THE VALE Symposium 2024
The 3rd Annual Value-Driven Leadership Symposium
took place online on Sunday, 1st of December 2024.
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The VALE Leadership Symposium is a free event dedicated to exploring and promoting value-driven leadership among youth. The third edition took place in December of 2024. This dynamic event brought together leaders and changemakers from various international and national organisations.
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Our Mission
The 2024 VALE Symposium was all about Transformative Leadership! It featured interactive workshops and insights from leaders around the world.
Objective: We aim to inspire participants to become future leaders in their respective areas by equipping them with transformational leadership skills and the ability to adapt to a rapidly changing world.
Our Speakers
We're happy to present our keynote speaker:
Communication Coach Alexandra Ganzon
With a global outlook and over a decade of professional experience, Alexandra Ganzon empowers leaders to communicate effectively across cultures. Originally from the Philippines, Alexandra's passion for connection began with her own experiences abroad, first as a YFU exchange student and later in the international fashion industry with brands like Burberry and GUESS, where she mastered the art of adapting communication for diverse audiences.
Her coaching career began after becoming a mother in 2015, when she shifted her focus to teaching English and communication. In 2021, Alexandra launched her coaching business, using a holistic approach informed by her work as university faculty and her Mindvalley coaching certification. Today, she collaborates with clients globally, helping them lead with confidence and bridge cultural divides.
Beyond her professional commitments, Alexandra volunteers with ALSE-OF LIFE, supporting Filipino migrants in leadership and financial literacy. She resides in Florence, Italy, with her husband, Giacomo, and daughter, Maya.
We're exited to present our closing session speaker:
Danila Blanco Travnicek
Danila Blanco Travnicek is an Argentine leader and social entrepreneur who has been working tirelessly for over 10 years in the nonprofit sector to ensure more people have access to quality education.
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She is the Cofounder and Director of EduStorm, an education nonprofit focused on soft skills development to empower people to become changemakers. Also, she's the Director of Program Strategy and Evaluation at Open Avenues Foundation and is responsible for all education initiatives within The Build Fellowship by Open Avenues. Danila holds a B.A in Business Management and specialized in education and management of projects with social impact
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She is a Professor at the University of Buenos Aires, an international speaker and facilitator and has managed and led programs with social impact in Latin America, U.S., Europe and Asia. She also received scholarships to study abroad in Finland, China and the United States.
Our Workshops
1. Strategic Thinking, Megatrends and Leadership: Navigating the Future of the World
In this session, the participants will explore essential concepts of strategic thinking and leadership necessary for navigating future global changes. They will engage with theories such as "Zooming In and Zooming Out," "Future-Back Perspective," and the assessment of megatrends. Through reflective exercises, participants will connect these concepts to their personal and professional contexts.
2. Radical Candor: Leading teams with direct, honest and clear communication
In this session, we will explore how a leader can get the best out of their team when leading it adhering to the principel of radical candor. We will look at the advantages, pitfalls of direct, honest and clear feedback and general professional communication. We will also look at some real life situations and how to be radical candid in different (cultural) environments.
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3. Vulnerability: The Leader’s Hidden Strength
This session explores how vulnerability can be a powerful strength in leadership. Through practical dilemmas and group discussions, participants will discover how leading with courage can build trust and foster stronger connections within teams. The focus is on being real, even when it’s uncomfortable, and developing the confidence to lead with openness.
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4. Leading Across Cultures: Leveraging Expat Experience for Effective Leadership
In this session, we’ll explore how expat leaders can harness their intercultural competencies and past experiences to thrive in new leadership roles. Drawing on insights from anthropology and organizational science, we’ll discuss how cultural awareness, self-reflection, adaptability, and the recognition of transferable skills can empower leaders to innovate and navigate challenges in diverse environments. Through reflective and interactive exercises, participants will gain insights into how to effectively integrate their experiences, build stronger teams, and lead with confidence in cross-cultural settings.
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Meet our team
By young people,
for young people
The trainer team for our 2024 symposium was a dynamic group of four professionals with diverse backgrounds and a shared passion for supporting and inspiring the leaders of today – and tomorrow!
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In addition to being experienced youth workers and leaders in their own right, all trainers are experienced NFE (non-formal education) trainers and facilitators.
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Our 2024 symposium team consisted of Trine, Mario, Eline & Nina. ​​​​​​​​​​​
from Estonia
from Argentina
from Belgium
Trine Tamm
​Trine is a multitasking adult educator with a background rooted in international relations, psychology, and adult learning. As cofounder of The VALE, she’s passionate about helping young people thrive and fostering a future led by self-aware, skilled leaders. Her professional journey includes EU and UN youth initiatives and work in educational quality assessment, all guided by her belief that leadership requires continuous growth and intentional care. Balancing many roles, her ongoing “leadership challenge” is guiding her child in navigating today’s world and the one they’ll inherit tomorrow.
Mario David
Productivity geek and wellness enthusiast, Mario is a lawyer, human resources expert, and entrepreneur driven by strategic management and data insights. His experience spans legal, HR, and operational roles across Argentina, Germany, Norway, and Sweden. A decade of volunteer work with organisations like Youth for Understanding and AFS fuels his dedication to youth development. Outside work, you’ll find him focused on sports, personal wellness, and lifelong learning.
Eline Van der Jonckheyd
Linguistics buff and true crime enthusiast, Eline combines her skills as a translator, content manager, and project leader with a fascination for how we live and work together. She’s led multicultural teams, creating spaces where collaboration thrives. Volunteering is second nature to her, often juggling multiple projects promoting active citizenship, youth empowerment, and safer spaces. In her downtime, Eline enjoys yoga, boxing, true crime stories, and inspiring conversations.
Nina Grmuša
Nina is a unique blend of “nerdy gramma” and “party girl,” fuelled by her passion for anthropology and social sciences. With professional experience spanning Serbia, Belgium, Brazil, and Sweden, she’s led international teams of 20 to 50 in youth-focused environments, managing projects with an eye toward cultural insight and meaningful impact. An enthusiastic volunteer, Nina dedicates her time to causes that bring about social change, finding joy and purpose in creating positive outcomes.
Questions? Talk to us at trine (at) thevale.eu.
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