It is likely that many of you now know that soon (in just 10 short days) Liz and I will be embarking on a magnificent journey. Unlike past blog entries, we aren't headed out on vacation this time. This time we are taking advantage of an amazing opportunity that has been provided to me.
Background:
A year and a half ago Alex Dowse (Eisenhower Fellow, 1997), a good friend and former boss sent me a notice via e-mail. The Eisenhower Fellowships Foundation was beginning its recruitment for its 2012 program. I knew little about the organization, and the more I read the more intrigued I was. Their mission is simple:
"Eisenhower Fellowships identifies, empowers and links outstanding leaders from around the world, helping them to achieve consequential outcomes across sectors and borders. EF provides a transformational experience leading to lifetime engagement in a global network, where dialogue and collaboration make the world more prosperous, just and peaceful."Simple and precise - in some ways. Leaving much to the imagination in others. How they accomplish the mission is impressive. There are two parts to Eisenhower Fellowships as an organization (although they overlap and interrelate). One part, the International Programs brings roughly 40 outstanding mid career professionals to the US in two groups each year. Each fellow embarks on an intensive, individually designed program in the Fellow's professional field, traveling throughout the United States meeting with people in industry, government, non-governmental organizations, and more. The USA Program sends 8-10 high-achieving mid-career Americans abroad for an intensive, individually designed program in the country (or countries of their choice. At least one Fellow per year is selected for an Agricultural Fellowship.
After an extensive application process involving a nomination process, initial vetting, an interview, and final selection, I was informed that while I was a very strong candidate, I was ultimately not selected for the Agricultural Fellowship. Eisenhower Fellowships had named Larkin Martin as the 2012 Agricultural Fellow (click here for her blog on her journey through Turkey and Kenya), they added however that through additional fundraising they might be able to send a second Agricultural Fellow abroad. Less than a month later I was informed that indeed, additional resources had been secured, and a second Agricultural Fellow was possible, and that I had been chosen.
Joining the network:
I was honored and humbled to join the eight other 2012 USA Eisenhower Fellows. Over the last 7 months I have participated in a multi-day orientation program/opening seminar in Philadelphia, joining 20 International Fellows, and the eight USA Fellows. This included lighthearted affairs such as late night karaoke, and more serious events such as a frank, off the record panel discussion on the state of world affairs with Deputy Secretary of State William J. Burns and an incredible workshop on collective intelligence with Bob Halperin (Eisenhower Fellow, 2002) who is Executive Director of the MIT Center for Collective Intelligence.
I joined the International Fellows at the Grand Canyon for an amazing long weekend. For them it was a chance to unwind a little, recompose, and take stock of the first half of their travels throughout the United States. For the USA Fellows who joined them, it was a chance to learn more about what to expect from our fellowship, directly from those currently engaging in theirs. For both groups it was a chance to build stronger bonds, and to gain valuable skills, primarily centered around leading change.
Getting ready to travel:
A key part of being an Eisenhower Fellow is realizing that the Fellowship is not a trip. It is not the 5 week journey that we are sent on by the organization to learn what we wish to learn. It is much more than that, it is being part of a network who chooses to lead change and bring consequential outcomes to that network. The 5 week travel experience which, while wonderful and at least at the start seems so central to the Fellowship, is just a stepping stone, a common factor that will bind us all together and provide a foundation for our future interactions and endeavors.
But ten days before it's time to leave, it does feel imposing. I've traveled before. In fact I've traveled often. If I were to list all the places I have been, I would undoubtedly leave many off. I've not just vacationed, but I've gone off to colleges, lived with friends for entire summers working jobs in other states, and even lived on the other side of the globe for an entire year. But I was younger then with far fewer ties. Never before have I had to plan a 6 week experience, 6 weeks of being away from home (3 of which Liz will be with me leaving us both away from the farm, our pets, our home, and our lives) 6 weeks of living out of a suitcase, 6 weeks, 3 countries, and I estimate at least 12 cities so far. Thankfully Eisenhower Fellowship Foundation has some amazing staff (a million thanks to Jason Riley) to help with all of this. In fact, not only is their full time staff here in the US planning my experience with me but also someone (or in some cases a team of people) in each country I will visit.
So for now the planning, packing, repacking, lists for the house-sitter, wrapping up things at work, fretting over loose items, and all the other normal things in life continues. Liz, I, or both of us will post again before we leave, I promise.
For now I'll leave you with a the "draft" itinerary. It is always in flux, but for now, here's the map . . .
View here in a larger map, with dates I'll be visiting each city
