An overview of my trip in the US and the IVLP

I thought it would be a good idea for me to explain a little the reasons for which I am in the United States for a period of 4 weeks.

I know 4 weeks is a long time to be away from the business and family. 

As for the business, I am least worried as the team is, I believe well positioned to take care of the day to day running of the company.  

Moreover, a trip such as this gives one so much access to brainpower and network that it can only be good for the business and the country.

As for the family, yes I miss them. Enough said.


Anyway, I am in the US for 2 reasons :

One, as a guest of the President of the United States to attend the Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship which was just concluded last week.


Second, as a guest of the United States Government for a program called the International Visitor Leadership Program or IVLP for short.

The IVLP is described by the State Department site (http://exchanges.state.gov/ivlp/ivlp.html) as :

".....the U.S. Department of State’s premier professional exchange program.  Launched in 1940, the IVLP is a professional exchange program that seeks to build mutual understanding between the U.S. and other nations through carefully designed short-term visits to the U.S. for current and emerging foreign leaders.  These visits reflect the International Visitors’ professional interests and support the foreign policy goals of the United States."

The IVLP alumni comprises of an impressive group of leaders, including some world leaders in various fields.

The alumni, of which I am now one, can network or access the network through the State Department portal. The portal in itself is a great resource of information and knowledge.

During the program introduction briefing here I am also made to understand that it is an extremely competitive process to be awarded the fellowship. One cannot apply for it - you have to be invited. 

So, if you are in, you are extremely privileged.

Usually the IVLP is made up small groups from various countries and they travel the USA visiting about 3-4 cities for a period of 2 - 4 weeks immersing themselves in the area of their respective professional interest and also in the American way of life. 

The visitors are also accompanied by a guide appointed by the State Department. These guides are known as ELOs (English Language Officers).

The ELOs are usually retired professionals or service people.

The function of ELO is to accompany the IVLP visitors the entire day and for the entire duration and during this trip ensure all logistical details are taken care of for the visitor.

The visitor focuses on the program and learning from it whilst and the ELO ensures that the logistics surrounding the travel and visits are administered with the greatest detail and precision. You technically don't have to "lift a finger" on your travel plans.

My IVLP is a little special. Firstly, there is NO group. I am the only one with my ELO.  

The program is custom-designed for me with Entrepreneurship as the focus area.

According to the Embassy and State Department, this IS the first time in the history of the IVLP a program with entrepreneurship as a focus is being organized and that too just for one person.

The objectives of the IVLP for me as set out by the State Department are :

- to examine how the government, non-profit organizations, investors and businesses promote entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurship in the US;

- to gain a greater understanding of how entrepreneurship is promoted in academia;

- to understand ways in which communities foster economic development.

As you can see, the program takes me from D.C - Boston - Seattle - Salt Lake City - San Francisco.

The program includes visiting and meeting with experts in organizations such as Ashoka, the Senate, The Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship, The Center for International Private Enterprises, Babson School of Entrepreneurship, Harvard, MIT, Microsoft, Stanford to name a few. It also includes 2 speaking engagements to two group of entrepreneurs in Boston and Utah.

All your expenses (food, lodging and some incidentals) are also born by the State Department. You are given a decent per-diem to cover your expenses during your stay here.

So, this is an overview of my visit to the US...if you wish you can follow me through this journey.

I thank the US Government, The State Department and The American Embassy in KL for this opportunity. 

My thoughts on the Summit will be interspersed in between the IVLP program blog.

Cheers