Bright Simons - Extending Our Salzburg Community

Dear Salzburg Global Fellows,

I hope you saw the news that Salzburg Global Seminar President & CEO Stephen Salyer will be stepping down this summer. I know many of you, like me, became Fellows in the last 17 years when Stephen was leading the organization. He strengthened the Seminar both programmatically and financially, and expanded global participation. I am grateful for those efforts.

I became a Fellow in 2011. As a social entrepreneur, my participation was greatly facilitated by the scholarship that enabled me to cover the costs of accommodation and travel from Ghana to Salzburg. When I arrived at Salzburg Global, I was immediately connected to a global community; one which continues to impact my life and career today.

For me, that word “community” perfectly describes Salzburg Global Seminar. It's a community in the truest sense. There are people from all over the world who are connected across generations, across histories, across backgrounds, across contexts - some geographical, some cultural. And yet there is this sense of one single, integrated global ideal.

In 2021, Stephen asked me to join the Salzburg Global Board of Directors and I was delighted to accept. I believe strongly in our mission and am proud to do what I can to continue the tradition of supporting people from around the world to participate in our programs and continue building our global community.

While I will miss Stephen’s leadership, I know Salzburg Global is well-positioned for the next phase of development and we are in good hands with the incoming President & CEO Martin Weiss. I, along with Fellows around the world, and with the other Board members, am committed to doing what I can to ensure Salzburg Global stays true to its ideals and continues to be about our community.

I hope that, if you are able, you will also help by making a donation - of any size – for the continuation and extension of this very special Salzburg Global Fellowship.

I am truly grateful for our community, and for all who have helped make it possible. Thank you!

Best regards,
Bright Simons
Salzburg Global Fellow and Board Director