Chevening Leadership and Influence essay
Dear all, I am looking for a first review for my leadership and influence essay for a Chevening award, I am planning to pursue a MA in Arts Management and Cultural Policy, thank you for your time and inputs in advance, I really appreciate!
I have a strong belief that a true leader knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.
In fact, with a sensitive passion for arts and culture, my leadership journey started in middle school when I was actively presiding my school environment club and running a cinema club that I co-founded with some like-minded friends while I undertook music courses at the Municipal Conservatory, where I quickly have been distinguished as a remarkable flute player regionally and joined many jazz bands and the local traditional orchestra, which was very challenging for me.
The challenges I faced, motivated me to follow my intuition for a positive change, and take my first leadership role out of school. Right after my graduation from high school, I organized a fifteen days youth training project named Ť Music For All ť that aims to promote tolerance through musical tolerance. This successful and impactful project inspired many people, and was a turning point in my life: I got my first work experience as a music teacher. Furthermore, I won a scholarship from the US Department of State to pursue a short course on social entrepreneurship at the University of Connecticut in summer 2011.
Since then, an incredible adventure full of achievements and limitless positive energy just started : Once back home, I founded and introduced brightly AIESEC, Young Arab Voices, Y-Peer and Generations For Peace in Constantine and co-organized a TEDx event in Algiers. I also won the first prize of a Startup Competition, giving me the opportunity afterwards to train/coach in numerous inspiring youth and entrepreneurship initiatives as Startup Pirates Constantine, Social Leadership Academy, Algerian Youth Camp or SEA XChange Program. I played an important role as a creative decision maker and problem solver in most of this projects. Thanks to the resourceful teams I collaborated with.
In addition, I have been invited as an influencing speaker featuring exceptional public speaking skills in several events such as Bil conference in Batna, or the University of Guelma, but also regionally representing Algeria in eminent occasions, such as Artwatch meeting in Morroco, MEPI and MED Culture conference both organized in Tunisia.
In 2012, I have been selected among thousands of young people worldwide by the DO School in Germany to pursue a one year hands-on innovative program called Ť Music for Social Change ť, that lead me to create my own music development non-profit organization in early 2014, featuring creative activities such as jam sessions to increase peer music learning.
Last but not least, I think that leadership is an exciting and endless experience full of lessons.
This said, I am absolutely convinced that Chevening is a honorable scholarship that perfectly meets my profile, as it is a unique life defining experience, gaining world class knowledge that will help sharpen my leadership and influence skills as an already active change maker, but also go far and sustain my path as a pioneer leader in the field of arts of culture professionally and academically.
