Priya Talreja, the 2025 Fulbright – National Geographic grantee and Fulbright / Azores Regional Government grantee, conducting research in Transportation in the Azores, Portugal, participated in the 2026 EU-US Young Leaders Seminar, where she represented the Fulbright Commission Portugal.
Priya shares some insights about her participation:
«It was an incredible honor to represent the Fulbright Portugal Commission at the 2026 EU-US Young Leaders Seminar in Brussels. The seminar brought together 50 delegates, including 25 U.S. Fulbright grantees based in EU countries and 25 European students in Erasmus programs, creating a space for dialogue on transatlantic relations.
This year’s theme, Future of Skills & Leadership, felt especially timely. Through panel discussions, workshops, and lightning style talks, we explored how digital transformation and artificial intelligence are changing the workforce and the skills needed for the next generation of leaders. An important takeaway was the growing importance of shifting to a lifelong learning model, as technology continues to redefine traditional career pathways and require continuous reskilling.
One of the most impactful sessions for me was the panel on the State of Play of the Transatlantic Partnership. Our speakers, representatives from the European Commission and the U.S. Mission to the European Union, offered a candid discussion on the current relationship between Europe and the United States, touching on global challenges such as energy security and democratic stability, and provided insight into how both partners plan to cooperate and adapt to these changes. The seminar’s workshops were a great opportunity to develop practical skills and gain exposure to new topics. I especially enjoyed the session on Negotiation and Conflict Transformation, led by Michael Koplovsky, former senior U.S. diplomat and trade negotiator.
Equally meaningful were the connections we formed throughout the week. The conversations I had with fellow delegates from both the EU and the U.S., over meals, coffee breaks, and informal gatherings, were really important for me to understand the different lens through which my peers across the Atlantic understand the world’s current challenges. I left Brussels feeling inspired by this cohort of future leaders and our shared commitment to addressing global challenges through our different fields of expertise.
I am grateful to the Fulbright Portugal Commission for the opportunity to represent Portugal at this seminar, and to the many organizations who came together to make this experience possible, including the European Commission, the Delegation of the European Union to the United States, the U.S. Department of State, the German Marshall Fund of the United States, and Fulbright Belgium and Luxembourg.»
– Thank you, Priya, for being such an excellent ambassador!