AIESECers – even the superhumans among us – are people, too. This enigmatic phenomenon, the A-Group, recognizes this truth, and provides a safe discussion forum for AIESEC alumni to meet face-to-face, on a more committed, more regular basis.

What’s the A for? Not quite sure. AIESEC surely, as we limit members to AIESEC alumni. Alumni? Yes, but the A-Group is certainly cuts a bit more deeply than conferences and reunions. Authenticity? Certainly. We all seek authenticity in people, and the A-Group offers this to those among the one million or so AIESEC alumni out there that seek it.

Founded by AIESEC Philippines alumnus, Rollie Gosiengfiao, the A-Group concept benchmarks on successful Forums of the World Presidents Organization. Each A-Group is intended to be a non-religious, non-political, strictly confidential, face-to-face environment – a support group – to which 10-12 AIESEC alumni members can safely “come home” and recharge.

The Genesis A-Group, being the first forum of its kind among AIESEC alumni in the Philippines, was founded in June 2011. We meet every six weeks, to update one another, discuss, and assess personal life situations of each member, in the hope that collective wisdom and insight might add value to members’ lives. A-Group topics range from relational, career, or business issues; even ethical dilemmas, unlocking the rich, diverse and enlightening thought processes of other members. Of course, equally enjoyable is the camaraderie and fun on the side.

To date, quite a few breakthroughs have happened (at the Genesis A-Group). Externally, we saw ourselves getting more and more interested in engaging other AIESECers, especially the alumni. We saw the A-Groups transform into the virtual backbone of AIESEC Philippines, even Asia-Pacific. We birthed initiatives like the AIESEC Asia Pacific Conference-Manila held last August 2011, or the AIESEC Thursday in Manila and other cities; i.e. AIESEC gatherings where current alumni meet students/officer, with rarely any agenda whatsoever, apart from bonding and fun. Any good work that comes of it is purely coincidental. 🙂

Inspiring involvement and collaboration among AIESEC alumni was actually… gravy. The bigger breakthroughs happened internally, in the hearts and minds of A-Group members, AIESECers all. In A-Groups, people are sharpening people in unprecedented ways. We seek each others’ personal growth and well-being, in no uncertain terms, on matters ranging from health, family, friends, trade, career, business, even cause advocacy. (Sometimes we talk about AIESEC!)  Once we break the proverbial ice, and overcome team storming blues (A-Group discussions can range from cheesy emotional to icy cerebral, but as a rule, always in strictest confidence), the results, the resolutions have been quite phenomenal.

The Genesis A-Group boasts of its dynamic, engaging members, all highly accomplished AIESEC alumni in various fields. They help co-mentor one another’s personal growth and well-being. Without prejudice or without prescribing hard-and-fast answers, they listen, observe, pay attention, and when warranted, share their honest, personal thoughts, eye-opening observations, based on diverse competencies and varied experiences. The idea is to build a safe environment of authenticity and trust., where common aspirations and growth experiences might provide a solid platform for trust, understanding, constructive wisdom and insight.

An A-Group is not an open group.  New members are invited – and new groups are birthed – by consensus of A-Group members themselves.  While not an officially-sanctioned phenomenon, and with all its many imperfections, I can attest that my A-Group certainly adds value to my life in extraordinary ways that might be impossible under other relationships or environments.

Befitting of AIESEC’s many offerings, THE A-GROUP ROCKS… And DEEPER.A BLESSED NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!!!!

Joseph Pangilinan
AIESEC Philippines Alumni
CEO, Arrowhead Consulting, Inc.
115 V. Rufino, Legaspi Village
Makati City, the Philippines