I just came back from the Global Leadership Conference (GLC) in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, and what an experience! If I had to choose just one word to describe this year’s GLC, it would be “amazing!”
I’ve been a member of EO New York for about a year now. I have served on the chapter board as Membership Integration Chair for the past six months, and on 1 July, I will serve as the chapter’s Communications Co-Chair. To help me—and all other EO chapter leaders—get on the same page and learn about our new roles, EO holds the GLC. This year one GLC was held in New Orleans, and another one will be held in Hong Kong, China, from 28-30 May.
For two days, volunteers and EO Global staff held intense trainings for all board positions. The goal was to ensure everyone knew their responsibilities when it came to their respective positions. In my session—the communications track—I met with people from New Jersey, USA; Ottawa, Canada, and even Guatemala! I also learned what I had to do to efficiently handle the communications responsibilities of my chapter.
The event kicked off with some amazing speeches, including the handing out of “Rock Star” awards to those chapters who complete all of their checkmarks. Believe it or not, Ace Frehley, the guitarist from the world-renowned rock band, KISS, gave a speech honoring EO’s Rock Star chapters. I was happy to discover that our chapter earned Rock Star status!
Following that rocking event, a cocktail party at the Ritz-Carlton was held. At 10:30 p.m., I heard drumming. What could that be? A chapter friend ran over to me and ecstatically announced, “It’s a marching band, and we need to follow it!” The next thing I knew, I was following the band down Bourbon Street with 600 fellow entrepreneurs beside me. Tourists on the street were taking photos of us, like we were celebrities.
We marched and enjoyed the beautiful scenery of historic New Orleans. I didn’t know where we were going, nor did I know where my New York chapter was … but that didn’t matter! I met and spoke with some incredible people from around the world, and I experienced the unbelievable value of peer-to-peer networking.
On the last night of GLC, EO wanted to do something special for all of the volunteer board members. Our fleet of luxury buses was given a police escort to Mardi Gras World, where we saw all of the colorful and interesting floats used to celebrate “Fat Tuesday.” Afterward, we followed another marching band to a large, indoor replication of a plantation home where we were served a scrumptious buffet dinner. What a great way to conclude such an incredible event!
GLC was an amazing experience, especially because I met so many entrepreneurs who share similar passions and interests in business. It was interesting to hear what everyone did, what their goals were and what their experiences have been. Although we live in different places and work in different environments, we are all so similar. GLC taught me that we all have problems and situations that we encounter; but that no matter what happens, I’m not alone. I learned so much about EO, my chapter and myself this past weekend. It is an experience I will never forget. Thanks EO Global!