Despite the presence of the Covid-19 pandemic, for the very first time in its history, AEGEE will be organising an Online Agora. Like every year, different members have applied to different positions. In this series, we interviewed the candidates of the new Network Commission that will work in each part of Europe. One of these candidates is Elena Yakunina from AEGEE-Moskva.
Good morning, Elena, and thank you so much for accepting our invitation. Firstly, readers would like to know a bit more about you. Could you please introduce yourself?
Hey, I am Elena from AEGEE-Moskva. Currently, I am the HR director of Agora Moscow. I am 2 AEGEE years old (I know it sounds like it’s not enough, but I have a lot of experience outside AEGEE and I know I can bring it here).
Your experience in and out of AEGEE is broad and people could recognise in your motivation letter that this European students organisation gave you many different things. From all of them, what do you think is the most precious and necessary to be a Network Commission member?
Talking about the experiences in AEGEE that will be the most precious for Net Com, I would point out 4 the main things:
Online team. I gained the experience of working in a remote team by working for the core-team of Agora Moscow, which is spread across the whole of Europe. I know how to create and maintain a good team spirit working online, how to stay united while being apart. I know how to facilitate online discussions, be a good moderator and a team member.
Recruiting. Many people joined AEGEE because of my invitation and inspirational stories about our organisation, so there is a bunch of people, who truly trust and support me. I did many presentations about AEGEE and the Agora and I think I can tell about the benefits of being a part of this organisation even if you wake me up in the middle of the night.
Collaboration with Eastern locals. I personally know most of the people from the boards of Eastern locals and have really good and warm relationships with them.
Conflict management. Being a coordinator and HR, I had the experience of conflict management and many people describe me as supportive, so if something happens in my locals, I know how to help.
Regarding your programme, what are the main objectives you want to reach during your period as a Network Commission member?
One of my biggest goals as a Network Commissioner is to raise awareness about European Bodies throughout my area. People don’t even imagine how much more they can get from AEGEE, being active and contributing to this organisation on many levels. I want to inspire as many young and ambitious people as possible to apply to European bodies and interest groups to broaden their mind and also to give new perspectives.
Also, it is important for me to make eastern locals more united. Agora Moscow can help us doing so, because it is really huge event (I do hope that we will be able to meet in person, but not in online rooms). It would be really great if energetic people not only from AEGEE-Moskva, but also from other locals joined a team of local organisers (and we already have people from A-Samara, A-Voronezh and A-Sankt-Petersburg). It is a really good experience which will enrich all of us and make us more united.
It is really important to keep regular communication with locals withing the area. Now locals have the opportunity for networking only on NWMs and RTCs, but the coronavirus pandemic proved that it is no longer too futuristic to have online meetings and workshops. I really find it useful to have regular calls on formal and informal topics.
Finally, in case you are not elected, what will you do into AEGEE during the next academic year?
If I am not elected to the Net Com, I will continue my work as HR-Director of Agora Moscow and will finally join AEGEE-Academy. Also, maybe I will focus on making AEGEE events more sustainable.