February will be a busy month in the oikos community!

We will kick off the oikos Asia Meet 2018 on February 9, so keep an eye on oikos Jamshedpur page,  watch lifestreams from the event and do no miss out on mind-boggling sessions. Visit oikos web-page to learn about upcoming events from  oikos chapters and discover interesting oikos workshops or seminars in your area.

In this February edition of the oikos newsletter read about the oikos LEAP webinar on Strategy, where over 70 oikees discussed the oikos strategic priorities for 2020. In addition, learn about a series of workshops on Pluralist Economics led by oikos Associate J. Christopher Proctor.  In the remainder of the February, he will hold the workshops in Brussels, Lille, and Maastricht. Meanwhile, oikos Outreach Manager, Clémentine Robert is set to visit oikos chapters in India to strengthen the bond between oikos International and the chapters, and to reconnect oikos alumni with the chapters as well as each other.

In the oikos Alumni Portrait segment meet Renée Horster, learn how oikos influenced her perspectives and enabled her to contribute to sustainability. In our monthly segment “30 Seconds with”, former oikos Presidents, Kate Negacz and Anita Negri, shared their insights and explained what they cherish most from their experience at oikos. And while we are at it, do not forget that a call for the oikos International President 2019 & 2020 is now open and will close on February 21, 2018.

Enjoy the February edition of our newsletter and follow us on Twitter and Facebook to stay updated!

Happy Reading!

Former oikos Presidents Anita Negri and Kate Negacz

As the deadline for applications to become the next oikos President is looming closer each day, the former oikos Presidents, Kate Negacz and Anita Negri, shared perspectives on their time and experience at oikos.
 

Anita Negri, oikos President 2015&2016

I think that everyone is responsible for creating their own oikos experience. What I love is that we can exercise our sustainability knowledge in order to keep revolutionizing the way the world sees it, which is much more complex than most might think. The oikos community is one of the most precious opportunities to learn. We lift each other up and show society how and why education is the foundation of our world. At the end of the day, any day can be exciting as the oikos president.

I think oikos had an impact on the way that I approach my role - striving to be transparent and looking at things with a 360-degree awareness. It is about the way we approach our role within our company but also within society, it's about being truly open-minded and holistic thinkers.
 

One of the most exciting parts of oikos presidency is meeting great people. They have inspiring ideas on new startups in India or Switzerland, want to help a local community in Austria and Kenya or just see some issues out of the box. You learn that sustainability comes in different shapes and sizes and there is no one solution fits all. You work with an international team of highly motivated people, your Executive Board and other oikos members, who are passionate about what they do. Often they are not only your colleagues but also friends from all around the world. During my time in oikos, we discussed a lot of issues and often disagreed. However, these debates helped me to see issues from a different angle, respect other people views and find best solutions. Travelling to various conferences, chapters and projects broadens your perspective, teaches you how to manage logistics, organize but also improvise. Finally, it develops you immensely as a person.