Last autumn, I had the honour of participating in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) of the U.S. Department of State. Nominated by the U.S. Consulate General in Leipzig, I represented Germany as part of an international delegation.
2026 marks two special anniversaries:
200 years of the U.S. Consulate General in Leipzig and 250 years of American independence.
The IVLP is the U.S. Department of State’s flagship exchange program for international leaders. My program focused on “Energy as an Economic Driver” – exploring the role of energy in driving economic development, innovation and geopolitical stability.
The journey took us to several U.S. cities, including Washington, D.C., Seattle, San Diego, Los Angeles, Dallas, Des Moines and Charlotte. Along the way, we engaged in discussions with universities, government agencies, businesses, think tanks and NGOs on energy policy, regional economic development and innovation strategies.
Together with participants from Kosovo, Ukraine, Hungary, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Croatia and Slovakia, I had the opportunity to engage in an intensive transatlantic exchange.
What remains with me is the image of a bridge we crossed together – a symbol of the vibrant and strategically important partnership between Europe and the United States.
The journey also inspired the podcast episode “Building Bridges”, recorded on the Pöhlberg in the Ore Mountains together with Createhead.
Now available on Spotify.
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