Our Name |
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Why Seagull Institute?
Jonathan Broutin, Founder and President of Seagull, owes his first name to Jonathan Livingston Seagull, a fable by Richard Bach which explores the importance of a life lived to the fullest through the eyes of a seagull. While all of the other gulls spend their time fighting over food, Jonathan Livingston Seagull spends each day learning how to fly and striving to better himself. At the end of the book, when he’s reached the peak of his existence, he decides to exercise his passions by returning home to teach others the joy of flight. |
Jonathan Broutin,
Founder and President of Seagull Institute |
The Dream |
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“When we have a strong enough ‘why’ to support us, we can justify almost any ‘how.’”
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Originally from a small Picardy town with just 236 inhabitants, I dreamed of traveling the world, a dream that was fueled by my father’s career as a steward for Air France. By the time I was 10 years old I had visited several countries in Asia, Africa, and cities in North America, including Chicago. Later in life, when presented with a decision about whether to stay in France and live out a linear career path or chase my dream of living in America, I took a leap of faith and moved to Chicago to earn the job of my dreams of working at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon.
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Giving Back |
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Immersed in the unfamiliar and far from my home, I had to draw from my own resources, develop a greater open-mindedness, and break down my steepest barriers. After working tirelessly in internship and volunteer work and navigating a new culture, I finally realized my dream of working for the marathon as head of international relations.
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“My experiences and struggles allowed me to become who I am today.”
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In 2011, I had the opportunity through my position at the Chicago Marathon to support an educational program that included students from France studying “Sports Business.” This experience helped me to understand a deep call within myself to give back everything that had been given to me and to help make the world a better place student by student. Thus, Seagull Institute was born. Its mission?
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To bring together, through business-oriented, educational programs, the European and North American cultures and celebrate what each does best, both in terms of know-how and interpersonal skills.
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Seagull Through the Years |
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Since 2011, Seagull Institute has been developing tailor-made programs aimed at students, professionals, and educational establishments in the fields of commerce, English, and sports business. While Chicago is where our story began, Canada and major European capitals are now among the possible locations to host programs as well.
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We are proud to have developed 70 programs in 4 different countries providing a global learning experience to over 2,500 students.
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The Seagull Approach
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