On Friday the 22nd of November the annual MAD-event took place at the ministry of Sociale Zaken en Werkgelegenheid (SZW). The event was about public leadership and making a difference. We were proud to invite a few very inspiring social entrepreneurs and initiatives that make a difference.
The event was opened by our board members Ben Kuiper and René de Jong. Réne brought us back to the philosophy of the Public Leadership Foundation by explaining EPIC leadership: the shared responsibility and action to make a difference! Al the nominees for the Mad-award show EPIC leadership: these initiatives and social entrepreneurs make a difference within our society by showing public leadership trough Energy, Purpose, identity and courage. We were also proud to welcome Simon Duits, representative of JongSZW, who made a connection between SZW and public leadership.
Next on the program were the workshops about public leadership. The first workshop was held by Tanachia Ashikali. Tanashia is an expert in the field of diversity management, leadership and inclusivity in public orgnisation. She provided a workshop about inclusive leadership. The second workshop was held by Arzu Catakli and Gavir Breidel. They gave a workshop about paradoxical leadership. Arzu Catakli contributes with pleasure to organizational development by focusing on the development of people. Besides her work as MD she works as an executive coach and trainer. Gavir Breidel is a freelance trainer, he provides training programs for people that like to develop soft skills. He is convinced that these kind of skills are needed to make a difference.
For the Mad-event 2019 we invited initiatives and social entrepreneurs to give them a platform. The MAD-event is about connection and inspiring people. We facilitated ‘meeting-rounds’ so the vistors of the event could meet the initiatives and get inspired by their stories. Schooling for Life, Buurvrouw&BuurvrouwBus, Hofpleintrein, TrashUre Hunt, Conscious Kitchen, Olijf and the NoEscaperoom Foundation participated in the meeting rounds.
For the first time the Public Leadership Foundation presented an award for the initiative that made the biggest difference. The MAD-award was presented by the jury members: Giulietta Marani, (Co – founder van de Public Leadership Foundation); Nienke Bos (Co-founder blikverruimers), Dino Suhonic (Director at Maruf). The jury was proud to announce Buurvrouw&BuurvrouwBus as the winner of the MAD-award 2019. The jury chose De Buurvrouw&BuurvrouwBus as the winner because they connect people with each other in an accessible way, combats loneliness and contributes to a more inclusive society.
We are excited to announce the jury for the MAD-award 2019.
Giulietta Marani – Program manager at ICTU and Digicampus
Giulietta Marani helps organizations reinvent the way they work, collaborate, share information and knowledge. Exploring necessary frameworks and ecosystems. Gaining insight in innovative and technological developments and their impact. She works as a program manager at ICTU and Digicampus and is a former founder and board-member of the Public Leadership Foundation. Shebelieves organizations and their co-workers can only reinvent themselves if they pursue exchange of both talent and knowledge. Taking responsibility to Make A Difference. Outside of their own comfort zone. Getting inspired by others. Like the MAD stories.
Nienke Bos – Policy advisor at the Ministry of Justice an Safety
Let me introduce myself, 
My name is Ariane, I am 26 years old and today I start my internship at the Public Leadership Foundation.
I grew up as the daughter of an entrepreneur. I often got the question “Are you going to take over the families business?”. All the conversations at the dinner table involving topics such as tactics, money and profit made me realize that the private sector didn’t inspire me. I got more intrigued by the public sector instead. How can we make a difference for the whole society in a non-profit way. That’s when I decided to start my bachelor in Public Administration. After finishing my BA I wanted to specialize more in public sector management. During my masters I learned more about public leadership and the difference it can make. The curiosity about public leadership made me decide to do more research the on topic and actually write my Master Thesis about the effects of Public Leadership. Now I’ve come to a point in my research where I want to combine theory and practice, so I can experience the difference public leadership can make and use that as input for my research.
In the upcoming months I will be involved in organizing the MAD-event 2019 and other activities of the Public Leadership Foundation.
I am very motivated to start this public leadership journey!
Over the last five years, we have encountered many initiatives that give meaning to the term MAD leadership. We have seen individuals and organisations taking initiative – big and small – to make a difference! During the last four editions of our annual MAD event, we brought together those initiatives in order to inspire and learn from each other. At #MAD2019, we are planning to take it a step further! For the first time in the history of the Public Leadership Foundation, the MAD award will be given to an initiative the makes a difference through EPIC leadership.
Our good friend and former chair Rune Todnem By was invited by TEDx, to share his view on the public leadership needed to improve society. What followed was powerful speech, in which he intertwines a personal story with a broader call for MAD leadership. Against the background of the environmental crisis, Rune calls for a shift in the way perceive leadership. It’s time to take responsibility and go EPICally MAD!
