My experience has been fairly positive so far: following the initial adjustments to organise our collaboration in a way that could be mutually fruitful and beneficial, things have proceeded smoothly with a clear path forward for the most part.
When I wrote my first report, I had hopes that materialised, little by little, through constant communication and consistent work – “one of the tropes of learning is that it occurs through iteration”, and it is exactly iteration that enabled both the HE and me to get to know each other better and improve how we help one another achieve our respective goals in this cooperation. Over time, this process has contributed to developing mutual trust and a better understanding of each other’s expectations, strengths, and working methods. As a result, our meetings have become more productive, focused, and ultimately aligned with the objectives that initially brought us together here in Graz.
Another particularly valuable aspect of this experience has been the opportunity to observe decision-making processes, internal communication practices, and the practical challenges associated with organisational growth. I could finally connect concepts and frameworks, only theoretical before this experience, with real-world implementation, making organisational development and strategic planning clearer to outline in my own business plan.
At the same time, I believe my contribution has evolved alongside my understanding of the organisation. As I became more familiar with priorities, constraints, and long-term ambitions, I was able to refine my recommendations and tailor them more effectively to the organisation’s characteristics. This continuous feedback loop has made the collaboration increasingly meaningful and has made communication all the more valuable between and during meetings.
I think our cooperation is on a good path, and I also like to believe that the best is yet to come: there are still opportunities to deepen the work already undertaken and to further translate strategic ideas into actionable initiatives.