About the author:
Amber Farram, an MSc student in Global Sustainable Development at the University of St Andrews, travelled to the Europaeum Leadership Challenge at the Freie Universität Berlin from 17-19 May 2026. She joined a group of students from Europaeum member universities across Europe and the UK who gathered to take part in an intensive programme on leadership psychology, team dynamics and the practical challenges of leading in interdisciplinary environments.
Amber kindly wrote a travel diary summarising her time travelling and taking part in the event. She and a fellow participant decided to take part in a quick colour hunting challenge and as Amber said, “Berlin had no shortage of yellow”.
Travelling to Berlin for the first time to take part in the Europaeum Leadership Challenge was both an excellent academic opportunity and a small personal adventure. Over the two days at the Freie Universität in Berlin, my cohort – from across Europe – explored leadership psychology, identity and influence, team roles, power dynamics and the realities of leading in the modern world. Following the event, exploring Berlin became part of the experience: navigating the U-Bahn, discovering the city and seeing some of Berlin’s most recognisable landmarks for the first time.
The Europaeum Leadership Challenge was academically and personally enjoyable. It was a rare opportunity to learn from experts, meet students from across Europe and spend time in a city that I had never visited before. I left Berlin with a clearer sense of how leadership works and my own style of leadership, as well as friendships with people I would never normally cross paths with. It was a brief trip but very memorable.
