Shows
Inside EU CareersEU Career Insights with Director of EPSO Minna VuorioWith nearly 30 years of EU experience, Mina shares her journey from translator to Director of the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO). As she nears the end of her five-year mandate, she has valuable insights into the EU selection process, EPSO’s role and the essential skills for today’s civil servants — along with plenty of practical tips.
Key takeaways:
👉🏽 Navigating EU Recruitment – Minna shares insights on EPSO’s evolving selection process, including the shift to remote testing and reduced processing times.
👉🏽 Essential Skills for Success – Adaptability, resilience and critical thinking are crucial for aspiring...2025-02-0533 min
Inside EU CareersMastering EPSO Exams: Expert Tips with András BanethIn this episode, Sevim Aktas chats with András Baneth, founder of EUTraining. 🌍✨
András shares his top strategies for passing the EU selection process, known as the EPSO exams and covers everything you need to know to start your EU career. If you're looking for insider advice, this is a must-listen for you.
Key takeaways:
👉🏽 Mastering EPSO Exams – Practical advice on time management, understanding test formats and avoiding common mistakes during EPSO preparation.
👉🏽 From Official to Entrepreneur – Insights into transitioning from EU institutions to entrepreneurship and fo...2025-01-2937 min
Inside EU CareersFrom Facebook Ad to Parliament: Hanah Lahe’s (25 y/o) Journey into PoliticsIn this episode, host Sevim Aktas chats with Hanah Lahe, the youngest Hanah shares how she balanced politics and a master’s degree, ran creative campaigns, and overcame stereotypes as a young female politician.
Whether you’re a student, activist, or aspiring policymaker, this episode offers practical tips on networking, authenticity, and making an impact.
Key Takeaways:
👉🏽 Entering Politics as a Young Voice – Hanah’s unconventional entry via social media highlights the importance of seizing opportunities.
👉🏽 Innovative Campaigning – Learn how Hanah used humor and creativity to stand out and tackle stereotypes.
👉🏽 Stayi...2024-12-1833 min
Inside EU CareersMastering EU Communications: Tim McPhie on Careers, Elections, and DisinformationIn this episode, Sevim Aktas chats with Tim McPhie, spokesperson for energy and climate at the European Commission. 🌍✨
Tim shares his career journey—from law school to EU communications—and reflects on how Brussels’ messaging strategies have evolved over the years. He offers insights into disinformation challenges, lessons from EU election campaigns, and practical tips for young professionals pursuing communications roles in the EU bubble.
Key Takeaways:
👉🏽 From law to communications – Tim’s career highlights the importance of adaptability and exploring unexpected paths.👉🏽 Improving EU messaging – How Brussels shifted to clearer, more accessible communication strateg...2024-12-1132 min
INTERWEAVINGEpisode 4 - Raising awarenessEpisode 4 - Raising awareness featuring Sevim Aktas, Public officer at DG CLIMA and Content creator (European Commission) & Nika Vrbica (alias Salicula), Interdisciplinary artist, fashion designer and workshop facilitator (Croatia)// CREDITS: Host: Margot Aleix Mata / Production: Faire Salon / Music: Cover Girl by Beat Mekanik, Free Music Archive, CC BY2024-12-041h 08
Inside EU CareersWhat It’s Really Like to Work in the EU Parliament: Jean Marcel Akono Explains APA RolesIn this episode, Sevim Aktas chats with Jean Marcel Akono, an APA for a Green MEP, about breaking into EU politics. 🌍✨Jean shares his career journey—from internships to policy work—and offers practical tips on applications, networking, and thriving in Brussels.Main Takeaways:👉🏽 What Does an APA Do? – Jean unpacks the diverse tasks APAs handle, from policy briefs to office management and communication strategy.👉🏽 Application Secrets – Learn how to tailor your application to MEPs’ values and do the right research before applying.👉🏽 Work-Life Balance in Politics – Insights into long hours, election...2024-12-0439 min
Inside EU CareersBehind the Scenes with President von der Leyen’s Speechwriter – Crafting Impactful Political SpeechesIn this episode, Sevim Aktas chats with Elias Kuehn von Burgsdorff, speechwriter for European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. 🌍✨
Elias shares his journey from history and economics to crafting speeches for Europe’s top leader—plus tips on storytelling, clarity, and impact.
Key Takeaways:
👉🏽 Mastering Speechwriting Skills – Elias highlights storytelling, logical argument structure, and simplifying complex topics for diverse audiences.
👉🏽 Daily Workflow & Processes – Insights into managing deadlines, research strategies, and collaborating with stakeholders for high-impact speeches.
👉🏽 AI in Speechwriting – Practical uses of AI for efficiency while preserving human creativity and oversigh...2024-11-2733 min
Inside EU CareersYour EU Career Questions Answered: Jobs, Tips, and Social Media InsightsIn this episode, Sevim Aktas answers your top questions about the EU—from jobs and career advice to time management and building a social media platform on climate and energy. 🌍✨
Perfect for Brussels newbies, EU job seekers, and anyone curious about how EU institutions work.
Key Takeaways:
👉🏽 Jobs in EU Institutions – Application tips for EU and non-EU citizens, including Blue Book traineeships and NGO roles.👉🏽 Education and Skills for Policymaking – Top fields like AI and sustainability and top universities for relevant studies.👉🏽 Building a Digital Platform – How Sevim grew her Instagram into a go-to source for EU climate...2024-10-3038 min
Inside EU CareersInsights on Leadership & EU Careers with my boss Christian HolzleitnerIn this episode, Sevim Aktas chats with Christian Holzleitner, head of the Land Economy and Carbon Removals Unit at the European Commission. 🌍✨
Christian shares his career journey—from a working-class background to EU climate leadership—and offers practical tips on leadership, embracing uncertainty, and building a career in sustainability. Whether you’re an aspiring policymaker, climate advocate, or EU job seeker, this episode delivers insights and inspiration to help you grow and lead.
Key Takeaways:
👉🏽 Leadership Beyond Hierarchy – Leadership is about caring for others and making decisive decisions, not titles.👉🏽 Managing Uncertainty – Learn how to a...2024-10-2334 min
Inside EU CareersLeading EU Climate Action: Insights from Kurt Vandenberghe, DG CLIMA ChiefIn this episode, Sevim Aktas talks with Kurt Vandenberghe, Director General of DG CLIMA and former EU Green Deal advisor to President von der Leyen. 🌍✨
Kurt shares a behind-the-scenes look at EU climate policy, its challenges, and what’s next for the Green Deal. He also reflects on his unconventional career path—from philology to climate leadership—and offers practical tips for young professionals pursuing sustainability and policymaking.
Key Highlights:
👉🏽 From Philology to Climate Leadership – Kurt’s career path and what it takes to make an impact in EU policy.
👉🏽 Behind the Green Deal – Insights...2024-10-0831 min
Science Communication Accelerator - scicomX (scicomm, social media, and digital science marketing)#60 After Hours Insta – Balancing a 9-5 Job while Crushing it on Social Media (with Sevim Aktas, EU Policy Influencer)For many of us researchers, communicating science is something that we do in addition to writing papers, teaching, supervising, and acquiring research grants. Sometimes, it can be overwhelming because it comes on top of all the other responsibilities. However, today's guest demonstrates that one doesn't need to be overwhelmed to be successful on social media while maintaining a regular job.
Find Sevim on Instagram and on LinkedIN.
---
The Science Communication Accelerator Podcast is brought to you by Julius Wesche (PhD). With it Julius aims to empower scientists, universities, and researchorganizations t...2023-11-0727 min
Christina Wonders - by Christina Wunder#09 Bubbles, words, and surviving dinner with finance bros - with Sevim AktasTo understand the carbon economy, we have to first… well, understand the economy. We must acknowledge that it’s run by human beings, who operate based on incentive structures and belief systems.
Sevim Aktas, founder of the EU Green Deal Brief on Instagram, explains how she had to venture out of her bubble to learn to be less judgemental and gain new perspectives. She recounts an anecdote of how she not only survived, but ended up enjoying a dinner with non-climate-conscious “finance bros”. And she explains why, sometimes, you should not call a spade a spade, if you want...2023-07-2711 min
WIIS Brussels Voices#E5 - The role of new technology in addressing climate security challengesIn this miniseries, WIIS Brussels invites women to share their experiences and expertise on the many dimensions of climate security. For the last episode of the miniseries, Sabrine Dao and Sofiia Shevchuk invite Sevim Aktas, Policy Officer at the European Commission, and Elisa Seith, former Situational Awareness Officer at NATO, currently a Client Solution Architect with Jupiter Intelligence. These two young professionals with a rich professional and technical background share their insight on the topic of technology and its role in addressing the climate crisis and climate security. The topics discussed include boosting "cl...2022-08-1436 min