In February 2024, I had the privilege of participating in the 1st Executive „Focus Germany“ Seminar, where our group travelled across Germany from Berlin to Hamburg, Munich and Dresden for three weeks. The course, the participants, and Germany itself had a significant impact on me, helping shape my perceptions and beliefs about issues of global concern.

During the course, along with seventeen diplomats from a wide range of geographic regions, we learned about German foreign policy through the lens of its social, political, economic and cultural foundations. Our group heard firsthand from senior officials in the Federal Government, Federal and state parliaments, industry, defence and media sectors. This included meeting with a large range of senior decision makers in the Federal Foreign Office and being able to have questions genuinely answered. We gained cultural insights on Germany through attending art and history exhibitions, a play and an opera. Learned about German industry through visits to BMW and Bosch factories. And saw Bavaria’s State Parliament in action through attending a parliamentary session. The training provided on speechcraft, cultural intelligence, negotiations and German history was also useful.

I especially valued the opportunity to talk with other participants about their engagement with Germany, its foreign policy and their priorities across climate, social, defence and economic issues. Attendees held a diverse range of views, and this shaped the discussions and narratives throughout the course. Germany’s foreign policy was questioned, and the struggle for coherence seen on the world stage played out in the debates within the group.
Attending the course has given me an in-depth understanding of Germany’s foreign policy and has been a career highlight. I would like to express my appreciation to the Federal Government of Germany for hosting us, and to the coordination team for their guidance and for putting together such a fantastic programme. Thank you to all who attended the course with me. I am sure we will stay connected. The time spent in Germany was amazing, and I have fond memories of our group dashing between the trains, buses and subway cars as we travelled.

Mariella Fonrose & Benjamin Padovan