prospects; social inclusiveness; and the education system and arts.

Here is a brief presentation on Artoujours – If you have any ideas, feedback or contacts that can support us in starting up please write to us at artoujours@musiartes.com.br

Artoujours

Art is not just painting or playing the guitar or dancing. Art is a way of discovering who you are, what you want, expressing your feelings and thoughts, your life. Sophie said to me – toujours is a very strong word, it means forever. Art for us is forever, and everywhere in everyone. A person can create as he/she can destroy. Everyone connects with feelings, ideas, and thoughts to be able to share these with someone else, with the world – visualize, hear, express. And this happens in every corner of the world, throughout the years of human existence. Art is natural, nature is art. It is human evolution.

I find myself constantly thinking – Based on India’s reality, where and how can Artoujours be most relevant?

By Deepti Chadda

MBA of life called AIESEC!

Today I am finishing my 4 years MBA in the University of Life called AIESEC, and there is only one word that comes to my mind to summarize this experience… GRATITUDE!

Have you ever stopped to think why people do an MBA? What are the benefits of doing an MBA?
Usually the reasons are: Advancing in their career, changing their career, starting their own business, build a new and powerful network, learning how to solve complex problems in a practical way, and so on and so forth.

The University of Life called AIESEC and its MBA program aims to create change agents through the development of 11 competencies: Self-Awareness, Personal Effectiveness, Analytical Thinking, Awareness of Others, Inclusiveness, Effective Communication, Development of Others, Stakeholder Focus, Inner Strength, Innovation and Commitment to Results. (Check my competency assessment below, the green bars represent how it was in the beginning of my AIESEC MBA)



The methodology? Practical experience through international internships, a learning environment comprised by team experiences, conferences, seminars, virtual spaces and platforms, mentorship and coaching programs and much more, combined with a leadership program where individuals have the chance to lead a high performance team. The program is completely flexible and the student chooses its own path.

I started the AIESEC MBA going for exchange to India, Chennai, for a marketing internship in an organization called Campus abroad. This experience taught me the importance of being able to adapt, to react faster to different environment, to stretch our cultural understanding. I also have built a fair international network, while in touch with more than 40 other AIESEC trainees.

My second year was about getting some functional knowledge, so I was assigned to manage the finances of the AIESEC branch in Brazil (Sao Paulo), I have learned a lot about budgeting, scenario planning, return of investments and others.

The main projects I managed and main results I got: Development of a new financial model, Redesign of conference management (long term venue contract, increasing logistical capacity), Design of new financial management software and contract negotiation with vendor, Growth of 200% in operational revenue , Increase of 30% of reserves.

After managing finances, I decided to step up and go for a strong leadership experience, being responsible for leading directly a team of 6 people from 3 different countries, plus being responsible for the operations of 30 local AIESEC branches in Brazil, with more than 2,000 people.

During this experience, I have the chance to work in a Long Term Plan implementation (Adjustment of planning framework, design of road map, set up of long term organizational goals), Balanced Scorecard implementation (Development of new planning framework and tracking tools, revision of measurement tools and development of rewards & recognition based on the Balanced Scorecard, Delivery of the International Congress 2008 (a congress for 1000 people form 100 different countries with a budget of more than 1 million Euros).

Some of the results I got: Growth of 60% in exchange realization and general growth in all key performance indicators (200-325), Strategic Management ING Award winner – The best AIESEC office amongst 107 countries AIESEC is present in, Growth of 300% in operational revenue and increase of 75% of reserves.

My last year of the AIESEC’s MBA, took place in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. I was responsible for Strategy & Operations in the global headquarter of AIESEC, working directly with 22 amazing and smart individuals from 16 different countries, taking care of the strategic direction and operations of more than 600 offices, over a 100 countries, with more than 38,000 people.

Projects? What did I do? Leading global planning process with 107 Countries and more than 800 local offices, Balanced Scorecard education and Strategy Map revision, Redefining quality standards and measurement systems, Leading country development team (6 regional Directors), Leading the strategic development task force (Vice President of Talent Management, Exchange, External Relations, Information Systems, Finance and President) , Leading global competitive analysis process.

Results? 45% year-on-year growth in exchange results – Biggest growth in the last 15 years, and first time that we achieved the 2010 vision’s goals. In a year that the majority of the organizations failed to succeed!

I have tried to summarize how my 4 years AIESEC MBA contributed to my development and next steps, check this out:



I think now you understand why GRATITUDE is the word that express my feelings towards my AIESEC MBA! I wish more and more people can have the chance to join the university of life called AIESEC, and that more and more people can learn as much as I learned, can meet people as many as I’ve met, can travel as much as I traveled, can share ideas as much as I’ve shared and most importantly, can be happy as much as I am!

That's the truly spirit of leadership development, you do what you love, you deliver your promises in a sustainable way, you get people to do things you believe it is the right ones, you don't feel the time going away... you just enjoy the journey!

Thanks AIESEC and AIESECers, partners, alumni, sponsors, supervisory boards and groups, all stakeholders that make and made AIESEC possible and real!

Yours truly,
Mauricio Schneider
A proud AIESEC alumnus!

“If there’s smoke… there’s fire”, is the cold war back?

I don’t understand that much about politics and stuff, the little I know I have learned at school, so, if my understanding of the facts stated below is wrong, apologies from the very beginning.

What has been calling my attention are the side conflicts amongst couple of countries that have arisen these days.

Two events in special made me remember the cold war again: South Ossetia in August last year and the Colombian agreement with the USA this week.

In the South Ossetia conflict last year, where Russia has arisen again with its military power, remembering the old and powerful Russia, and the Georgian President very confident of its capabilities to challenge Russia… what actually encouraged the Georgian president Saakashvili to challenge Russia? Was him counting on the US support? What happened then? Why Russia has reacted disproportionally? “Showing off”? What was the intention?

Late last week, the Colombian president has announced an agreement with the US Government to let the Yankees use 7 Colombian military bases, with the intention of combating the terrorism in Colombia. Was it an answer to Hugo Chaves that in 2008 have settled agreements with Russia around military cooperation and so on? The tension is all around in South America, and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is willing to go for a war against Colombia.

Why should South America go into a war that actually doesn’t belong to South America? Who will play the role of moderate this conflict? Has Brazil the leadership power to sort it out?

Is the cold war back? If no, what is behind the scenes? If yes, Why not let Russia and the USA solve their differences, without using “marionettes”!!!

It is a shame that we haven’t been able to shape leaders in the political and corporate environment enough skilled and talented to drive the society towards a more sustainable and peaceful world!

What can we do? Or who?

Mauricio Schneider
Consultant at Move Strategy & Partner at 4SC