Scroll to check out what folks have said about their experience working with our Policy Leadership Initiative.
Have ideas, comments, feedback? We’d love to hear from you, get in touch at policyleadership@aspirationtech.org.
Scroll to check out what folks have said about their experience working with our Policy Leadership Initiative.
Have ideas, comments, feedback? We’d love to hear from you, get in touch at policyleadership@aspirationtech.org.
[The Summit] was a truly fantastic event, I enjoyed the rich discussions. I was amazed by all the energy, skills and openness from everyone present. It was a very empowering experience for me, I felt safe sharing my thoughts.
My overall experience with the Policy Leadership Cohort was excellent; it actually exceeded my expectations. I found that the sessions focused on the sort of implicit, practical knowledge one usually accumulates from experience (but is never taught in formal education settings). Ultimately, I feel that I’ve gained a lot in terms of the confidence, assertiveness and practical guidance I needed to transition into policy. I also feel that I now have a high-quality/value network or community (i.e., the other cohort participants) from which I could start on my policy journey.
The Policy Leadership Cohort was incredibly valuable overall. The breakdown of EU policy-making channels during the sessions was particularly effective for me. I had struggled to understand the structure before, but the cohort made it clear and it will undoubtedly be beneficial as I embark on this journey.
I highly recommend the Policy Leadership Cohort to every policy enthusiast, it is a very carefully woven six sessions of policy insights. A perfect mix of practical and technical knowledge of navigating the policy ecosystem. Even though it primarily focuses on EU, I believe a lot of it can be universally applicable. Most importantly, you get the best mentorship one can imagine!
The program is a wonderful hands-on and responsive to your learning needs space that guides you on how to navigate the policy landscape with clarity and purpose. The depth of learning about communication, especially regarding the power dynamics and interpersonal connections within policy work, was a highlight. I hadn't anticipated gaining such knowledge in these areas, and I greatly value all the insights [Raegan] shared from [her] experience. I think they are unique as they are not easily accessible through conventional educational formats.
I thoroughly enjoyed all six sessions and found myself enriched and joyful at the end of each Zoom call.
“What a fabulous couple days – I came away feeling enriched and connected! “Co-creation” is a term that is often bandied about but rarely embodied – here, the event was genuinely created in partnership with participants, all of whom brought their own forms of expertise, experience, kindness and humour.
Overall, the cohort experience was really great - I appreciated the opportunity to meet similar young people in the field and the intimate nature of the cohort and sessions. I have come away from the sessions with a lot more confidence and understanding of how EU processes work, as well as useful transferable skills and knowledge that can be used in different contexts.
Spending two days with some of the greatest minds in (European) tech policy and advocacy shaped how I see and understand the field and impacted how I approach my career.
The Digital Policy Leadership Summit was full of warm encounters and nourishing ideas. A gift!
[The Policy Leadership Cohort] was exactly what I needed at this point in my career. It made me think and realise about the work I do in relation to the policy field. It helped me crystallise where I can contribute better to the digital policy field and how I could position our organisation.
I was looking for opportunities for professional development and networking in the field of digital rights and tech policy and this cohort was perfect for that. I feel more motivated and optimistic about my future as a policy leader and have a better idea about the things I want to fight for and how.
The overall experience was enriching and insightful. I was quite thankful for the connections and possibilities created by attending the Summit.
The Digital Policy Leadership Summit was so lovely! It was an open and wholesome gathering of intelligent people and I am grateful that the participants came from places outside Europe, as well as working on issues that are not 'traditionally' digital rights. The intersectional lens was refreshing and highlighted the importance of bringing together people from broader movements and human rights groups into this digital policy framing.
My experience with the Policy Leadership Cohort exceeded my expectations. Having been part of several mentor programs in the past, I've never encountered one as tailored and personalised as this. The focus on real-life examples and the emphasis on peer exchange and co-design were incredibly informative and made the content much easier to apply in practice. What truly set this program apart was Raegan's ability to meet us where we were in our individual journeys.
If I could sum up the event in one quote, it would be: "Beyond expectations."
I never had the chance before to be in a room with such a wide group of people from different backgrounds, who nevertheless manage to engage and critically think together on specific complex topics.