Post by Jennifer Davison

Last week at the European Forum Alpbach : Austria in the World Days , I noticed a certain vibe. Although there was a lot of excitement around the idea of “Recharging Europe”, there was also conflict at play. While the youth was focused on climate change, making fairer, more equal and diverse systems, innovating in healthcare, and changing business models of big tech, (for example) there was also a kind of lid on the energy and feeling of the possibility of change. This was coming from another area of the room—the politicians, the business leaders, those in Defense. There, a vibe of holding on, the need for security, a vying for the primacy of economic growth. It made me think of the difference between Fixed mindset and a Growth mindset. In reality, both the next generation leaders and the current leadership players are ideal partners in making impactful, lasting change. And—they would need to find that shared vision, or perhaps shared parameters (thato understand the enormous potential for collaboration. That’s what makes meeting places like Alpbach so important. The chance to uncover the friction and gather the heat that can help all of us grow. What if a focus on Growth Mindset was a common denominator of the EU/European identity? “A fixed mindset is the belief that qualities like intelligence and talent are innate and unchangeable, leading to avoiding challenges, fearing failure, and ignoring feedback. In contrast, a growth mindset is the belief that these qualities can be developed through effort, dedication, and persistence, fostering a passion for learning, resilience in the face of setbacks, and a willingness to embrace feedback and challenges.” (Thanks, Gemini). That the EU emerged out of the ruins of WWII is a perfect example of growth mindset—a belief that effort, dedication, learning and resilience can make a better, peaceful and prosperous world. No one could have predicted that outcome in 1945. It is a momentous achievement. And worth remembering and celebrating everyday!🎉 Here‘s the best part: Humans are Imaginative. And Life is Emergent. If we could connect the resources and vitality of both of those groups—we could be looking at a whole new way to live, feel, and be connected. In growth. And in abundance. Growth Mindset could help us get there. And the Neuroscience backs it up!! What do you think Marie Ringler, Barbara Runggaldier, Werner Wutscher , Othmar Karas , Eva Maria Knechtl , Alice Schmidt , Carole Frampton , Christoph Thun-Hohenstein, Franziska Martinek , ERSTE Foundation Margit Mayr , Dieter Pscheidl , Olga Shirobokova Claudia Garuti Alessandra Bravi , Johanna Weberhofer Jo Hensel Guildhall Ignite Trudy Wright CPCC PCC Rashmi Zimburg , Cristina Guevara de Frint, MBA, ProfD , Herwig OSTERMANN Andreas Treichl Thanks Indre Viskontas for your continued inspiration!

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