FOS Tfas brochure

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Summer in Washington, DC Friends of Slovakia Stories of DC Internship alumni

Transcript of FOS Tfas brochure

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Summer in Washington, DC Friends of Slovakia

Stories of DC Internship alumni

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Friends of Slovakia

FOS is a non-profit organization of volunteers based in Washington DC, founded

in 2001. The mission is to strengthen friendship and mutually beneficial

cooperation between the United States and Slovakia, as nations sharing similar

values of freedom, democracy and market economy.

Primary areas of activity include building networks and increasing Slovakia’s

visibility in the United States. The non-profit organization works with Slovak

and American companies and entrepreneurs to explore and advance bilateral

economic ties and investment.

Moreover, it is committed to enabling Slovaks and American to share with each

other the rich and diverse artistic and cultural heritage of both countries. In

this area, young Slovak leaders are brought to United States through a summer

Slovak Scholars program and promote a variety of cultural exchanges.

The Fund for American Studies

The Fund of American Studies (TFAS) was founded in 1967 to teach the

principles of limited government, free-market economics and honorable

leadership to students and young professionals in America and around the

world. TFAS programs inspire these future leaders to make a difference in their

communities and throughout the world by upholding the values essential to the

preservation and success of a free society. Programs take place in the US

(Washington D.C.), Europe (Prague, Czech Republic), Asia (Hong Kong) and

Latin America (Santiago, Chile).

Five Slovak scholars are selected each year by Friends to Slovakia to come to

Washington DC. TFAS institutes in D.C. specialize in comparative political and

economic systems (ICPES), on political journalism (IPJ), on business and

government affairs (IBGA), on philanthropy and voluntary service (IPVS) and on

economics and international affairs (IEIA).

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Ondrej Socuvka 2004 AIPES

How did you find out about

Friends of Slovakia and the DC

Internship program?

When I heard the exciting news

about being accepted to the TFAS program, I started researching Slovak-US

relations on the Internet and via young professionals’ networks. If I

remember it correctly, I was the first Friends of Slovakia scholarship

recipient - which I am very grateful for, and I am very happy other young

Slovaks had this opportunity as well.

What is your best memory from the program?

Working and discussing with Zbigniew Brzezinski and his son Mark were

some of the highlights of my TFAS program. This experience taught me a

valuable lesson that despite an aging body the human brain can still remain

exceptionally smart and visionary. Another highlight was the amazing work

experience with the U. S. Steel team in Washington DC - many of my

colleagues remain my personal friends and mentors to this day.

How did 8 weeks in DC change you?

First of all, during the 8 weeks in Washington, I learned the value of hard

work, serious studies and stimulating intellectual discussions. Secondly, I

was greatly motivated by a society where innovative thinking and a proactive

approach are appreciated and rewarded. Last but not least, I was inspired

not to think only about my own life and career, but to think of ways of giving

back to those in need and back to the society where I come from. I believe all

of us were born to be leaders and we ought to try to help foster positive

transformation of Slovakia and Central Europe as a whole.

What are you doing now and what are your career goals for the future?

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Right now I reside in Brussels where I am heading a small team within

Google EU, focusing on building relations with 3rd parties, following 3 years

with Google as a Public Policy Manager in CEE. As for the future, I am not

quite sure where my work life will bring me - as far as my family is there

with me, the entire globe is an option.

On a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the most positive, what recommenda-

tion would you give?

I would recommend the TFAS DC program with a clear 5 - the most positive

recommendation! Participation in the program has changed my life and I am

very grateful to Friends of Slovakia and all those who enabled me to take

part in this exceptional and life-changing experience.

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Miriama Svetkovska 2008 ICPES

How did you find out about Friends of

Slovakia and the DC Internship program?

I heard about TFAS from my university mates

and Alumni Jana Hays.

What is your best memory from the program?

My internship in Global Insight. Thanks to my supervisor Sharon Fisher I

had a great opportunity to write a special report "United States - Europe:

U.S. and European Competition Authorities Look to Strengthen

Co-Operation", which has had a very positive impact on my professional

career so far. Moreover, I had the opportunity to be in Washington, when the

country was hit by financial crisis and in time of presidential campaigning -

Obama vs. McCain. Truly, very unique experience!

How did 8 weeks in DC change you?

This program gave me a new perspective to my professional life. Not only a

very different and more efficient system of education at one of the most

prestigious universities in the world - Georgetown University, but also the

opportunity to work and live abroad. Plus there are not so many people in

the world, who had the opportunity to visit the White House, the Congress

and the Federal Reserve System and listen to the briefings on hot topics in

the international affairs area.

What are you doing now and what are your career goals for the future?

I focus my professional career in the area of government affairs and

international relations. I worked as Economic Specialist at the US Embassy

in Bratislava, where I covered economic, entrepreneurial and trade analyses

and projections of the Slovak economy from the perspective of US interests

including energy, infrastructure and macroeconomic issues. My previous

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professional career is connected to investment banking and the corporate

finance area as well as M&A field from public administration.

I received Meritorious Honor Awards in Energy (2014) and Women

entrepreneurship area (2013) from Department of State and the American

Chamber of Commerce Award (2013).

Currently, I am Regulatory & Fiscal Affairs Manager in Philip Morris and

Chairwoman of Slovak Women Platform (Platforma zien Slovenska). Let's see

what future holds :)

On a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the most positive, what recommenda-

tion would you give?

5 - the most positive. I highly recommend participating in this program. It

will definitely have very positive impact on your future.

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Pavol Gavor

2011 IBGA

How did you find out about Friends of

Slovakia and the DC Internship

program?

While participating in the Erasmus

program at K.U. Leuven, Belgium, I

followed my faculty affairs and I noticed

that there is a possibility to take part in

the TFAS program with support of

Friends of Slovakia. I took advantage of

that and I applied for the program.

What is your best memory from the program?

The best experience from the summer in Washington, DC was to meet

business professionals from the lobbying field, experience the US schooling

system, and make new connections in the international environment. Since

the end of the program, four participants from different TFAS institutes still

hold annual meetings in their home countries - Slovakia, Poland, and

Estonia.

How did 8 weeks in DC change you?

Eight weeks in D.C. allowed me to experience real business and political

environment by participating in various trade organizations’ meetings and

advocacy sessions on the Capitol Hill with U.S. Steel governmental

representatives. Aside from that, lectures at Georgetown University helped

me better understand differences between our Slovak and US schooling

system. The program also broadened my horizons in the field of public

policy, lobbying and networking. With the help of the US Steel office

representatives I was able to set up a formal networking session with the

Slovak Ambassador to the United States and other representatives of the

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TFAS program, lobbyists, sponsors of the TFAS program, and students in the

office of U.S. Steel in Washington D.C.

What are you doing now and what are your career goals for the future?

Currently I am working for the American telecommunication company AT&T

in Slovakia. I stay in touch with the United States since I am supporting

American corporate clients. Future brings changes so I will see how future

plans evolve.

On a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the most positive, what recommenda-

tion would you give?

I had an absolutely positive experience - I will give 5. It is always up to the

particular participant how much the program is beneficial for him/her. In

my case it turned into a great experience.

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Helena Reichlova 2012 ICPES

How did you find out about Friends of

Slovakia and the DC Internship program?

I was searching regularly through the SAIA

online database of international programs,

when I stumbled upon this opportunity.

What is your best memory from the program?

The whole program is one of the best memories of my entire life. I enjoyed

every bit of it - international student environment, engaging lectures and

discussions, student activities, trips and visits of monuments and sites,

meeting influential entrepreneurs and diplomats with Slovak roots and

gaining practical experience at my internship with the National Geographic

Society.

An important moment I remember very often was my discussion with the

former U.S. Ambassador to Slovakia, Vincent Obsitnik. He was telling me

about his career experiences before he became an ambassador, stressing

that all jobs he had before helped him build the skills needed for his later

work in diplomacy field. Therefore, no job on your career path is to be

underestimated, even if you do not get your dream job right away.

How did 8 weeks in DC change you?

I became goal-oriented, ambitious and confident - seeing that I could

succeed in the tough competition of brilliant international students. You

learn to be curious and ask yourself many questions – this is how you grow.

What are you doing now and what are your career goals to the future?

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I was lucky enough to find an interesting first job after graduating from

ICPES in 2012. After handling the administration of the Webinar2learn

project in Slovakia (was funded by the European Union‟s Lifelong Learning

Program), I later decided to acquire practical business knowledge in one of

the big multinational IT companies, where I currently work. However, my

goal is to further specialize in the near future and explore other possibilities.

On a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the most positive, what recommenda-

tion would you give?

Definitely 5 - it is both a must go and life-changing opportunity.

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Adam Sebesta

2014 IPJ

How did you find out about Friends of

Slovakia and the DC Internship program?

I attended a networking event in Bratislava,

where I was lucky to meet some TFAS alumni.

Their stories about summer in Washington,

D.C. were simply stunning and I immediately

felt like “I had to go right away”.

What is your best memory from the program?

It‟s really hard to pick just one. Most were above average. But I remember

how I attended a EU28 delegation‟s briefing as the sole representative of

Slovakia. All other EU member states‟ representatives would treat me as if I

were a real diplomat. I have to say I really enjoyed this moment. But I can‟t

forget about my journey to U.S. Congress to meet John L. Mica – a

congressman proud of having Slovak roots. Last but not least, Friday parties

at the famous Lost Society club on 14th Street are also worth mentioning...

How did 8 weeks in DC change you?

I think I gained confidence and caught some American accent. I met literally

hundreds of people. I came back to Slovakia full of ideas and learned that

working hard does pay off.

What are you doing now and what are your career goals to the future?

I am a junior corporate lawyer working in a growing real-estate development

company. However, I plan to go back to public service and perhaps start

working at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs.

On a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the most positive, what recommenda-

tion would you give?

By no doubt it‟s 5. TFAS was probably the best experience so far in my life.

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Juraj Hostak

2015 IEIA

How did you find out about Friends of

Slovakia and the DC Internship pro-

gram?

I found out about the program by word

of mouth, from a former The Fund of

American Studies alumni and Friends of

Slovakia beneficiary.

What is your best memory from the program?

The best memory from the program was for me the diversity of the people I

met - fellow scholars as well as fellow interns, with whom we pooled our

summer experiences to everyone‟s advantage.

How did 8 weeks in DC change you?

The 8 weeks in Washington helped me learn a lot about international affairs

from a new perspective, economics and the mechanics of Washington. It also

taught me valuable lessons about the importance of freedom and free trade

for the future and betterment of the world. Last but not least, living, learning

and interning in Washington helped me realign my values and goals.

What are you doing now and what are your career goals for the future?

Currently I am focused on finishing my Master studies and digesting my

summer experiences in order to determine my priorities and lay out a plan

for my immediate, as well as the more distant future.

On a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the most positive, what recommenda-

tion would you give?

As long as the prospective candidate realizes that the Fund for American

Studies is a demanding, intensive study program that advances the ideas of

freedom in all aspects of national and international relations - definitely 5/5.

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Tomas Sakal 2015 ICPES

How did you find out about Friends of

Slovakia and the DC Internship pro-

gram?

Spending as much time online as I do, I

found out about the DC Internship

program and the scholarship Friends of Slovakia provides successful

applicants with from an alumni's blog, where he detailed his experiences

from a previous year of the program.

What is your best memory from the program?

Although I can hardly name a single best memory, I will definitely not let

myself forget all those late evenings and nights when I gave up sleep to

spend time with the extraordinarily bright fellow students.

How did 8 weeks in DC change you?

I realized there was an abundance of important questions I have not asked

myself about where I am going and how I can utilize my passions and

abilities to achieve my goals. This would hardly have been possible without

the stimulating and exciting environment this program creates.

What are you doing now and what are your career goals to the future?

With more unknown variables and questions, but also with more direction

and determination, I am continuing my studies at my home university.

Ultimately I am aiming to help those around me by utilizing my broad range

of skills and knowledge in the fields of business and public policy.

On a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the most positive, what recommenda-

tion would you give?

Give careful consideration into whether you have a passion for politics and

economics. If you do, this is one of the very best ways you can spend eight

weeks of your life. Five and beyond!

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Lucia Cerchlanova 2015 ICPES

How did you find out about Friends of

Slovakia and the DC Internship pro-

gram?

I was accepted to Columbia University in

New York for a similar summer program.

I was looking for some scholarship to

cover the cost, when I found TFAS

program on saia.sk. It seemed to be more interesting than the one in New

York, so I applied and I was accepted.

What is your best memory from the program?

When the CEO of my internship site retired during the week I arrived, I

scheduled an appointment to meet him for 30 minutes on his last day in the

office. The conversation took more than 2 hours. Next week we went out for

dinner. He brought a book with personal letters from presidents from all

around the world, including Vaclav Havel and Bill Clinton for me to see. It

was really impressive.

How did 8 weeks in DC change you?

The program was very challenging. I mastered my time management skills

and discipline. I have never thought that it is possible to achieve so many

little accomplishments and attend so many meetings in one single day. I was

also a part of exceptionally smart group of people from all around the world.

Their ideas of the world and their thoughts changed the way I was thinking

of my own life. I realized I am capable of achieving anything, as long as I put

hard work, discipline and passion into it. Well, not just me, anybody who is

willing to do that. My mentor Katherine, who has a degree from Harvard in

economics, also taught me many valuable lessons.

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What are you doing now and what are your career goals to the future?

I am still at Northeastern University in Oklahoma, where I am involved in the

tennis team and Entrepreneurship club. I will graduate in December 2015,

and after that I will be moving to either San Francisco or New York to work

for a little bit and then I will pursue my master's degree, hopefully in

London. After I gain enough experience from abroad, I would like to come

back home to Slovakia. I can see a lot of work that needs to be done in

politics as well as in business, which I would like to do. We need more

innovative, open minded people who have a vision for the change. My dream

is to be become one of them. I also want build an innovative and green

business, which will add value to the society.

On a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the most positive, what recommenda-

tion would you give?

This opportunity opened more doors than I have ever imagined! It was

challenging, exciting, it topped my expectations, and helped me move to a

whole new level. This would not be possible without the scholarship from

Friends of Slovakia. The program does not deserve anything else than the

highest grade 5.

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„‟The supplementary classes at George Mason University proved to be

both pragmatic and informative. For example, we had a chance to talk

about the current journalistic issues creating controversy, and at the

same time analyze Mill‟s and Kant‟s views on morality. The Economics

class gave us a useful overview of fundamental economic principles

and rules. I will definitely know what a higher demand for apples does

to the supply of apples in the market…

Weekly TFAS social events provided us with a tremendous opportunity

to meet interesting people and network in the nation‟s capital. I have

met highly intelligent people whom I found extremely inspirational and

motivating. We had the opportunity to listen to star journalists and

personalities from various media and fields, or even meet fellow peers

and interns to chat about career opportunities and challenges. In all, it

was a great mix of professional development and informal contact with

enriching people.‟‟

Letter from Adam Sebesta

2014 FoS Scholar

Bratislava, Slovak TFAS Alumni Chapter, 2015