This is my last post in 2024. It's been a crazy (almost) 365 days.
- My training company became Influence Builders, to offer workshops on the EU, public affairs, advocacy, strategic comms, and on using AI
- This spring, we launched webinars, workshops and courses on ChatGPT and AI with Jacques Foul. Since then we've trained over 1,000 lobbyists, researchers, managers, EU officials, MEPs, NGO activists and civil servants to harness AI’s incredible and growing power for persuasion, efficiency, and content creation
- With Aleksa, we created a prototype of a virtual focus group tool to test political messages by asking ‘personas’ for feedback. In a few months, it will be available as a standalone online app
- In April, I had the honour to present my second talk at TEDxKULeuvenBrussels on the power of words, a topic that means a lot to me
- At EU Training we've served thousands of aspiring (and current) EU officials, offered webinars and workshops from 'clear writing' for EU exams to 'EPSO preparation mastery', and created lots of new resources
- We ran about 15 live information webinars on new exams and 'Ask-me-Anything' sessions with Luc Gillis
- To walk the talk, we started developing AI-powered tools and services, including an 'EPSO exam preparation planner', a 'virtual coach', and more
- Special thanks to Rita, Petra, Eszter, Zsofia, Áron, and Laszlo, and to our trainers and partners
- We launched EUcourse .eu, the only online course that offers 14 hours of visual explanations on the EU's history, institutions, and decision-making procedures, thanks to Martin, Helen, Annie, Viktor, and Alexandre
- The audio lectures are now on Spotify (just search for "EU Course", free for a few weeks), and we’ve also published 10+ EU Briefings on EU institutions & key EU policies
- Inspired by the course, "The Ultimate EU Handbook" is soon released, courtesy of John Harper and Sonia Gongu's incredible work, brought to life by Ljiljana Pavkov's design talent
- 7 years after starting SpeakerHUB, Ron became its new owner and guardian, taking it to the next level
- In the summer, I joined The Right Street as partner along with Filip, Lorenzo, and Marko, working with Klym, Katarina and a talented team in Brussels, Belgrade, Bucharest, and Bosnia (ie. Mostar but I didn't want to break the chain of B's). We also launched an AI-powered 'Talk to European Commissioner designates' site which is pretty cool (see it on the TRS website).
- At Ambiorix Center, we renovated the office and built the EU district's 1st state-of-the-art video and #podcast studio ("Ambiorix Studio"). We also offer the space to EPSO candidates if they are looking for a reliable location to take their exam.
- We welcomed Maryana Panyevina as director of events and services, and David who'll be our in-house audio & video producer
Special thanks to Racquel Gabuna for her support in all these projects, and to Liora, Elizabeth, Harold and many others for their friendship and support.
See you in 2025.
*This was originally posted on Andras Baneth's LinkedIn account.