The Interview Blogs highlight the experiences of Global Shapers: Generation 2018, the workflow coaches, executive and senior leadership team members, and a board member from The Lovinklaan Foundation. The #ShareTheStory team interviewed these individuals with specific interview questions geared towards their unique experience during the face-to-face program, October 13 – 17, in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Today, an interview with John Batten, Global Cities Director and GS2018 Theme Sponsor of #FutureCities.
What does Global Shapers mean for Arcadis?
Global Shapers is a program built to develop our early career professionals’ talent from a global perspective. Giving them an opportunity to connect globally and understand how to leverage those connections in a really positive business way. It’s also about career path in growth for the Shapers and how they can develop their career at Arcadis. It’s about leveraging our talents as Arcadis as a globalized company. We need to think globally and act locally. It also helps to create energy and foster talent for our young professionals.
What is your expectation for Global Shapers 2018 and what does the #FutureCities theme mean to Arcadis?
#FutureCities is the theme of Global Shapers 2018 – I am the business sponsor this year and the Global Cities Director for Arcadis. There are obviously a lot of similarities between my business title and the theme we developed. We developed four #FutureCities workflows: #SustainableCities #ResilientCities #RegenerativeCities and #SmartCities to focus on this year. My expectations, and Arcadis’ expectations, are to get some incredible content that we are going to bring forward into the Big Urban Client Program. This program consists of 22 global urban cities; I am excited to transfer what we developed here in Boston to Shanghai or New York City.
What is your favorite takeaway moment from the face-to-face program?
My most favorite takeaway moment in the last couple of days is the intensity you Shapers are using tackling the workflows. I went to the #RegenerativeCities workflow as their coach, Peter Glus, had to go back to New York. And I was amazed by how serious the quality is . I am really impressed at the quality of the focus to produce something at a high level.
The Interview Blogs were powered by the #ShareTheStory workflow and the blog interview team, including the Shapers that were virtually present at the f2f program. 
