As global challenges become increasingly interconnected—from climate instability to technological transformation and declining institutional trust—the need for purpose-led leadership has never been greater. The World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders are gathering in Geneva for their 2025 Annual Summit, aiming to foster inclusive collaboration and innovative solutions to pressing worldwide issues.
A growing sense of uncertainty marks the current era. According to the Forum’s Global Risks Report 2025, 62% of over 900 global experts surveyed anticipate turbulent conditions in the coming years. Confidence in public institutions is waning, while environmental threats, particularly extreme weather and systemic ecological shifts, are seen as the most critical dangers over the next decade.
At the same time, rapid advancements in artificial intelligence and digital technologies present both opportunities and complex societal questions, demanding new forms of governance and leadership. To meet these challenges, a new generation of leaders is emerging—one defined not just by competence but by commitment to a shared mission.
The Young Global Leaders community, comprising more than 1,300 individuals from over 100 countries, includes policymakers, entrepreneurs, educators, and activists united by a vision of equitable progress. Their work emphasizes bridging divides, fostering innovation, and ensuring that no one is left behind in the transition to a more resilient future.
One such leader, Arvind Satyam, co-founded Pano AI after witnessing the devastation of Australia’s 2019 bushfires. The company uses AI-powered satellite and camera networks to detect wildfires early, enabling faster emergency responses. It collaborates with over 250 first-responder agencies and has secured more than $44 million in Series B funding to expand its capabilities.
Orondaam Otto, founder of Slum2School Africa, is working to provide education, entrepreneurial training, and mental health support to children in underserved Nigerian communities. His initiative aims to cultivate future African innovators equipped to tackle regional and global challenges.
Samar Ali, a Young Global Leaders alumnus, leads Millions of Conversations, an initiative promoting empathy and inclusion across the United States by encouraging active listening and mutual respect in divided communities.
Mark Dalio, another member, established OceanX to shift humanity’s relationship with the oceans from exploitation to stewardship. By gathering scientific data and translating it into actionable insights, the organization supports policies that restore marine ecosystems and benefit human well-being.
These efforts reflect a broader movement toward leadership that values collaboration, inclusivity, and long-term impact. As the summit unfolds, sessions will explore how leaders can prepare for an era defined by volatility, connectivity, and the urgent need for collective action.
— news from The World Economic Forum
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Why mission-driven leadership matters in the new era
Just as the world is interconnected, so are the challenges it faces – be it the climate crisis, technological disruption or eroded public trust. n nThe task for leaders of our times is to inspire people with a vision of a future that they can believe in and work towards realizing. n nAs Young Global Leaders meet in Geneva for their 2025 Annual Summit, here’s how they are building bridges to address future challenges through inclusive collaboration, innovation, and mission-driven leadership. n nJust as our world is interconnected, so are our challenges and opportunities. By deepening collaboration and nurturing mission-driven leaders, we can achieve more than we have over the past 21 centuries. However, it will require everyone to embrace the vision of a better future that leaves no one behind. n nSo the task for the leaders of our time, as we prepare for what lies ahead, is to inspire people with a vision of a future they can believe in and work towards realizing. The key is in deepening collaboration, not further isolation. n nTurbulent times ahead as trust declines and climate risks rise n nThe World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2025 reveals declining optimism with 62% of its survey respondents, comprising more than 900 experts from around the world, anticipating turbulent times ahead. Trust in governing institutions is declining, with an increasing number of people becoming sceptical of their governments’ ability to navigate the challenging times ahead. n nMeanwhile, the urgency of environmental risks continues to rise, with extreme weather events ranked as the top major risk over the next 10 years, with critical changes to Earth systems also ranked among the most severe risks over the next decade – indicating that we will likely experience more natural disasters and unprecedented events. n nIn parallel, rapid technological shifts pose opportunities and challenges for societies, fuelled by artificial intelligence (AI) and other technologies that pose new types of questions and require new leadership skills. n nThe obstacles ahead are significant, but so is our potential to unite and tackle them through collective action. Overcoming what lies ahead will require dedicated, adaptable and mission-driven leaders who will bridge the gaps between us, helping drive innovation through deep collaboration to create a stable and prosperous future in which everyone not only has a stake or a say, but also can realize their fullest potential. n nA Young Global Leaders-led Global Future Council on Leadership is confronting this by exploring how future-ready leadership can rebuild confidence in institutions, reduce polarization and equip leaders to navigate today’s interconnected global challenges. n nIn these volatile times, we need leaders who are ready to heed the call to bring people together in pursuit of a shared vision. We need mission-driven leaders who understand the value of inspiring others to act and consider diverse, often-overlooked perspectives in finding solutions to shared problems. n nAs the Young Global Leaders Annual Summit 2025 meets in Geneva from 2-4 September, here’s how some of these inspiring leaders are working to tackle some of the world’s greatest challenges. n nYoung Global Leaders working to find solutions to shared problems n nThe collaborative spirit that drives our work through the Forum of Young Global Leaders is rooted in collectively achieving such a mission by working with leaders who challenge the status quo and are excited to pursue innovative methods. These community members exemplify how to bridge perspectives in diverse fields to solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges. n nOne such Young Global Leader, Arvind Satyam, co-founded Pano AI in 2020 after witnessing the devastation caused by the Australian bushfires in 2019. Satyam is mobilizing various stakeholders around the goal of using technology to help solve the climate crisis. Pano AI analyses footage from strategically placed cameras and satellites using AI to detect wildfires before they escalate into large-scale conflagrations. n nTo ensure effective mitigation against the growing threat of wildfires, the company collaborates with local emergency responders, private-sector companies and over 250 first-responder agencies that automatically receive potential fire alerts. Pano AI has recently raised over $44 million in Series B funding, which will enable the company to enhance its technology and accelerate response efforts to protect communities and ecosystems. n nOne of our most recent Young Global Leaders is Orondaam Otto, founder and head of Slum2School Africa, a volunteer-driven development organization based in Nigeria. This organization offers education, entrepreneurial skills and psychosocial support to children living in slums and remote communities. Otto is empowering the next generation of African leaders to realize their full potential as contributors and innovators who will help solve the shared challenges of the future. n nThrough Millions of Conversations, Young Global Leader alumnus Samar Ali is working to bridge divides and nurture a sense of belonging, helping communities across the United States heal through listening and respect so that every person feels seen, heard, and included. This empathetic leadership will be crucial in helping navigate global changes as the world grows increasingly polarized. n nDiscover n nWhat is a YGL? n nThe YGL community is made up of more than 1,300 members and alumni, including public officials, business innovators, artists, educators, technology developers, journalists and activists. n nThe mission of the Forum of Young Global Leaders is to create a dynamic global community of exceptional people with the vision, courage and influence to drive positive change in the world. n nAligned with the World Economic Forum’s mission, they seek to spur public-private cooperation amongst these unique actors to demonstrate entrepreneurship in the global public interest. n nRepresenting more than 100 nationalities, Young Global Leaders are united by the belief that the urgent problems of today present an opportunity to forge a better future across sectors, generations and borders. n nVisit the YGL website at: https://www.younggloballeaders.org/ n nOceanX, established Young Global Leader Mark Dalio, is transforming humanity’s relationship with the ocean from one of exploitation to one of mutual benefit. OceanX collects critical data and translates knowledge into action by informing the decision-making processes that help restore ocean health, thereby improving human lives and safeguarding our collective ecosystem. n nThese Young Global Leaders are building bridges to address future challenges through inclusive collaboration, innovation and mission-driven leadership that benefits the global community. To navigate what lies ahead, we must foster a society where leaders are inspired to bridge divides and collaborate deeply- unlocking humanity’s full potential. n nTo follow this dialogue, stay tuned for these live sessions from the Young Global Leaders Annual Summit 2025, themed ‘Leadership Preparedness for a New Era’: n nTuesday, 2 September, 17.00 CET: Leadership in a Connected World n nWednesday, 3 September, 14.00 CET:Young Global Leader Annual Summit Opening Plenary