CELA 2012 Program

What is CELA?,

Thirty years ago, a group of American business leaders recognized that global economic interdependence required them to establish successful international business networks and partnerships. They formed the Society of International Business Fellows (SIBF) to further the development of their goals, but in the ensuing 30 years the organization has grown. SIBF wants to share the experience of its members with future leaders around the world.

The CELA organization for which you are applying was started in 2002 by SIBF members to begin sharing this experience in Central Eurasia. The idea was to develop a regional platform for development and region cooperation by supporting and linking the new generation of mid-career leaders from eight countries of the former Soviet Union (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan) and Afghanistan. In terms of general worldview, culture, society, language, professional and personal goals at a time of regional transition, it was found that these people had much in common and much to share. CELA created a platform and network that allowed them to make these personal connections, open professional channels, and do projects together.

Who attends CELA?

CELA members are citizens of one of the nine countries of the Central Eurasia region, typically in their 30s, and working in the sectors of business, government, or NGOs/civil society. They are the innovators, the do-ers, the agents of change - the ones who want to make a positive difference in their societies. The gateway to membership in CELA is an intense 11-day leadership academy at the Koc University in Istanbul, Turkey. There is a highly competitive selection process. Approximately 36 new CELA members are selected annually and inducted in the network. In addition, over a dozen members of the SIBF come as presenters, instructors, facilitators and mentors, bringing their real-life experience to the program to ensure it has a highly practical flavor.

What are the outcomes of CELA?

The pillars of CELA are learning, linking and working together. Learning comes in the form of the leadership education which members experience in the annual summer leadership academies, and then the follow-up events held in the course of the year in the countries of the region. These have ranged from business roundtables in the Caucasus, or a conference on tourism development in Central Asia, to workshops on mountain development in Tajikistan or corporate social responsibility in Georgia. In each case, best practices and lessons learned are shared among participants from different parts and perspectives of the region. This is the point about linking and working together in CELA - it means pooling knowledge from within the region itself, and turning them into actionable ideas appropriate to the local circumstances.



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CENTRAL EURASIA LEADERSHIP ACADEMY (CELA)
SUMMER WORKSHOP, ISTANBUL, 17-27 JULY 2012

The Central Eurasia Leadership Academy is now accepting applications to its 2012 Regional Leadership Workshop at Koç University, Istanbul. CELA was launched in 2002 as a major initiative to bring together the region’s most dynamic mid-career leaders with character, initiative and strategic vision in the fields of business, civil society and government. CELA alumni describe the program as “the best I have taken part in”, “a vibrant network of brilliant people” (To find out more what CELA members are saying, go to CELA Testimonials at www.celaprogram.org). Now in its tenth year, CELA has grown into the region’s premier leadership training and network organization linking over 300+ next-generation leaders and change agents across nine countries.

Thirty-six outstanding individuals will be selected to attend this eleven-day leadership event that will be intensive, challenging, and fun. It is important to emphasize that this is not a one-time training, but the gate to full-fledged membership in the CELA organization – a network of talent with global reach – which workshop alumni will be expected to join and actively contribute to afterwards. CELA is a bridge to its partner the Society of International Business Fellows (SIBF - www.sibf.org) and its sister organization, the Middle East Leadership Academy (MELA - www.mid-east-academy.com). Together they incorporate a global network of over 800 company heads, civil society leaders and public servants from 25 countries!

CELA applicants must be between the ages of 28 and 42. They must be citizens of (and resident in) one of the following countries: Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The professional sectors targeted in 2012 are business, government, civil society and media. Candidates working in the sphere of business and entrepreneurship are particularly encouraged to apply. Women are also strongly encouraged to apply.

Please note the close relatives of CELA alumni are not eligible to apply. The value of the CELA network lies in its breadth and reach. Siblings and spouses of CELA members are already part of the CELA family!

All costs associated with the CELA 2012 Regional Leadership Workshop (food and accommodation in Istanbul, and economy-class transport from the participant’s home country) are covered by CELA, with the exception of a $500 participant fee.

English is the language of instruction during the CELA workshop. For more information, a course description, and an application form, please visit the CELA website: www.celaprogram.org

For a sense of the flavor and atmosphere of the CELA workshop, we invite you to visit the CELA blog which offers a daily “photo diary” of the CELA 2011 workshop at http://cela8.blogspot.com/2011/07/cela-8-is-launched-day-1.html

The deadline for applications is Tuesday 31 January 2012.


More information and application form: http://www.celaprogram.org/pages/CELA-Summit-2010