The organizers of the event were Executive Club and Amicus Europae Foundation. The outstanding representatives of the world of science, business and politics gathered in Sheraton Hotel in Warsaw in order to jointly discuss about leadership and management. Substantive support was given by European scientific institutions INSEAD and IESE and leading Polish universities: Warsaw School of Economics, Kozminski University, WUT Business School and University of Warsaw.
During The Congress both speakers and listeners were trying to answer the question on what kind of managing concept does the modern Europe need. The leaders of business, science and politics sectors invited for the discussion, presented their experiences and searched for optimal solutions in unpredicted market surroundings.
„European Executive Forum” started the regular edition of meetings concerning the best of business practices. The aims of the succeeding meetings are: introduction to new managing trends, presentation of individual knowledge about leadership and the exchange of experiences.
The first day of The Congress began with the welcome speech by The President Aleksander Kwaśniewski. Subsequently, on behalf of The President Bronisław Komorowski, a message to the participants was read by a minister Olgierd Dziekoński.
The next part of the meeting was an interactive presentation of Prof. Manfred Kets de Vries, The Chairman of The Raoul de Vitry d'Avaucourt faculty in INSEAD, Distinguished Professor of Leadership Development, The Chairman of Global Leadership Center in INSEAD. He discussed the methods of analysis and supporting leading competences.
President Kwaśniewski was moderating a panel on “Historic leadership versus the leadership of the future”. The speakers were three prime ministers: Giuliano Amato, Prime Minister of Italy in 1992-1993 and 2000-2001, José María Aznar, Primie Minister of Spain in 1996-2004 and Jan Krzysztof Bielecki, President of the Economic Council in Prime Minister Chamber. The representative of business was Jacek Krawiec, The Chairman of PKN Orlen, who was adding his opinions to the politicians' statements.
The next panel was a smooth transition from historical background to present times. The question of “What kind of leader does Europe need nowadays?” was discussed by Alfred Gusenbauer, Chancellor of Austria in 2007-2008, Prof. Michał Kleiber, The President of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Grzegorz Hajdarowicz, CEO of Gremi Media, the publisher of “Rzeczpospolita” newspaper and Adam Pieczyński, board member of TVN Group, responsible for news programs. The whole part was moderating by Prof. Dariusz Rosati, the minister of foreign affairs in 1995-1997 and a member of the European Parliament in 2004-2009.
The last panel of the first day was hosted by Prof. Alastair Nicholson – Emeritus Professor of Management Science and Operations in London Business School. The discussion was actively joined in by the invited guests : Mirosław Bieliński, CEO of Energa SA, Prof. Jerzy Hausner, Vice-Prime Minister in 2003-2005, now a member of Council of Monetary Policies, Prof. Piotr Płoszajski, The Chairman of the Department of Managing Theory in Warsaw School of Economics and Włodzimierz Kiciński, The Vice-Chairman of KGHM Polska Miedź. They were all considering “Where are all those leaders now?” and noticed the issues of the leadership's crisis.
The substantive part of the day was ended with a speech by a special guest, Joschka Fischer, who was the minister of foreign affairs of Germany in 1998-2005. He discussed the global vision of dangers and challenges, which has to be faced by Europe and European Union.
In the evening, the leaders of business, science and politics met together on the formal gala, where they saw the performance by the artists of Studio Buffo.
On March 22, both speakers and listeners focused their attention particularly on the issue of leadership in business. The first panel, hosted by Krzysztof Obłój, The Chairman of Strategic Managing Department in University of Warsaw, concerned historical concepts of leadership. The experiences were also shared by Prof. Witold Bielecki, Rector of Kozminiski University, Prof. Maria Romanowska, The Chairman of the Department of Management in Economy in Warsaw School of Economics, Maciej Filipkowski, Vice President, IT and Mobile Division in Samsung Electronics Poland and Zbigniew Krzysztoń,The Chairman of HR Department, PGNiG S.A.
The topic of the next discussion was the global context of leadership. The participants included the moderator, Prof. Witold Orłowski, The Chairman of WUT Business School, and the invited panelists – Olga Grygier-Siddons, CEO of PwC in Poland, Jarosław Pietras, General Director of Council of the European Union, Pedro Pereira da Silva, COO of Jeronimo Martins Group, Country Manager of Poland and Portugal and Prof. Herbert Wirth, CEO of KGM Polska Miedź.
The intriguing issue on „The end of the world of managers?” was talked over by Prof. Andrzej Koźmiński, The President of Kozminski Universitiy and Roland Binkofski, General Director of Microsoft Poland, Aster Papazyan, General Director of Dell Poland, Michał Chałaczkiewicz, Director of Montagu Private Equity and Prof. Radosław Koszewski, Programs Director of IESE.
Wojciech Eichelbergerm, Director of Institute of Psycho-Immunology, hosted the panel about „Leading by emotionions”. The opinions were presented by the notable theoretics of business and managers, such as. Prof, Zbigniew Dworzecki, Professor in the Department of Management in Economy in Warsaw School of Economics, Linda Hand, Senior Vice President, Head of European Operations Services in Elavon and Paweł Jaguś, CEO of Qumak S.A.
The closing debate, which aroused an extreme interest, was hosted by President Aleksander Kwaśniewski. The speakers, who presented their final thoughts and comments, included, Jan Krzysztof Bielecki, President of the Economic Council in Prime Minister Chamber, Joschka Fischer, the minister of foreign affairs of Germany in 1998-2005, Alfred Gusenbauer, Chancellor of Austria in 2007-2008, Dr Jan Kulczyk, The Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Kulczyk Investment and Prof. Krzysztof Obłój, The Chairman of Strategic Managing Department in University of Warsaw.