Ria Karam - Americas Conference (AMCO) - Panama 2026

Ria Karam
Local Commitee President, Washington DC 
Conference Attended:  AMCO in Panama 2026 

I have never felt so much love and support from strangers around the world. Right as I entered the venue for the Youth Speak Forum, I was welcomed with so much love and celebration. All of them are excited to support, learn, and connect. The sessions presented by AMCO resonated with my mission to break barriers and bridge countries. Especially since I was actively participating in my own version, in this case, it was a language barrier. And even with that barrier, we were still able to connect through our love of AIESEC and leadership. I used my Spanish speaking and listening skills when speaking with delegates who did not speak English and vice versa. This system essentially benefited both parties to practice their language skills and learn about each other's culture and language. 

Now, the most important reason as to why I desired to attend AMCO was to learn the strategies of how to be a better LCP for my LC in Washington DC. Numerous sessions discussed LCP leadership, how to build a strong executive board, how to grow an LC, and, most importantly, teaching about what our products are and how to sell them. These lessons were extremely crucial to me as they lit up my passion to improve my LC. I actively took notes on how to improve engagement for my members through LCM activities that are tailored to different functions of AIESEC. So that each member can gain well-rounded knowledge and skills to apply in AIESEC and their own future careers. By pinpointing the specific lacking functions in my LC and pushing for increased KPI/Lead measures, we can reach our LC Lag. Our LC primarily struggles with marketing and membership, which is why I decided to increase activity for our social media platforms, as well as attend many tabling and university club events to gain university presence. 

An amazing aspect of AMCO that I truly enjoyed was the many LCPs from different nations helping and supporting each other. I had met LCPs from Puebla, Mexico, Andes, Colombia, and Calgary, Canada, who were all struggling with the same problem: Membership activity and executive board collisions. One session that I truly appreciate was the safe space that the MCP of Canada held for LCPs specifically to deliver their issues and emotions and gain support and empathy from those going through the same thing. It made me realize that we all love AIESEC, which is why we continued to volunteer our time and effort into this organization, and that is what matters. An individual must have the passion to go on and have the motivation to continue their AIESEC journey, despite the disappointing outcome. It is up to us to take that initiative and align our goals to action plans in order to achieve the result we want. Being around so many leaders allowed me to gain the support and advice I needed to further the growth of my LC. Also, I was able to give my own advice that I learned from my own experience for LCPs who also stepped up into this role without much training. Being with the LCPs in the Americas for 5 days made me feel so validated and supported, which was something I didn’t have before coming to this conference. 

It was so enthralling to talk in person with the representatives during our IR lunches and dinners. Learning so much about how IR conversations play out and emphasizing key aspects that our EPs require for their exchange. A specific concern for EPs coming from the United States is the safety and accommodations aspect, so when talking with Brazil, their MCP made us realize that regardless of which country you travel to, there will always be safety hazards present. Yet, our connections put their full effort into fulfilling the safety concern. In Peru, they had instilled one AIESEC member with an EP for their exchange so that they wouldn’t be alone and have a companion to rely on in a foreign country. This is certainly appealing for EPs that are new to the country, for parents that are worried about their child going abroad, and for the EPs to get the full experience of the rich culture that Peru has. Our conversations were very diplomatic and cordial as the U.S. had suggestions for specific exchange opportunities, and our IRs gave us advice to include when selling their opportunity. Both of us are coming to a conclusion of potential opportunities for our EPs to engage in and make a huge impact. 

Overall, my experience in AMCO was truly enlightening, and I have absorbed a lot of information about AIESEC along with what my MC has done throughout their term. Reflecting on AMCO, I’ve realized that the LCs are a crucial part of AIESEC. We manage and directly connect with the EPs in order for these exchanges to occur. We are the ones who have built up AIESEC, and I really appreciate how much time and focus I received that helped me become a better LCP and brought back stronger strategies to grow my LC.

This experience was made possible by alumni generosity. Contribute to the JoAnn Boland International Scholarship Fund and help future AIESEC leaders access the conferences and development that define their journey.