AGBU Goriz Extended Program Holds Leadership Conference in Paris

The Goriz Extended program, organized by AGBU Europe, took place on April 5–6, 2025, in Paris. As many as thirty young Armenian professionals from ten different countries convened in the salons of the 16th arrondissement Town Hall to participate in discussions and workshops focused on leadership and the role of the Diaspora in strengthening and developing Armenia.

A decade of leadership development in Europe

AGBU Goriz Extended marks a new milestone since the original Goriz Leadership Program was launched in 2006. To date, it has more than 150 members and has held ten sessions across the continent. This Paris session brought together both Goriz alumni and new participants to serve a dual purpose: reflect on the professional challenges faced by young Diaspora leaders while strengthening their bond with Armenia.

“Friendship, personal development, and patriotism are the values of Goriz Extended,” said Nadia Gortzounian, Co-President of UGAB France. "I’m very proud that AGBU initiated this program, which allows Europe’s young professionals to meet, get to know one another, and share their commitment to Armenia. Goriz is one of AGBU’s true success stories. I’m deeply encouraged by its remarkable growth and strong potential for scalability.”

In turn, Camili Azzouz, the president of AGBU Europe, added, "I am profoundly grateful to the visionary founders who laid the groundwork for Goriz to become a powerful platform for shaping Armenian leaders of tomorrow.”

Dialogue, debate, and expert insights
Taking a complementary approach, the topics addressed the evolving needs of leaders in the corporate and entrepreneurial worlds, while also providing space for reflections on Armenia’s geopolitical situation. The first roundtable on this topic included Olivier Decottignies, French Ambassador to Armenia; Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, former Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs; and Christian Makarian, political editorialist and former director of L’Express, who stated, “We must rethink our security strategy. We should draw inspiration from the Swiss model rather than the Israeli one. We are better at diplomatic relations,” argued Makarian, advocating for strategic alliances and ongoing dialogue with neighboring countries, all based on a principle of “strategic equidistance.”

The morning continued with themes connecting cultural identity and leadership, entrepreneurship, and societal impact. Through their inspiring journeys, speakers such as Aurélie Deyirmendjian, CSR Director at Société Générale; Gohar Sargsyan, European Sustainability Lead at Tata Consultancy Services; Tatul Ajamyan, Founder of Wakie and Co-founder of Sleepdoctor; and David Sinapian, President of Groupe Pic and of Les Grandes Tables du Monde, offered multifaceted insights.

The afternoon session highlighted the crucial topic of cultural diversity in the workplace, with personal testimonies from Taline Mouradian, Brand Strategy & Content Director at Google; Azad Kibarian, CEO of the Valgo Group; and Lusine Torosyan, Director of the Hovhannes Sharambeyan Folk Arts Museum in Yerevan. Whether uplifting or more nuanced, each story revealed authentic experiences and valuable strategies for success.

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From left to right: Mihran Papazian (Co-founder of ChinAR-Tech), Zohrab Mnatsakanyan (Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia), Mkhitar Hayrapetyan (Minister of High-Tech Industry of Armenia), and Haik Khanamiryan (Discussion Coordinator)

“Silicon Mountain”: Focus on Armenia’s tech future

Day two featured a roundtable discussion on Armenia’s specific needs for qualified talent—particularly in the innovation sector—and how the Diaspora can respond through impactful entrepreneurship. Having arrived the previous day from Yerevan especially for the event, Armenian Minister of High-Tech Industry Mkhitar Hayrapetyan reaffirmed Armenia's ambitions to strengthen its growing reputation as a “Silicon Mountain,” echoing Silicon Valley.

Alongside Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Mihran Papazian, Co-founder of ChinAR Tech, Hayrapetyan concluded:
"Our dream is to become one of the world’s most technologically advanced nations. The Armenian government has just announced a seven-year program to boost investment in this sector, aiming to attract multinational companies and support Armenian tech companies. We want to attract new talent, and we are doing our best to engage skilled Diasporan professionals in tech innovation. Currently, there are around 55,000 engineers in Armenia. Our goal is to surpass 100,000 within seven years—across AI, robotics, cybersecurity, and other tech fields. We believe in the future.”

A space to connect and grow

Throughout the weekend, participants were given opportunities to connect with one another—and with themselves. A personal development workshop led by coach Stéphanie Samuelian offered simple exercises and a collective relaxation session, emphasizing a more introspective and emotionally balanced form of leadership. These tools are designed to foster sustainable success.

Other informal moments, such as dinner at Le Procope—the oldest café in Paris, founded by an Armenian in the 17th century—helped participants build deeper personal and professional connections. This relational dimension is truly part of the program’s DNA, aiming to strengthen ties between young Armenians in Europe and their homeland.

Representing diverse fields—from tech and finance to media and law—and coming from ten countries (Germany, Spain, Ukraine, France, England, Russia, etc.), the participants are united by a common vision: contributing together to a powerful network for Armenia’s benefit.

What’s next.

Goriz Extended is a gateway to structured, collective action, resolutely focused on Armenia’s future. This momentum will continue with future sessions in other European capitals.  

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Participants engaged in the conference at the Town Hall in Paris

The Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) is the world’s largest non-profit organization devoted to upholding the Armenian heritage through educational, cultural and humanitarian programs. Each year, AGBU is committed to making a difference in the lives of 500,000 people across Armenia, Artsakh and the Armenian diaspora. Since 1906, AGBU has remained true to one overarching goal: to create a foundation for the prosperity of all Armenians. To learn more visit www.agbu.org.

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