(August 15, 2023) Global Student Ambassador Program (GSAP) student leaders Nikita Tkachenko and John Chetwynd traveled in August to Seattle with support from the Center for Business Studies and Innovation in Asia-PacifiC’s (CBSI) to participate in the 2023 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Women and the Economy Summit. Held in advance of the APEC Leaders Summit in San Francisco in November, the Seattle conference explored the role of women in Asia-Pacific economies and provided a platform for public and private sector collaboration.
John, who served last year as GSAP President, and Nikita, who is one of this year’s Vice Presidents, reported that the conference sessions were rich in innovation-related research and case studies that will likely help shape Asia’s future. They noted that the differing perspectives presented gave them a deeper understanding and appreciation of ongoing economic initiatives across the Asia-Pacific region. As graduate students of applied economics, they found valuable insights and tools in the research and data presented.
Another important aspect of the conference John and Nikita valued was its emphasis on industry engagement. They successfully networked with business leaders as well as government officials, in doing so laying the groundwork for collaborations in their own research. Notably, they built particularly strong connections with conference delegations from Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam and the United States, a testament to APEC’s commitment to foster international partnerships.
The 2023 APEC Women and the Economy Summit was an impactful experience for the two GSAP student leaders. CBSI thanks Nikita and John for taking the initiative to participate!