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GORIZ Leadership Program Page Banner

Goriz Leadership Development

Activating global citizens of tomorrow

Goriz is a signature AGBU leadership development program based in Europe that identifies driven professionals of Armenian descent and helps them optimize their leadership and communications skills among their international peers.

Modeled after the best practices of world-class leadership training methods, Goriz offers each annual cohort masterclasses with world-renowned speakers, in addition to workshops, peer-to-peer exchanges, and networking opportunities. After these intensive trainings, alumni are encouraged to apply their learning to projects in the Republic of Armenia.

  • Develop leadership and  communication skills
  • Receive  training and  project support
  • Learn to lead yourself and others
  • Network  with industry  leaders

The GORIZ Network and Impact

As global Armenians, Goriz alumni have the opportunity to apply their real-world experience to initiatives designed to boost the socio-economic development of the Republic of Armenia. In other instances, they can serve as ambassadors to raise awareness in their own countries of urgent issues and causes taking place in the homeland.

One example is YERIA (Youth of Europe for the Recognition of Artsakh), a new initiative established during the 2020 Artsakh War. A delegation of Goriz alumni, along with journalists and public figures, traveled to Armenia and Artsakh to observe humanitarian and political realities on the ground and report their observations and findings to their local governments and media.

Join us:

Applications for the program are currently closed. The dates for the 2026 session will be announced soon.

What to Expect

Goriz

Each cohort meets for a mandatory 2-day gathering every year in a different location in Europe.

Sessions include an array of activities:

  • Keynote speech on Meaningful Leadership
  • Keynote speech on Leading with Virtues
  • Assessment of personalized strength finder
  • Group and individual exercises to help overcome fears and build confident mindsets, recognize inherent strengths and identify what triggers can undermine them; and learn how to pause in moments of conflict.

Through Goriz, participants gain meaning in their leadership style, uncover inherent strengths and develop strategies to actively using them toward a common cause.

Goriz : Extended

Goriz: Extended is a unique event designed to cultivate connections between program alumni and future participants and develop their personal and professional journeys. The program includes inspiring conferences exploring topics such as Armenian identity, management, and leadership, as well as networking events. Whether you want to deepen your knowledge, expand your network, or simply reconnect with a community that shares your ambitions, Goriz: Extended is the perfect opportunity to continue building the future together.

The GORIZ network of alumni hail from diverse professional backgrounds and to date, include people from Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, The Netherlands, Italy, Romania, Russia, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States. 

Past Lecturers and Advisors

Goriz participants gain insights from diverse thought leaders representing an array of professional backgrounds, but with one common goal: to drive the prosperity of the Armenian nation.

Armen Ovanessoff

Armen Ovanessoff

Principal Director, Accenture

Pierre Gurdjian

Pierre Gurdjian

Chairman of the Board of the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Former Director at McKinsey Belgium

Emma Arakelyan

Emma Arakelyan

CEO and Founder, Orion Worldwide Innovations

Martin Galstyan

Martin Galstyan

Adjunct Lecturer of Management and Governor of the Central Bank of Armenia

Samvel Gevorgyan

Samvel Gevorgyan

Managing Partner, BSC Business Support Center

Ari Libarikian

Ari Libarikian

Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company

Ani Kharajian

Ani Kharajian

Senior Director, Harvard Business School

Ruben Vardanyan

Ruben Vardanyan

Social Entrepreneur and Founder of the Aurora Prize

Lara Tcholakian

Lara Tcholakian

Head Human Resources at VivaCell-MTS, Former Adjunct Lecturer at the American University of Armenia

Tatevik Revazian

Tatevik Revazian

Director General, Civil Aviation Committee for the Republic of Armenia

Gohar Sargsyan

Gohar Sargsyan

Partner and Director, CGI Group Inc

Rafi Baghdjian

Rafi Baghdjian

Former Executive, Shell

  • Goriz was a wonderful way to learn about current leadership models and how to apply them concretely. It was also an opportunity to reflect in a collective manner on each of our professional goals and learn how to identify and leverage our personal strengths.
    Tatoul Ajamyan, Founder, Wakie
    Yerevan, Armenia
  • I've noticed that I incorporate some of the Goriz learnings naturally in my daily life - even outside the context of my career. In particular, I enjoyed the exercises during the program which gave us a unique time for self reflection.
    Mariam Hambarchyan, Behavioral Scientist
    California, USA
  • Thanks to Goriz I had exposure to people from various cultures and backgrounds. We learned that although we are coming from different places we face many common obstacles. The diversity pushed me to view my own approaches from a new perspective.
    Tatevik Revazian, Head of Civil Aviation Committee of Armenia
    Yerevan, Armenia

FAQs and Program Details


Eligibility

English-speaking adults of Armenian descent worldwide, ages 27 to 45 years old.

Eligible profiles :

  • Young professionals with at least an undergraduate degree (Bac +3) and at least three years' professional or associative experience (all sectors combined) including managerial functions.
  • Young professionals without a university degree with at least five years' professional or community experience (in all sectors), including managerial duties.
  • For the “Goriz: Extended” session, participants must be alumni of the program or have at least 5 years of experience in teamwork or management.
Application Process

AGBU Goriz applications are currently closed. The dates for the 2026 session will be announced soon.

Fees & Travel

Participants are responsible for covering the cost for accommodation and travel. AGBU provides lunch during the entire stay.

Participation fees will also be charged.

For more information on your eligibility, please contact administratif@agbu.org.

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