Council of Presidents Profile: AIESEC
1. What is the name of your organization?
AIESEC. It stands for Association Internationale d'Etudiants en Sciences Economiques et Commerciales
2. What is the "mission statement" or purpose of your organization?
"The international platform for young people to discover and develop their potential"
3. Roughly how many members belong to your organization?
100 members
4. What is the demographic makeup of your organization?
Our members are from all different levels of college and all majors.
5. When was your organization established at the University of Illinois?
1971
6. Please describe some of the major events/initiatives of your organization.
- Global Village - Every Fall Semester, we invite other student organizations and students on campus to represent a country and then set up a booth to inform and educate others about that country's culture, talk about experiences, share food, dances, etc. Other student organizations sign up to perform on the stage throughout the program. This event is open to the public and free. This past semester we had about 45 countries represented and many cultural performing groups. This takes place annually in the Courtyard Café. This event is put together by an Organizing Committee formed by our Events VP.
- Global Discussion Forum - Weekly public forums open to all on campus to come and learn about current events. It is held by our Global Awareness Committee.
- Global Vibes: Every Spring Semester, we hold an annual dance and music night at an off-campus venue where groups will come in and perform either an International song or dance usually. We usually charge a small entry fee. This event is also put together by an OC formed by our Events VP.
7. Please describe the type of student you are interested in attracting.
We are interested in attracting highly motivated students who are interested in taking on leadership roles and making a positive impact on society.
8. When does your Executive Board turn over?
End of Fall
9. Who is the Faculty/Staff advisor for your organization?
Economics Professor Werner Baer
10. Who are the current Executive Board members and what are their positions?
a. What roles do these positions play?
b. Contact (email) for these individuals?
LOCAL COMMUNITY PRESIDENT- Roshani Sheth
Roshani@aiesecillinois.org
The President plays a significant role in the developing of leadership for all members and that of AIESEC itself. It holds and oversees General Participatory Meetings (GPMs) and Executive Board Meetings (EBMs), keeping the organization up-to-date about any important international, national, or local news.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT - Vice President Sakina Tayebali
Sakina@aiesecillinois.org
The Business Development Team works with various companies and corporations and raises contracts to provide internship opportunities for trainees abroad. In their mission to develop corporate relations, Business Development members are involved in a great deal of corporate networking. From the initial contact with a company, to the arrival of the trainee, Business Development members are the point of contact between the company and the trainee and manage a great deal of logistics and negotiations between the parties.
EVENTS - Vice President Chris Jose
Chris@aiesecillinois.org
The Events committee seeks to spread international awareness and introduce AIESEC to the college community by organizing a wide variety of on-campus events. From contacting performers to advertising there are many aspects to organizing an event. This not only makes available a number of leadership opportunities but also promotes teamwork within the committee. It is the task of the VP of Events to encourage AIESEC members to come forth with event ideas, and then provide them with the available resources and support of the events committee to make the idea into reality. The events committee is the perfect place for those that want to make an impact through events in our campus community.
EXTERNAL RELATIONS - Vice President Grace Kenney
GraceK@aiesecillinois.org
The External Relations team is the communication platform for AIESEC Illinois. The team will handle all contact and relationships with anyone outside of the organization - the university, students, professors, advisors, alumni, businesses and other student organizations. Members will speak about AIESEC at campus events; develop partnerships with other student organizations on campus, network, as well as work with businesses and companies to develop leads for potential partnerships and corporate sponsorship. The External Relations (ER) team will consist of three subcommittees: University Relations (creating and developing partnerships with University departments and RSOs while being the face of AIESEC on campus), Corporate Networking and Sponsorship (focusing primarily on networking with professional organizations with the purpose of generating leads to raise partnerships and sponsorships) and Alumni Relations (managing relationships with AIESEC Illinois alumni, creating an alumni newsletter, and working with the events team to plan out an Alumni Leadership Event).
FINANCE - Vice President Wenli Yee
Wenli@aiesecillinois.org
The finance committee is in-charge of budgeting, tracking, and reporting AIESEC Illinois's revenues and expenses, as well as fund raising to keep the local committee up and running smoothly in support with the AIESEC mission. These tasks are delegated among two subcommittees under Finance: Financial Planning and Management (whereby attendance of treasurer workshops are required), and Fund Raising. To ensure our local committee maintains a satisfactory financial status through out it's operation, we need individuals who are accountable, collaborative, efficient, and creative (fund raising projects). Most of all, you have got to like those numbers!
GLOBAL AWARENESS - Vice President Lauren Hilton
Lauren@aiesecillinois.org
Our committee serves one of the most fundamental aspects of AIESEC: to help keep our members and the community globally aware of international issues. We do this by hosting weekly open campus forums, where a committee member leads over a discussion of one specific issue. This semester we also hope to plan several cultural events, as global awareness is more than just international politics, but it is cultural too. Finally, we serve as educators for outgoing exchange participants. We provide cultural backgrounds and country profiles in info sessions to help educate and prepare exchange participants before they leave for their traineeship. Members of this committee are required to attend weekly meetings, facilitate one open campus forum or GPM and continually stay educated on international issues. Members do not need any previous knowledge of global issues, but simply a devotion to the committee and a willingness to participate, discuss issues and learn from one another.
INFORMATION SYSTEMS - Vice President Jim Vasa
Jim@aiesecillinois.org
The Information Systems VP is in charge of educating the LC on myaiesec.net and new innovative technology through holding tech sessions, manage aiesecillinois.org domain, create a knowledge management system, and implement other technology as seen needed for AIESEC Illinois.
MARKETING - Vice President Ashok Vishwanath
Ashok@aiesecillinois.org
Marketing is the face of AIESEC and the committee strives to make the AIESEC brand a household name throughout the campus. The marketing committee has high goals towards promoting AIESEC and its mission. The committee offers full-blown marketing services to all the other committees within our chapter. Promoting exchange and traineeships, working on partnering and sponsoring with another organization, organizing events and designing t-shirts are a few projects out of many the marketing team works collaboratively with other committees in branding AIESEC's name. The team consists of highly skilled individuals with innovative and creative mindsets and is always on a lookout for similar individuals. The committee also consists of many leadership opportunities such as project managers, Web Design Specialist, Video Editing specialist, Graphic design specialist and more.
OUTGOING EXCHANGE (OGX) - Vice President Chris Hornibrook
ChrisH@aiesecillinois.org
The Outgoing Exchange committee is responsible for facilitating all outgoing exchange programs for the University of Illinois. They are in charge of recruiting people to go on exchanges or interns abroad. Once they are recruited, the Exchange Participant will have their own individual person of contact to ensure they are getting through the process without any difficulty. Finally, once the Exchange Participant goes abroad, the committee will keep in constant contact with the Participants.
RECRUITMENT- Vice President Anny Ying
Anny@aiesecillinois.org
AIESEC Illinois Recruitment VP and Recruitment Organizing Committee (ROC) organize recruitment once per semester. Activities of the ROC include but is not limited to: distributing flyers, chalking, creating Facebook announcements and sending emails, preparing classroom announcements, facilitating info sessions, and organizing and conducting interviews. The ROC also participates in exhibitions, such as Quad Day, Business Quad Day, the Study Abroad Fair, the Business Career Fair, etc. The VP oversees all recruiting and recruitment related activities. The VP creates positions for those interested in ROC as needed. Current positions include: Marketing Design Managers, Interview Managers, and Marketing Distribution Managers.
TALENT MANAGEMENT - Vice President Jenny Khavinson
JennyK@aiesecillinois.org
The Talent Management team is responsible for helping guide AIESECERS to be engaged in their @experience and finding their fullest potential within the organization. We aid our members by tracking their development and making sure that all of the opportunities are known and available to them. We do this by creating and managing processes within our LC which enhance and create motivation, leadership opportunities, and the development of skills and knowledge. In addition, we also work to create an environment which fosters strong relationships between all members. The purpose of AIESEC is to provide a platform for youth to develop themselves; this development is the 'profit' that AIESEC generates. The Talent Management team is directly responsible for the growth of LC members, which in turn will further the development of our organization.
11. Is your organization open to any business student or is it selective?
Our organization is highly selective and every semester, applicants go through a written application and an interview process. Please see myaiesecillinois.org for more details during our semester recruitment time. We recruit at the beginning of Fall and Spring semester.
12. Please list a "success story" of your organization.
a. I.e. personal account of how the organization helped a student
"As I am getting ready to graduate and I am looking back on my college experiences, AIESEC is what really sticks out in my head. AIESEC gave me the opportunity to develop myself as a person, as an explorer, and as a global leader. I have had the opportunity to create leadership roles, I have worked abroad twice, I have gone on multiple international conferences, and I have developed relationships that will be with me until the day I die. AIESEC has opened my eyes to the world and allowed me to have more 'life-changing' experiences in the last two years than most people have in an entire lifetime."
Muffadal Saylawala
Business Honors Program
Accountancy & Finance
Graduating May 2009
b. Corporate recommendation of the organization
"Deutsche Bank has cooperated very closely with AIESEC for more than 10 years now. Our experience with AIESEC has been excellent, especially in the exchange of practical internships and in the organisation of corporate contact sessions at Universities. The association's organisation shows above-average commitment and creativity. The work of the students themselves is exemplary."
Dirk Schwarze,
DEUTSCHE BANK AG
c. Administrative recommendation of the organization
"The United Nations has long recognised that the imagination, ideals and energies of young men and women are vital for the continuing development of the societies in which they live. And since its inception in 1948, AIESEC has contributed to this development by serving as an agent of positive change trough education and cultural exchange."
Kofi Annan,
Former Secretary General of the United Nations
