The job of the AmCham YOUng Advisory Board is to provide support and help develop all programs within the AmCham YOUng platform, to raise the quality of the programs and to search for synergies between the programs and the activities. The AmCham YOUng Advisory Board has the role of connecting players and linking different generations. The world works also through intuitive leadership.
Members of the AmCham YOUng Advisory Board
Ajša Vodnik, MSc
CEO of AmCham Slovenia, Vice Chair of AmChams in Europe
“In ten years, we have proved how many exceptional talents we have in Slovenia, people who are not only developing themselves but are willing to develop society as a whole. It has been a ten-year journey of remarkable energies and changes – changes in myself and those touched by the magic we call the Young Platform. The program has no limits; it is still about exploring and having fun. 10 years ago we weren’t sure what the program was going to be exactly; we talked about intuition and collective consciousness. It seemed we didn’t really fit in. Today, we are talking about divine mathematics, and again it seems this doesn’t fit into the business world. This is the intangible part, where we leave an imprint. What about the quantifiable, visible and tangible part? We emphasize responsibility and giving back to the community by lending your face to a project. A partnership for change which links the public and private sector, the project “I’m a Teacher!” which showcases good teacher practices. A tapestry of relationships and hopes for all of us to be better together. Each next generation is the best because it works towards making the next one even better.“
Bogo Seme
Intuitive Coach at AmCham Young Platform
“My heart beats with the energy of young people. I believe this energy will take me step by step on a sacred journey of experiences to receive the challenge of a business life. Each generation has a unique story and strengthens the program for all future generations. AmCham Slovenia’s amazing team along with the platform itself are creating this story with the Young Advisory Board. I am happy to enjoy this wonderful journey with each generation on the cosmic ship Optimism. Eight generations were building this heart ship, and the ninth generation unconsciously first travelled with it and landed safely in the cosmic port of AEIOU. The 10th generation invested incredible AROHA/Love energy in the given Covid situation and they made it. And what is the challenge for the 11th generation? EB – interlinkage, which is associated with the American continent’s energy. I believe that anyone reading these words can feel how I live each new day on this path with deep joy, gratitude and humility in my heart.”
Matej Potokar
Director, Emma, President of the AmCham YOUng Advisory Board
“The future always rests on new, fresh and ground-breaking ideas. We generate ideas together with young talents, who inspire us with their attitude and positive energy at every step. AmCham Young, on the other hand, creates that space which fosters links between ideas and opens new opportunities for the development of broader society in the future. That is why I feel honored to have been part of this story ever since AmCham Young started.”
Tomaž Lanišek
Development and Smart Community Sector, City of Kranj, First Vice President of AmCham Slovenia, AmCham Top Potential of Year 2011
“AmCham Slovenia is young potentials. Young potentials are those who will play a vital role in driving change. Through trust, honor, and diversity.”
Nana Šumrada Slavnič, PhD, LL.M.
VP of Legal Affairs, Ekipa2 d.o.o. (Outfit7), AmCham Top Potential of the Year 2012
“The AmCham Young program was a great introduction into a new chapter of my professional life in Slovenia. After my return from abroad, where I studied and worked, the recognition of becoming a 2nd-generation ambassador led to many acquaintances, friendships and, last but not least, new business roles and functions AmCham Young is an incredible platform for a good business network of emerging professionals, and a part of the comprehensive and powerful environment of AmCham Slovenia – optimistic and progressive.”
Blaž Jakič
Board Member, Zavarovalnica Triglav, AmCham Top Potential of the Year 2013
“AmCham entered my career path all the way back in 2012. That is when I was given the chance to join the program, but I didn’t know what to expect from it. Looking back, I am extremely grateful for having got that opportunity to train, expand my network of business contacts, and build true friendships. This shared path has been fulfilling me for eight full years, and every time I meet a new and exceptional generation of AmCham Young people, I grow more convinced that our shared future is bright, too.”
Dr. Gaj Stavber
Strategy Global Product Development at Sandoz, AmCham Top Potential of the Year 2014
“I found myself at a crossroads in 2014 and wondered where to go from there and work on my personal and career growth. It was AmCham Young that showed me the way. It was the right choice and the right path! We developed together and mutually. Today, AmCham Young has unquestionably become a unique platform for developing potential, where the hopes of our younger generations can soak up positive energy and an openness of spirit. We cannot overstate how important this is for a healthy future and environment in which we all coexist. I still love coming back to such a place, because it drives me forward and only forward.”
Tomaž Švajger
Commercial Director, Heads Adriatic d.o.o., AmCham Top Potential of the Year 2015
“I stumbled into the excellent AmCham Young program by lucky coincidence. As I had lived in the States for a while and loved it, especially their sky-is-the-limit attitude, which is close to me personally, a friend who signed up for the program a year earlier warmly recommended that I join it. I am grateful to him to this day. Thanks to its positivism, mutual respect, and above all the desire to change things for the better, AmCham (AmCham Young Platform) has become an important part of my life.”
Nina Langerholc Čebokli
Dodo Consulting, AmCham Top Potential of the Year 2016
“AmCham Young has been my companion for 5 years and we go back to the 6th Generation of YP. We bonded quickly, Young became part of me and I became part of Young. We have been developing and learning – together and each on our own. It is extremely rich and includes many initiatives. Today, my involvement in the initiatives is focused on leading Snowball and being a member of the AmChampions Executive Board.”
Deana Jezeršek
AmCham Top Potential of the Year 2017
“I see AmChams Young Professionals as a healthy business environment. It is about personal and professional growth and an unrestricted flow of knowledge and ideas.”
Dr. Vita Godec, MBA
CEO at Lenis farmacevtika, AmCham Top Potential of the Year 2018
“AmCham Young Professionals connects keen, positive-thinking and future-oriented young people.”
Matej Gostiša
Chief Strategy Officer at Login5 Foundation , AmCham Top Potential of the Year 2019
“AmCham Young entered my career path as a result of my initiative, when my employer and I identified it as a good way to expand my knowledge and experience. Today, AmCham means to me contacts with friends and acquaintances of various profiles from various sectors, who bring a lot of ideas and inspiration to my work and life. What I welcome about Young members is the healthy dose of optimism, criticism, and proactivity that we have.”
Mag. Nina Pejič
Junior Researcher at the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Ljubljana, Director of the Gender Equality Research Institute, and entrepreneur, AmCham Top Potential of the Year 2020
“My AmCham journey is unusual – I am a researcher, I don’t work in a company, so I was a wild card when I got invited into the program. Today, AmCham means to me a peer community where I can voice my ideas and challenges, a platform where young people have the chance to spread ground-breaking changes to improve our society, and last but not least a doorway to new paths in life. Personally, the program led me deeper into entrepreneurship, and most importantly gave me the self-confidence that now allows me to appreciate my own skills more.”
Urška Kajtner
HR Business Partner, Loftware NiceLabel, AmCham Top Potential of the Year 2020
“I joined AmCham Young Professionals in June 2012 and my experience as a member soon outgrew all my expectations. I am still amazed how open, supportive, optimistic and passionate this business community is. At the moment, I am actively involved in building a better society through the initiatives Snowball and First Mentor, and I am working on my personal development in the AmCham Young Leaders Club. On top of that, I have my own wonderful mentor and I am surrounded with friends who came into my life and made a big difference.”
Maja Košir
ustanoviteljica, Organizacija dogodkov, Maja Košir s.p.
“AmCham Young puts emphasis on values and connecting. In my view, these are the two most important factors. The first is self-explanatory. The collaboration takes place both in terms of extensive and close collaboration between companies and in terms of connecting business with public sector employees. Slovenian society must recognize collaboration as the only right path.”
Nina Klemenčič
Exec. Admin & Project Manager, Celtra, AmCham Top Potential of the Year 2021
“If every day you work harder than the day before, it bears good fruit and sets an example. That way, you don’t force people to follow you. They will follow you because they want to.«
Aljaž Dobnikar
Senior software development engineer, Plume Design, AmCham Top Potential of the Year 2022
“Personal growth requires a certain amount of courage, but also a certain amount of humbleness.”
Matej Duraković
Executive Search Operations Partner, EMEA, IBM Slovenija, AmCham Top Potential of the Year 2022
“True leaders need to be authentic, but their leadership competencies should not be overlooked.”
Barbara Kramar
Process Expert, Novartis in Slovenia AmCham Top Potential of the Year 2023
“As a society, we have taken many steps in the right direction, but we are far from the finish line. I want to be part of that change.”
Riitta Fagerholm
Program Manager, Dun & Bradstreet, President of Young Leaders AmChampions
“We have the passion and knowledge to move things in the right direction.”
Helena Vrbnjak
AmCham YOUng Platform Leader, AmCham Slovenia
Tonja Avsenik
Related content
AmCham Heroes
Companies empowering the next generation leaders on the AmCham Young platform to make progress and grow.
Meet the AmCham YOUng Advisory Board
For any questions about the AmCham YOUng Advisory Board please reach out to Helena Vrbnjak, our AmCham YOUng Platform Leader.
Helena Vrbnjak
AmCham YOUng Platform Leader