India-based mystery novelist and festival organizer Manjiri Prabhu instantly knew she would visit Schloss Leopoldskron when traveling in Austria on a hiking trip nearly 20 years ago. She first glanced at the home of the Salzburg Global Seminar across from the lake, deciding that one day, she would make its acquaintance. Sure enough, Manjiri was encouraged by her brother, a Salzburg Global Fellow himself, to attend a Seminar in 2001, where she not only met the Schloss, but fellow authors who greatly contributed to her growth as a writer.

“I owe a lot to the Seminar as an author… I think that's really where my first big break did happen,” Prabhu said. “I think it's absolutely an immense possibility of collaboration and networking to literally take the world along with them for their cause…and I think when peace, power and possibility come together, there is no stopping SGS.”

The empowerment Manjiri felt while at her Seminar traveled with her from Salzburg back to Pune, her hometown, where she later organized the International Pune Literary Festival, now in its 10th year. She deliberately modeled the festival after Salzburg Global, bringing in authors from far and wide to exchange ideas, best practices, or showcase their latest work, much of which wouldn’t be the same without the collaboration of Salzburg Global in support of the festival.

“One of the things that I always focus on is treating my authors literally like stars,” Prabhu said. “And although I don't put them up in the Schloss, I do make sure that we look after them for the same kind of hospitality and one that I got at the Schloss way back in 2001.”

After her intial visit to the Schloss, Manjiri authored six books, ultimately deciding that the setting of her Seminar deserved its own novel. The Trail of Four, written by Manjiri on the Schloss grounds, details a bit of history, mystery, and beauty, all tied to Max Reinhardt and Leopoldskron. She believes the compelling nature of both Salzburg Global Seminar and the Schloss should be memorialized for future Fellows to benefit from the same transformative experience she had.

“I think it's amazing, and I really wish and hope that they continue good work, that the work is recognized and applauded because it's not just doing, it's also the recognition,” Prabhu said, looking towards the next 75 years of Seminars and global conversations. “I would say go ahead and invest in this organization. They know what they're doing and they're working for the for the good of all human beings.”