Scanning the daily headlines puts lovers of liberty in a sour mood, but I have to tell you:my spirits are very high in the wake of Atlas’s second Think Tank MBA program, which ended this past Friday.
The Atlas Think Tank MBA is a two-week program that helps think tank leaders develop their strategic plans while getting a crash course in all aspects of running a think tank – including program planning and evaluation, fundraising, marketing, organizational structure, and financial management.
The Think Tank MBA program is not simply a seminar.Facilitator Rainer Heufers leads participants through interactive exercises and discussions, and then coaches them one-on-one as they develop business plans to prove their understanding of the concepts being taught.Separate group projects require participants to work as a team and actually develop, implement, and evaluate campaigns in only a few days. The group project that earned top rankings this year created a Web site, viral video and social networking campaign to highlight the freedom of speech issues at the heart of a recent controversy in which the Obama administration encouraged citizens to report to the White House any “fishy” commentary on health reform proposals. (See FlagOff.com)
Other aspects of the TTMBA included presentations from expert outside speakers, such as Bob Russell and Ann Fitzgerald (fundraising), Larry Read and Kris Mauren (management), Nicole Williams (new media), and Rick Hendershot (finance), among others, in addition to talks by Atlas senior management. There were also visits to successful DC-area think tanks and special nighttime dinners and excursions designed to help create strong bonds among a group of participants that brought diverse backgrounds (21 countries were represented by the 28 participants) but similar aspirations to the program.
Although the real success of this program will only be discovered over time – as we see whether the participants can translate their learning into effective promotion of liberty back home – Atlas was gratified to get extremely positive feedback about the value imparted during these two weeks together. On the last day of the program, Atlas announced that it will host a panel discussion that will be organized by one team of three or four TTMBA graduates. Teams are getting their ideas together as I type, so stay tuned to learn who will be selected to give a special presentation in November!
In the meantime, Atlas will begin seeking applicants for the 2010 TTMBA program by posting an application form in September. Please encourage those you know who would benefit from the program to apply!
To view images from the 2009 TTMBA visit Atlas’s Flickr account.
Copyright © 2010 The Atlas Network.
Developed by The Liberty Lab
The Atlas TTMBA conference was literally a life-changing event for me. Not only did it help me to think more strategically as I consider approaches and relationships and topics related to liberty and freedom, but almost more importantly, it rekindled a somewhat dormant sense of urgency and need for this important movement. I was reminded of the freedoms we enjoy in the United States and also soberingly reminded of the simple freedoms so many are fighting for around the world, rights that we sometimes take for granted.
Thank you to Atlas and to the many sponsors of this great effort. And thank you to my fellow TTMBAers for their courage and energy and example.
Onward and upward!
Congratulations Atlas
Another successful TTMBA program ..
I am very happy to see another round of Free Mind Future Entrepreneurs , graduated from Atlas , the great institution …
Also i am sure Atlas will keep lighting the world with its great initiatives.
Thank you always for your blessed efforts
Riyad