Purpose
The purpose of the Foundation for European Leadership (FEL) is to promote and live inspiring leadership.
Vision
The vision of FEL is to be a safe forum where leadership professionals engage in a dialogue about leadership topics that are close to their hearts. This dialogue will result in an impact on other people, organisations and society.
Working methodology
FEL is a foundation with participants. This means that the strategy of FEL is decided by the participants themselves in their joint meetings. Participants are from the fields of consulting, Human Resources, Management Development or Leadership Development, education, training and research.
They bring their own knowledge and experience and together with colleagues, synthesise new ideas and knowledge through discussion. Because of this diversity of participants FEL works on several clusters of leadership topics simultaneously. These are linked to but not dependent on each other. The clusters may change over time according to the needs and wishes of participants. FEL also holds regular Knowledge Sharing Meetings where participants share experience and knowledge on, for instance, new leadership theories or developments, often with the input of outside experts or practitioners. FEL also holds an Annual Leadership Conference on a current leadership-related topic.
FEL conferences
The 2009 Conference is the sixth Annual Leadership Conference. FEL conferences characteristically feature top speakers who assist delegates in a deep enquiry into the topic.
In 2008, ‘The Renaissance of Leadership’ explored the new leadership we need to deal with multiple crises, as global warming and the then looming financial crisis. Speakers were Jim Garrison (President Wisdom University), Jeremy Black (Professor Exeter University) and France Houben (architect Mecanoo).
In 2007, ‘Leadership That Makes a Difference’ explored the impact of leadership on a personal, organizational and regional level. Speakers were Ad Scheepbouwer, CEO of KPN, and Paul Hofheinz, President of the Lisbon Council. We also showed an inspirational film about a master class by conductor Valerie Gergiev.
In 2006, Joseph Jaworski and Mark Tigchelelaar considered the challenge of ‘Generating Breakthrough Performance’. They introduced delegates to the U-model. An approach to fundamental change which demands both serious introspection and decisive action.
In 2005, ‘Leading Growth in Europe’ explored why growth is a ‘top of mind’-concept for the 21st century executive. The concepts of business and organic growth were examined by Wessel Ganzevoort, Professor at the University of Amsterdam, and Peter Lorange, President of IMD. Dolf Collee, a Member of the Executive Board of ABN AMRO, gave the practitioner view. The thesis that the European approach to life and work had the potential to eclipse the American dream was presented by American writer Jeremy Rifkin. Click here to download a summary.
In 2004, ‘Leading in Europe’ explored the concept that Europeans used leadership qualities that distinguished the European and American business models. Ben Verwaayen (CEO of BT), Fons Trompenaars (Founder of Trompenaars Hampden-Turner) and Donald Kalff (author, entrepreneur and former director of KLM) were the speakers. Click here to download a summary.
