A career in international relations can take many different directions. For Martin Vokálek, it led from studying International Relations and Diplomacy and getting involved in student initiatives to becoming Executive Director of EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy.

In this episode, Martin reflects on the experiences and decisions that shaped his career before sharing his perspective on the role of think tanks in connecting research, policymakers and the wider public. We discuss how they measure their impact, influence public debate and maintain motivation when meaningful change takes time.

From there, we turn to the broader European landscape, exploring the future of European integration and cooperation, as well as the challenges of disinformation. A conversation about career paths, leadership and the realities of working to shape European affairs.