On 7 May, YMCA Europe had the opportunity to attend “Two Truths and a Take”, hosted at Microsoft’s headquarters in Brussels and organised in collaboration with LinkedIn.
The event created a valuable space for young people to connect, collaborate, and explore career pathways in an evolving professional landscape.
The evening featured a panel discussion with professionals from EU policymaking, media, communications, and public affairs, who shared practical insights on navigating professional opportunities, particularly when career paths are still being shaped.
Discussions focused on the importance of building authentic relationships, going beyond minimum expectations, developing professional visibility, and strengthening critical thinking and sound judgement in an era increasingly shaped by AI and rapid information flows.
A key takeaway from the discussion was the importance of combining technical skills with human-centred qualities such as resilience, adaptability, emotional intelligence, and the ability to build meaningful connections beyond formal professional spaces.
The second part of the event included a LinkedIn masterclass, offering participants useful guidance on optimising their digital professional presence and making strategic use of online networking tools.
The event concluded with a networking session, providing an opportunity to exchange with young professionals working across communications, project management, and EU policy. These conversations reinforced both the challenges and opportunities young people face when entering today’s competitive labour market.
YMCA Europe is grateful to Microsoft and LinkedIn for creating this dynamic and forward-looking space for reflection and exchange. Opportunities like this help strengthen understanding of the skills young people need today — including digital literacy, resilience, and strong interpersonal competences — and further inform our work to support youth empowerment and employability across Europe.
