Berlin Leadership InsightsLooking Back at Our International Leadership Program

What an amazing experience to compare and contrast an international city with our home, Cleveland. There are so many similarities, even amongst what is different, and yet so many unique approaches that might be blended into that at home. I feel grateful and hopeful as we move forward with the experience in partnership and separately.Suzanne Hamilton, Senior Vice President, Commercial Real Estate ERIEBANK

The Leadership Berlin Trip was a firehose of education on the history of Berlin with deep dives into the government structure, broadcasting, educational institutions, religion, immigration and entrepreneurship. Hospitality was on overload with dinners with friends of Leadership Berlin and the team that planed and orchestrated the event. Truly the trip was transformational for me in the way I look at social issues in Cleveland. As a result of the trip I am inspired and enthused to put what I learned into action in my daily life and for the city of Cleveland.Kathy Dise, Small Business Owner, BudgetEase

Travel to a new place is about breaking routine habits and thinking patterns and often comes with questions that can be uncomfortable. Thanks to the Leadership Berlin team, I was able to safely explore and learn from peers on the ground about wins and challenges in our societies. I expect the open discussions and new discoveries will have lasting impact on the way we shape our futures on both sides of the Atlantic!Reka Barabas, Chief Relationship Officer, Entrepreneurship Education Consortium

Cleveland’s week-long immersion into the Leadership Berlin program far exceeded my expectations! After an intense & educational week, I came away with so many new ideas and lifelong personal connections. Thank you Leadership Berlin for peeling back the layers on every aspect of your city and allowing our group from Cleveland an intimate look inside. I appreciate the vast array of important voices that you arranged for us to meet with and the candor with which they shared. It was truly a remarkable learning exchange.Debbie Berry, SVP, Major Projects and Real Estate, Greater Cleveland Partnership

Our Leadership Berlin experience has been life-altering for me as it has exposed so many nuances of Berlin and German culture. It was intellectually stimulating and fun, but more importantly it allowed me to form new friendships that I hope will last a lifetime. Thank you, Leadership Berlin!Ronald V. Johnson, Chief Ethics Officer, KeyBank

The extraordinary breadth and depth of experiences presented by Leadership Berlin during our immersive cultural exchange week exposed our minds and hearts to common societal opportunities and challenges through the lens of our shared humanity. Among many learnings, as leaders we developed a deep appreciation of how our response to history informs our future in government, business, education and the delivery of human services. Thanks to the exceptional efforts of Leadership Berlin, we return to the USA as better-informed and more effective global citizens.Mary Anne Crampton, Board Chair, Three Arches Foundation

Leadership Berlin carefully and thoughtfully planned our learning journey in Berlin to accommodate the specific interests of the participants. The attention to detail and commitment to creating an impactful experience was extraordinary. Our entire group emerged enlightened, energized, and ready to take the lessons learned in Berlin and apply them in our City of Cleveland to build a better community. Thank you, Bernhard, and Leadership Berlin for your amazing dedication to creating a powerful week for our cohort. We are forever grateful!Marianne Crosley, President and CEO, Cleveland Leadership Center