There’s more to leadership than setting targets and giving out directives. Leaders need to have purpose, empathy, and resilience, and use them to advance collective growth and transformation.
Aiming to empower nonprofit leaders across the Asia-Pacific region, American Express and Common Purpose held the annual Leadership Academy program. From May 14-17, 73 leaders made their way to Sydney, Australia for a three-day event. Under the theme of “Resilient Changemakers,” the program is designed to give non-profit leaders from diverse specialities and organizations a unique opportunity to learn from each other’s experiences, address current and future challenges within the sector, and gain insight from leaders across industries. Our founder and executive director, Agita Pasaribu, had the honor and opportunity to participate as one of the selected nonprofit leaders.
The three-day program saw panel discussions with four notable figures: June Oscar, outgoing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission; John Eales, former Australian Rugby Union captain; Khanh Ong, Australian chef, television personality, author, and restaurateur; and Rebecca Razavi, Head of Public Policy & APAC Regional Director at LinkedIn. Each panelist shared their unique leadership experience and overcoming challenges their respective teams faced.
Following the panel discussions, the event concluded with a reception at the residence of Christine Elder, the Consul-General of the U.S. at her Residence in Sydney. She was joined by Crispin Conroy, State Director, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Consul-General Tokuda Shuichi of Japan; Consul-General Vedi Kurnia Buana of Indonesia, and other esteemed guests. Their remarks emphasized the importance of public-private partnerships in tackling complex societal challenges.
“Being part of the American Express Leadership Academy was a transformative experience, reinforcing the power of leadership, collaboration, and innovation in the nonprofit sector,” Agita said. “This program wasn’t just about learning; it was about connecting with like-minded leaders, exchanging ideas, and finding new ways to drive meaningful impact.”
Sources:
- https://www.americanexpress.com/en-us/newsroom/articles/corporate-sustainability/highlights-from-the-2024-american-express-leadership-academy-in-.html
- https://commonpurpose.org/resources/blog/american-express-leadership-academy-2024-announcement
- https://commonpurpose.org/resources/blog/amex-academy-sydney
