Spotlight On: Phil Hansen, President, Global Minnesota
September 2024 — Invest: spoke to Phil Hansen, president of Global Minnesota, about the importance of international cultural exchange in the region, its educational efforts, and how the organization impacts both the local and international community.
What have been some notable recent achievements for Global Minnesota?
One significant development has been the increased interest in our programming as the world has grown more complex. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, we observed a substantial rise in live programming attendance. Previously, our events were about 70% virtual and 30% live, but this ratio has now reversed, with more people attending our live events. This shift indicates a strong desire for personal engagement and exposure to global experts and perspectives.
Another major achievement is the growing interest in our professional exchange delegations. These delegations, comprising professionals from various countries, are organized in collaboration with our embassies and the State Department. We create customized itineraries for these groups, focusing on entrepreneurialism, agriculture, renewable energy, business, social welfare, and social justice, among many others. There is a notable increase in the number of professionals eager to visit Minnesota to learn from our experts and share their knowledge, reflecting Minnesota’s reputation for having excellent companies, skilled professionals, and innovative organizations.
We have expanded our offerings to the business community. Our World Affairs programming, which includes public and business events with ambassadors, foreign policy experts, and other key figures, has grown. We’ve also introduced international business roundtables, such as a recent one focused on Thailand and Southeast Asia, and global sustainability roundtables addressing companies’ sustainability goals. A new initiative, the Global Business Outlook, has been particularly successful, attracting over 150 participants in its first year. This program provides insights into international business trends and features presentations from major local companies.
Our K-12 Education program has also grown, particularly our classroom education initiatives. This program is expanding as more schools show interest in providing students with a global perspective.
What is the mission and vision of Global Minnesota, and how does that guide the organization’s activities?
The mission of Global Minnesota is to advance international understanding and engagement. Our vision is to create a gathering place — a platform—for people to be informed, engaged, and connected to our world’s political, social, economic, and cultural issues. This vision guides our activities by emphasizing the creation of opportunities for people to engage with global topics through discussions, forums, and direct interactions with experts and diplomats.
We design our programs to foster discussions and exchanges, allowing participants to ask questions and engage in meaningful dialogue. Our goal is to create connectivity to the world, develop the next generation of global leaders, and enhance cultural competency among our community. By offering various programs and events, we aim to humanize international relations and give visitors worldwide an opportunity to better understand our country. Our activities range from economic development initiatives to cultural exchanges, aiming to increase global awareness and foster international connections.
How does Global Minnesota measure its impact locally and globally?
We conduct surveys and collect data on participants’ impressions, assessing whether international engagement increases civic engagement and whether our programs meet their needs and expectations. We also monitor participation levels, noting growth in delegation visits, program attendance, and children’s programming.
We survey participants to gauge their satisfaction and understand how the program has influenced their perspectives on global issues. This feedback helps us continuously improve our offerings and effectively advance international understanding and engagement. The increased interest and participation in our programs and the survey results indicate that we are successfully addressing the needs and interests of our audience.
What are some flagship programs or initiatives that Global Minnesota offers, and how do those programs contribute to global understanding?
The World Affairs program includes public and business events featuring diplomats, foreign policy experts, authors, and other influential figures. These events allow participants to engage in discussions and gain insights into global issues. Programs are held in various settings, including university and corporate venues.
Professional Exchanges involve managing customized itineraries for visiting delegations and arranging meetings and discussions with local experts in renewable energy, agriculture, and business fields, among many others. Last year, we hosted visitors from 137 countries, facilitating exchanges that enhance mutual understanding and professional growth.
The Great Decisions program involves 30 groups across the state discussing eight topics provided by the Foreign Policy Association. We provide expert speakers who engage with these groups, fostering in-depth discussions on current global issues.
International Student programming, originally founded to welcome international students to Minnesota, continues to offer cultural experiences and engagement opportunities for students worldwide. It emphasizes the role of community members in global diplomacy through personal interactions and cultural exchanges.
The K-12 Education program trains international students to visit grade schools and teach children about their home countries. This program aims to broaden young students’ horizons and spark their interest in global issues. Academic WorldQuest is a high school knowledge competition involving over 30 teams each year.
These programs collectively promote global awareness, facilitate cultural exchanges, and build relationships that can lead to economic and social benefits. They also help develop the next generation of globally-minded leaders by engaging young people and providing them with valuable international perspectives.
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What is the importance of the educational outreach component in schools?
It provides students with direct exposure to individuals from different parts of the world, allowing them to engage with and learn from these visitors. This interaction can spark curiosity and a desire to learn more about global cultures and issues. By asking questions and receiving answers from international guests, students gain a deeper understanding of the world beyond their immediate environment.
Many of these programs are free, making them accessible to schools that might not otherwise afford such opportunities. This inclusivity ensures that all students can benefit from global education regardless of their background. The program aims to broaden students’ horizons, build cultural competency, and inspire them to engage with the world in various ways, whether through future travel, education, or cultural exchanges.
What are some of the biggest challenges that Global Minnesota faces, and how does the organization overcome them?
One of Global Minnesota’s biggest challenges is managing growth. With nearly 550 activities and events last year and increasing demand for our programs, we need to scale our operations effectively. This includes expanding our member base and securing additional funding to support our growing activities.
Another challenge is navigating the rising operational costs, including staffing and other expenses. To address this, we strive to be highly efficient with our resources, ensuring that every dollar is spent wisely. We also focus on growing our corporate and individual membership base to increase funding and support.
We aim to balance the diverse interests of our audience by offering a wide range of programs that cover various regions and topics. This requires careful planning and responsiveness to current global events and trends.
By focusing on these strategies, we aim to continue meeting the increasing demand for our programs while maintaining high-quality and impactful engagement with our community.
What are the primary goals and priorities for Global Minnesota over the next five to 10 years?
Our primary goals and priorities include engaging the next generation and increasing engagement with young professionals, high-school students, and grade school students. By involving young people in global issues, we hope to inspire future global leaders. We plan to expand our individual and corporate membership base to support our growing programming demand and increase participation in our events and activities.
We will continue to build and deepen partnerships with other international organizations and companies in Minnesota. By collaborating, we can amplify our impact and present the best of Minnesota to the world. We have seen significant growth in corporate membership and aim to continue this trend by providing valuable programming that benefits companies and their employees.
Minnesota has a robust international engagement ecosystem. We aim to highlight and support this by fostering connections and creating trade, cultural exchange, and economic development opportunities. Global Minnesota strives to enhance its impact by focusing on these goals and continue to foster global understanding and engagement in the coming years.
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