The first edition of the Young Polish Diaspora Leaders Academy concluded successfully, engaging young people of Polish descent living abroad in developing leadership skills while strengthening their connection to their Polish heritage.
The programme consisted of 10 online sessions held between 24 November and 18 December. A total of 40 participants from 19 countries took part, representing diverse backgrounds and interests.
The Academy brought together distinguished speakers from the fields of technology, medicine, artificial intelligence, innovation, journalism, diplomacy, and politics, including Anna Helseth (Meta), Dr Jan Gosiewski (Medicine & AI), Dr Dorota Zimnoch (Microsoft), Marcin Borowiecki (Innovation), Marcin Mycielski (NGOs & Advocacy), Jan Cieński (Journalism), Aleksandra Gren (Finance & Technology), Joanna Kamińska (European Diplomacy), Professor Wojciech Sadurski (Law), and Thomas Lukaszuk (Canadian Politics).
Participants highly praised the quality of the speakers, the diversity of topics, and the programme’s practical approach to leadership development. The sessions encouraged interactive group work, the exchange of experiences, and direct engagement with experts, strengthening participants’ sense of Polish identity and motivating them to become more active within their local Polish diaspora communities.
Results and Statistics
- 21 participants successfully completed the programme by attending at least 6 sessions.
- The average participant retention rate after the first five sessions reached 38%, which is considered a strong result for a free online educational programme.
- 100% of completed evaluation surveys indicated participant satisfaction with the Academy.
- Participants particularly appreciated:
- the diversity and calibre of the speakers;
- the interactive format of the sessions;
- the opportunity to gain practical, first-hand knowledge from experienced professionals.
The programme provided participants with practical skills, industry-specific knowledge, and inspiration for their future careers and community engagement. It also enabled them to build a valuable international network within the Polish diaspora.
Recommendations for Future Editions
Recommendations for future editions include: introducing formal opening and closing sessions; incorporating group projects; creating more opportunities for peer-to-peer exchange; verifying completion of recorded sessions; collecting participant feedback after each session.
Recordings of all sessions are available on YouTube:
The first edition of the Academy demonstrated that the programme successfully achieved its educational and community-building objectives, creating a solid foundation for its continuation in the years to come.
