Our 12-member EKA delegation has returned from a week-long study trip along the Mediterranean, which was not only professionally intensive but also breathtakingly memorable. This week in Greece proved that the best ideas are born when consultants leave the dust of the everyday behind and gather at a shared source of inspiration!

A Strategic Step Towards FEACO

The trip provided a significant international leap for EKA. As our Chairman of the Board, Janek Kadarik, emphasized, one of the primary objectives was to deepen relations with the Greek Association of Management Consultants (SESMA) and gain practical insights regarding membership in the European Federation of Management Consulting Associations (FEACO).

“The practical knowledge acquired directly contributed to EKA’s preparations for joining FEACO,” Janek Kadarik stated.

Furthermore, he highlighted the critical role of understanding the economic environment: “It helps the consultant to be a better support and partner for their clients.” In light of the lessons from Greece, we can more clearly assess both the advantages and disadvantages of the domestic business environment.

New Projects and Reinforced Cooperation

The tangible outcome of the trip was the launch of new business initiatives and collaborative relationships that gained genuine momentum within the members’ companies. A prime example is EKA member Andres Keba, who operates in the energy sector and noted that the week in Greece significantly helped him shift his focus.

Andres Keba summarised the benefits as follows:

“This week in Greece triggered the search for new directions and solutions in my mind. I immediately acquired one specific project and one cooperation opportunity from the trip, expanding my focus on novel solutions in the energy field.”

For new board member Anu Kull, the communal value of the trip was immediate. “On the EKA trip to Greece, I experienced a genuinely warm and open atmosphere. The culture, with its unfathomably deep roots, offered a free and inspiring environment for pleasant conversations and shared discussions, from which new collaborative projects also emerged.”

Authenticity Worth the Effort

Katrin Suursoo, our Board member and lead organiser, invested dozens of hours of work into the trip’s preparation to ensure maximum informational value.

This included:

  • Meetings with the local association, SESMA, to gather ideas for EKA‘s development, followed by meetings with various Greek entrepreneurs and consultants.
  • A comprehensive overview of the Greek economy and investment landscape from representatives of Invest in Greece.
  • The cherry on top was a meeting with the Estonian Ambassador, Karin Rannu, who discussed her activities and diplomatic relations in Greece.

In addition to business knowledge, EKA members were also offered an authentic Greek experience: they travelled by metro, visited small producers on the Peloponnese, and explored local manufacturing. For Katrin Suursoo, these eight days spent together are crucially important for strengthening the unity of the EKA community.

View the atmospheric photo gallery here: https://www.facebook.com/EKA.Konsultandid/posts/pfbid02CXiTf5mRrbFdcQvARz8rbvUZCYoHQB7ecyAbG8XFnae3ctQg7uPh9uZy4jQEeddSl