The catalysing collective: Announcing the Class of 2024

The world is at a pivotal moment. From the ever-escalating climate crisis to the widening inequality exacerbated by the rapid rise of Artificial Intelligence and a weakening global order, the challenges we confront are growing more intricate and more intertwined.

Against this backdrop, the Forum of Young Global Leaders welcomes the Class of 2024. For over two decades, the Forum for Young Global Leaders has been at the forefront of identifying and uniting the world's most promising leaders under 40, fostering a community of exceptional individuals committed to driving positive change and supporting them in tackling the world's most pressing problems.

The World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders Class of 2024 is a diverse group of leaders hailing from backgrounds ranging from Bollywood to the Paralympics. Each brings a wealth of unique perspectives and skills — while all sharing a common aspiration to make a difference in their respective domains.

The Forum of Young Global Leaders' is a global, multi-stakeholder network and its access to the World Economic Forum's extensive resources and expertise positions it to cultivate the collaborative leadership needed to address these challenges.

Despite our world's challenges, the Young Global Leaders are not just individually brilliant but collectively possess the potential to catalyze change. Nurtured in an era of unparalleled uncertainty, these young leaders embody the adaptability, resilience, and innovative thinking necessary to navigate the complexities of our rapidly evolving world.

Here are just a few of this year’s cohort, reflecting on the leadership strategies they have adopted to address the challenges our world faces:

Temi Marcella, Founding Partner, Alcent Capital

Temi Marcella is the Founding Partner of Alcent Capital. This Venture Capital firm invests catalytic growth capital into the next generation of leading technology companies with global ambitions, unlocking the vast potential of Africa's entrepreneurial talent. As a distinguished investment professional, Marcella highlights that "the dynamic landscape of 2024 demands responsible and adaptive leadership." In her view, "innovation is paramount to unleashing new waves of economic growth." She is "focused on scaling platforms that unlock the powers of entrepreneurship across global innovation ecosystems while building bridges to foster investment, trade, and collaboration on global issues." Additionally, she is "focused on creating inclusive environments that champion sustainability through equity and inclusion. This is critical in encouraging diverse perspectives, fostering stronger solutions, and driving towards equitable growth."

Thomas Roulet, Professor of Leadership, University of Cambridge's Judge Business School

Thomas Roulet is a Professor of Leadership at the University of Cambridge's Judge Business School, and his work revolves around stigma and contestation, mental health and the future of work. According to Roulet, leadership in 2024 will "need to be based on individualized consideration and adapted to the needs of their followers. For example, research shows that hybrid work policies must be adapted to individual requirements to maximize well-being and productivity instead of being applied rigidly. One related focus for leaders is mental health: we are going through geopolitical and technological turbulence. Individuals in organizations are asked to adapt permanently, giving them a sense of insecurity and pressure. Leaders who show compassion and understanding will help their organizations fare much better in this context."

Néné Maïga, CEO, Orange Botswana

Néné Maïga is the Chief Executive Officer of Orange Botswana and an expert on African telecom and payments and is passionate about technology in Africa. She highlights that "one of the greatest transformations we are witnessing is the mass adoption of generative AI. This technology is becoming widespread faster than any other and transforming businesses on the globe. Most of the use cases are yet to be invented, and…though AI and other cutting-edge technologies will help bring fresh solutions to many African challenges, there are a few prerequisites for that to happen: universal availability and training, and above all a constant care for ethics and humanity."

Ian Glasner, Group Head of Venture Investment, Innovation and Digital Partnerships, HSBC

Ian Glasner is HSBC's Group Head of Venture Investment, Innovation and Digital Partnerships. He indicates that "leaders should prioritize three things: encouraging new thinking and innovation, using informed decision-making to find the right balance between smart risk-taking and returns, and building talented teams who are empowered to deliver." His team at HSBC "explores disruptive, emerging technologies, and we are doing pioneering work in areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and digital assets." He recognizes that while this his area of work is both exciting and constantly evolving, it pushes him to "drive bold, innovative thinking that could bring huge opportunities for our customers and the bank while maintaining strong governance and mitigating potential risks."

Christian Jolck, Co-Founder and Partner, 2150

Christian Jolck, Co-Founder and Partner at 2150, a fund that backs tech entrepreneurs to enable them to reimagine the Urban Stack, highlights that in 2024, his leadership priorities "revolve around mobilizing people for 22nd-century change and embodying servant-principled leadership." While this is a heavy feat, he acknowledges that "this entails instilling trust, authenticity, and stewardship amid global disintegration, the influx of Gen Z into the workforce, and the transformative impact of AI on leadership paradigms. Building organizational resilience and mental fitness is paramount in the poly-crisis era marked by more than 50 elections, a growing climate crisis, geopolitical uncertainties, and the race for dominance in low-earth orbit. These priorities aim to create prosperity for future generations when change is not only constantly happening."

Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Non-Executive Director, Vedanta Ltd

Priya Agarwal Hebbar is the Non-Executive Director at Vedanta Ltd, the world's leading natural resources conglomerate. In 2024, she plans to prioritize respect for employees. She argues that "leaders must create a workplace environment that empowers and motivates employees, fosters a culture of innovation and adaptability, and ensures unwavering commitment to quality and safety. By embracing these key principles and leading by example, organizations can cultivate a winning strategy that sets them apart from competitors and positions them for success in an ever-changing landscape."

Nathan Shabot, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, LIP Ventures

Nathan Shabot is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of LIP Ventures, where he provides specialized venture capital and business development services to multi-regional technology startups. Shabot states that leaders must possess a diverse skill set encompassing a deep understanding of science and technology, well-developed soft skills, an appreciation for arts and culture, emotional intelligence, and a solid moral compass. These skills and this understanding are necessary because "we have gone from the hardware era to the software era, and now we are in the "humanware" era. We need to be human-centered and promote collaboration. The challenges are bigger, so we need leaders who can dream bigger", balancing optimism and realism.

Nadia Ahmad Samdin, Member of Parliament, Singapore

Nadia Ahmad Samdin is the youngest member of Singapore's 14th Parliament. She underscores that "times may be different, but the priorities for a leader will always be about the people we serve." Beyond this, she also plans to prioritize equity, environmental stewardship, peace, and partnerships in the year ahead. She plans to focus on these issues because she believes that "we must build trust and work with each other to succeed together."

Wemimo Abbey, Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Esusu

Wemimo Abbey is the Co-Founder and co-CEO of Esusu, a financial technology company advancing rent reporting and data solutions for credit building and one the first Black-owned unicorn fintechs. Abbey says, "My leadership priorities at Esusu center on our ethos of Forward Together. This means investing in our relationships with clients, industry leaders, and renters. Together, we are helping everyday people unlock barriers to financial stability and freedom. Particularly in the current socio-economic climate, there has never been a more urgent time to embrace and leverage the strength of collaboration for the greater good. By staying true to our mission and ethos, we're well-positioned to navigate the dynamic landscape of the year ahead with resilience and purpose."

Bhumi Pednekar, Entrepreneur, Actor and Climate Advocate

Bhumi Pednekar is an award-winning Indian actress who works in Hindi films. True leadership is purpose-driven impact, she says. "In the polarised times that we live in today, impactful purpose defines who you are, and it is what makes you distinctive. We have access to a gift called technology which means we are all thought leaders for our nation, for our communities, for our friends and families. So, it is important for us to recognise the power that we wield today and the impact that it can have on others. As a woman entrepreneur, actor and climate advocate, I have tried to keep this in mind. Through my films, I have tried to champion the rights of women in my country; as an entrepreneur, I want to work towards sustainability; as a climate advocate, I want to mobilise people and leave behind a better world for the next generations. True leadership would mean a long-term commitment, and I’m committed to living a life of purposeful impact across everything that I do."