Who we are

The Young Global Leaders ® Community is an accelerator for a dynamic community of exceptional people with the vision, courage, and influence to drive positive change in the world.

Our growing membership of more than 1,400 members and alumni of 120 nationalities includes civic and business innovators, entrepreneurs, technology pioneers, educators, activists, artists, journalists, and more.

Aligned with the World Economic Forum’s mission, we seek to drive public-private co-operation in the global public interest. We are united by the belief that today’s pressing problems present an opportunity to build a better future across sectors and boundaries.

Learn more

Meet our members

Enass Abo-Hamed

Chief Executive Officer, H2GO Power Ltd., United Kingdom

Enass Abo-Hamed is the Chief Executive Officer of H2GO Power, an award-winning pioneering company developing hydrogen energy storage technologies. Abo-Hamed is a Royal Academy of Engineering Enterprise Fellow, Chair of the Sustainability Interest Group at the Royal Academy, advisory board member at General Atlantic's BeyondNetZero $4Billion growth equity climate fund, and a technology expert consultant to the European Commission.

Juan Pablo Mata

Chief Executive Officer, Grupo Mariposa, Guatemala

Juan Pablo Mata is an experienced leader with extensive experience in the food & beverages industry. Skilled in market planning, business planning, entrepreneurship, market analysis, and team leadership. Juan Pablo studied finance & economics at Babson College where he graduated in 2008. In 2015, he completed a MBA at the Wharton School of business in the University of Pennsylvania focused in strategic management. Juan Pablo holds an Executive General Management Program from Harvard University. In 2020 he was appointed CEO of Apex Global Mobility where he leads the corporate units including the total societal impact agenda where he is leading the circular economy and social fabric strategy for the group.

Joud Abdel Majeid

Senior Managing Director; Global Head, Investment Stewardship, BlackRock, USA

Joud Abdel Majeid, Senior Managing Director, is the Global Head of Investment Stewardship for BlackRock and a member of the firm’s Global Executive Committee. She is responsible for leading the stewardship team and all its activities as it engages with companies to promote effective governance and create long-term value for clients.

Prior to stewardship, Ms. Abdel Majeid was Deputy Chief Financial Officer for BlackRock where she led the Investor Relations, Corporate Development, Financial Planning and Analysis, and Management Information Initiatives functions within BlackRock’s Finance Department.

She previously served as Chief of Staff to the CEO and was responsible for oversight of the Executive Office of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and oversaw engagements with clients, policymakers, public officials, and BlackRock’s Board of Directors.

Ms. Abdel Majeid joined BlackRock in September 2017 as Chief Operating Officer of BlackRock Solutions, which delivers the firm’s Aladdin technology. In this role, she was responsible for the commercial strategy and day-to-day operations of the business.

Jean-Jacques Barbéris

Member of the Executive Committee; Co-Head, Institutional Clients Coverage, Amundi Asset Management, France

Jean-Jacques Barbéris is a former economic adviser to the president of the French Republic. He is currently responsible for the global development of the institutional business at Amundi, a European leader in asset management. He is also chairman of En Temps Réel, a think tank dedicated to social sciences and the future development of the European Union.

Karen Karniol-Tambour

Co-Chief Investment Officer, Bridgewater Associates, USA

Karen Karniol-Tambour is Co-Chief Investment Officer at Bridgewater Associates, responsible for managing the company’s investment process. Karen oversees the systemization of Bridgewater’s research into trading strategies, manages the development of proprietary investment management models, directs the design and implementation of client investment strategies, and publishes timely market understanding to clients and global policy makers via Bridgewater’s Daily Observations. She also co-leads the firm’s Sustainable Investing efforts, overseeing the design of new investment solutions with both financial and sustainability objectives. Karen joined Bridgewater in 2006 after graduating from Princeton University. She serves on the boards of Search for Common Ground and Seeds of Peace. Karen is a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, was included in Fortune’s "40 Under 40" most influential leaders in business in 2019, and has been named to Barron's list of "Most Influential Women in US Finance" for three years in a row.

Alejo Czerwonko

Chief Investment Officer, Emerging Markets, Americas, UBS AG, USA

Alejo is Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer Emerging Markets Americas at UBS Global Wealth Management, based in New York. In this capacity, Alejo leads a team of analysts focusing on emerging economies, influencing the allocation of billions of dollars of the firm's assets under management. As a member of two management forums at UBS, he helps set the strategic direction of the business. Alejo is also a professor at Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs, where he teaches on capital markets in developing economies. Outside of business and academia, Alejo helps shape the policy debate impacting emerging markets through his involvement with leading global think tanks. He has been named Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. He is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Wilson Center's Latin America Program and a Millennium Leadership Fellow by the Atlantic Council. He frequently appears on Bloomberg Television, CNBC, and CNN, and regularly contributes to financial publications including the Financial Times, Bloomberg, Reuters, and the Wall Street Journal. Alejo earned a PhD in economics from Columbia University. He also holds degrees in economics and finance from Tilburg University and Universidad del CEMA.

Veronika Linardi

Chief Executive Officer, Single Family Office, Togs Capital, Singapore

Veronika Linardi, a serial entrepreneur and founder, has carved a distinctive path in the world of business with a profound commitment to sustainability. As the driving force behind her Single Family Office, she has set her sights on alternative investments in high-growth emerging markets. Sustainability is at the heart of her investment philosophy, aligning perfectly with the global shift toward responsible business practices.

At the forefront of her endeavors is the establishment of a highly profitable tech-enabled ecosystem in Southeast Asia. This expansive ecosystem spans critical sectors, encompassing Electric Vehicles, logistics, supply chain management, and commerce infrastructure. Veronika's entrepreneurial acumen shines through in her relentless pursuit of innovation and excellence.

Beyond her entrepreneurial ventures, Veronika co-founded one of Indonesia's largest Human Capital development companies. This transformative initiative has not only impacted the lives of millions but has also played a pivotal role in shaping Indonesia's future workforce. Her dedication to talent development and education underscores her commitment to building a brighter future.

Her other accolades also include being named "Forbes Indonesia Powerful Women," "Her World Women of the Year," "Globe Asia Most Inspiring Women of the Year," and the UBS 'Celebration of Indonesian Women' award.

Veronika holds a Master's degree in Strategic Digital Marketing & Management Information Systems from Carnegie Mellon University and Bachelor's degree in Advertising from the University of Texas at Austin.

Nathaniel Harding

Managing Partner, Cortado Ventures, USA

An innovator and entrepreneur, Nathaniel Harding's company in 2018 helped discover one of the largest new natural gas resources in the United States, pioneered waterless completions, and is a founding investor in an Environmental Protection Agency approved fluid with application in medicine and energy. Viewing education and jobs as critical to fighting poverty, he is a recognized leader for both. The Governor of Oklahoma previously named him chairman of the Council for Workforce and Economic Development, and to the White House STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) Summit to develop the five-year federal STEM education strategy.

Pamela Chan

Chief Investment Officer and Head, Direct Private Opportunities, BlackRock, USA

Pam Chan, Managing Director, is Chief Investment Officer and Head of Direct Private Opportunities (DPO) at BlackRock. She is Chair of the Direct Private Opportunities Investment Committee and Chair for the BlackRock Impact Opportunities (BIO) Fund Internal Investment Committee. She is also a member of BlackRock's firmwide Global Operating Committee, the Alternatives Executive Committee, BlackRock's Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Steering Committee and the BIO Executive Investment Committee. Ms. Chan's service with the firm began in 2012. She co-founded Alternative Solutions (predecessor group to Direct Private Opportunities) in 2013 and prior to becoming CIO of that group, she served as a senior portfolio manager and primary deputy to the CIO. Prior to joining BlackRock, Ms. Chan worked as a senior research analyst for the Financial Stability Board, as a Senior Investment Associate at Bridgewater and as a member of the Financial Institutions Group at Goldman, Sachs & Co., first as an investment banker and subsequently, in their Capital Markets group, focused on private placements and structured finance. Ms. Chan was recognized in 2020 by the World Economic Forum ("WEF") as a Young Global Leader and presented at Davos in 2022. Additionally, she is a member of the WEF's Women in Finance community and has been appointed to the Global Future Council on the Future of Responsible Investing. She was previously nominated as a WEF Global Shaper in 2012, serving as curator for the New York City hub in 2014. She currently co-chairs the Harvard College Schools and Scholarship Committee of New York City and has previously served on the Board of the Harvard Club of New York Foundation and the Harvard Business School Alumni Board. She is also an incoming member of the Board for the HBS Club of New York. She serves on the Boards of Forbright, Inc. and Macro Media, Inc. She has previously served as a Board member for Home Partners of America. She is also a member of Extraordinary Women on Boards and Chief. She graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College with a joint concentration in Philosophy and Government and, earned an MBA with high honors from Harvard Business School. She loves to golf and enjoys reading, mega-former pilates and contemporary art (including creating some pieces of her own). She currently lives in Nomad with the two Texan loves of her life (Allen, her partner, and Socrates, their very charismatic and curious beagle).