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The Wall Street Journal Europe Future Leadership Institute organized the first Future Leadership Summit, also called the Bree/Schilde Summit, named after the two Belgian towns hosting the event, Nov. 4 and 5.
The goal of the summit was to provide a forum for student leaders to interact with international executives, exchange views on global issues and search for solutions together.
About 40 business students from all over Europe were selected to attend the event. The students were paired with 40 CEOs from various European businesses.
A special panel discussion on “Ultimate Leadership” was convened to give students access to senior leaders in the areas of military, business, diplomacy and religion.
Maj. Gen. Mark Schissler, U.S. Air Forces in Europe director of Plans, Programs and Analyses, represented the military at the summit and was a panel member during this session along with the CEO and founder of Ariadne Capital (representing business), the Consul of the Slovak Republic (representing diplomacy), and the chairman of the European Buddhist Union (representing religion).
Each of the panel members gave a summary of their background and experience. Then, each student was given the opportunity to ask the panel members questions. Even after the discussion had concluded, the students spontaneously approached panel members to continue the dialogue.
General Schissler, who had emphasized leading by example, ethics and character, was swarmed by eager students wanting more answers to their questions about leadership.
The leaders and executives who attended the conference were impressed by the quality of students represented at the summit, and the students gained a lot of valuable information that would otherwise have been difficult to get.
