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.

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Meet our members

Li Yuchun

Artist, Beijing Yellow Stone Media Co.,Ltd, People's Republic of China

Li Yuchun (AKA Chris Lee), is a Chinese pop singer, songwriter, and actress. She catapulted to stardom in 2005 as the first-ever super idol in China by polling more than 3.5 million votes via cell phone text messages at the finals of the singing competition “Super Girl”. Her victory was celebrated nationwide and even featured on the cover of Time Magazine, which coined her sensational rise the “Li Yuchun Phenomenon.” In 2010, with 10,175,595 searches, she became the most searched name on Baidu from 2005 to 2010.
As a pop culture icon in China, Li Yuchun has been honored with over 260 music awards at home and abroad. Her influence extends beyond music, with notable achievements in film, art, and fashion - she is the first-ever Chinese judge of the prestigious ANDAM Fashion Awards, ambassador for the Fashion Awards by the British Fashion Council (BFC) Foundation, and a member of the tenth committee of the All-China Youth Federation (ACYF) etc.
In addition to her remarkable professional accomplishments, Li Yuchun is a dedicated philanthropist who has contributed to public welfare over the years. She’s been instrumental in the establishment and success of the “LIYUCHUN Fans Charity Fund,” which has raised over 31 million Chinese yuan for various charitable causes. Through multifaceted initiatives, including aiding seriously ill children, providing rehabilitation training for hearing-impaired youth and fine art education for children in rural areas, as well as coordinating rescue and reconstruction efforts during major disasters and public health crises, the foundation has benefited nearly 150,000 people to date. Meanwhile, Li Yuchun has collaborated with World Wildlife Fund (WWF), International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and other international NGOs to support environmental protection, wildlife conservation, and sustainable development, a testament to her passion for creating a better world for all.

Paolo Petrocelli

Head, Dubai Opera, United Arab Emirates

An internationally recognised cultural leader who promotes cultural diversity, gender equality, and peace through music and arts, Petrocelli is the Founder and President of EMMA for Peace (Euro-Mediterranean Music Academy), one of the largest organisation for the promotion of music diplomacy globally. Currently he serves as the Head of Dubai Opera, the main performing arts center in the UAE. In 2022, he was selected by the think tank Friends of Europe among the 40 most influential young personalities in Europe.

Adriana Cargill

Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Wave Maker Media, USA

Adriana Cargill is an independent public radio journalist based in Los Angeles. She’s reported and produced stories for KCRW, Southern California Public Radio (KPCC), Marketplace, LAist, Latino USA, Crooked Media, Wondery, KUSC Radio, VICE News and more. She graduated with a Master of Science in Journalism from Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism as a Bloomberg Scholar. She is also a fifth-generation Cargill family member. Founded in 1865, Cargill Inc. is a privately held agribusiness with over 155,000 employees in 70 countries around the world. By revenue, Cargill consistently ranks as one of the largest private companies in the U.S and in the top tier globally. Adriana has worked to support employees during the COVID crisis and advocated for the company to do business in a sustainable and more equitable way. Adriana is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Family Business Community and its Next Gen Working Group. She is also a member of The ImPact, a global membership community of families committed to aligning their assets with their values.

Moath Alnaeem

Co-Founder and Chief Investment Officer, Alpha Capital, Saudi Arabia

Moath has co-founded Alpha Capital and built a profound organization, which has been a well-respected entity both locally and regionally, evidenced by the recognition received in 2021 from Forbes as it became among the 30 most prominent asset managers in the Middle East. Before Alpha Capital, Moath worked in Saudi Aramco and was entrusted by Saudi Aramcos Senior Management to be part of a carefully selected solid team to manage several asset classes of Saudi Aramcos USD multi-billion Global Pension Plans. Throughout the journey of Alpha Capital, Moath attracted top-tier investment professionals, delivered top-quartile public equity performance consistently, successfully exited from the first private equity investment at an impressive return and advised on the fundraising and structuring of the first Saudi digital bank that the Council of Ministers has licensed. Moath has demonstrated strong leadership skills while serving on various government and non-government boards and committees.

Amit Paley

Executive Director, Movement Against Malnutrition, International Rescue Committee, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Amit Paley is the Executive Director of the Movement Against Malnutrition, a groundbreaking new effort aimed at ending the global public health crisis of children dying from malnutrition. In addition to this role, he serves as the Entrepreneur in Residence at the International Rescue Committee (IRC). The Movement Against Malnutrition is at the forefront of tackling global malnutrition, by screening and treating millions of children, driving innovative research, and advocating for urgent, life-saving action. Launched by the IRC, a global humanitarian organization active in 40 conflict-affected countries and providing refugee support across 28 U.S. cities, the Movement represents a bold step toward ending this global injustice.

Prior to the Movement Against Malnutrition, Amit was the CEO of The Trevor Project, the world’s leading organization for suicide prevention and mental health support for LGBTQ youth. Under his leadership, The Trevor Project significantly expanded its reach, launched global initiatives, and introduced cutting-edge technology tools that were recognized among TIME magazine’s top 100 inventions. The organization also transformed TrevorSpace into the largest safe-space social network for LGBTQ youth, established a pioneering research department, and led the world’s largest grassroots campaign against conversion therapy.

Amit’s career also includes his time as an Associate Partner at McKinsey & Company, where he advised Fortune 500 companies, governments, and non-profits. He played a key role in the firm’s digital, healthcare, and non-profit sectors. Earlier, Amit worked as a journalist at The Washington Post, covering major stories as a foreign correspondent in Iraq, where his work earned a Pulitzer Prize nomination, and as a business investigative reporter. He graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College, where he served as president of The Harvard Crimson, and later earned an MBA from Columbia Business School.

Amit is a highly regarded speaker, frequently featured in outlets like The New York Times, USA Today, ABC, NBC, CBS, NPR, and CNN. He has served on various leadership bodies, including the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Steering Committee, the Executive Committee of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention, and the Board of the Center for Public Integrity. As Chair of The Harvard Crimson, he led its financial aid program and spearheaded a $15 million campaign, the largest in collegiate journalism history. Amit has also been an adjunct professor at the City University of New York, recognized as a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, a member of the Young Presidents Organization, and honored in prestigious lists like Fortune's 40 Under 40, Crain’s, OUT Magazine’s OUT100, and NBC’s #Pride 50.

Anne-Laure de Chammard

Member of the Executive Board and Group Executive Vice-President, Siemens Energy, Germany

Anne-Laure de Chammard is a member of the Group Executive Board of Siemens Energy. As Group EVP, she heads one of the Group's 4 global divisions, the "Transformation of Industry" global business area, supporting industries throughout their energy transition. She is also responsible transversally for the Asia Pacific and China Regions.

Siemens Energy employs around 91,000 people worldwide in more than 90 countries and generates sales of around €29 billion. The Group is listed on the DAX40 and is one of the world's leading energy technology companies and a global market leader in renewable energy. An estimated one-sixth of the world's electricity is generated using Siemens Energy technologies.

Before joining Siemens Energy, Anne-Laure de Chammard was CEO of ENGIE Energy Solutions International (€4 billion turnover, 20,000 employees, in over 20 countries, in Europe, Americas, Middle East, and Asia Pacific), in charge of decarbonization of industries and territories through energy efficiency services and low-carbon energy production.

Anne-Laure started her career in the USA, as a strategy consultant with the Boston Consulting Group (BCG).
She then joined the French Ministry of Energy and Environment in 2010, where she was leading major infrastructure public private partnership projects (motorways, high-speed railways, hydroelectric dams, offshore wind farms, etc.).
In 2014, she joined Bureau Veritas Group, global leader in conformity services for Industry, Infrastructure and Commodities, as Regional Managing Director, before being promoted President and CEO of Bureau Veritas Construction.
She joined ENGIE in 2019 as Group Chief Strategy, Research & Technology and Innovation Officer to head the group’s strategy in its zero-carbon transition. She was appointed CEO of ENGIE Energy Solutions International in 2021.

Member of the French “Corps des Ponts”, Anne-Laure de Chammard holds Master's degrees of Science and Engineering from Ecole Polytechnique (X) and Ecole Nationale des Ponts & Chaussées, and a Master's degree in Public Policy from Harvard University (Kennedy School).

Anne-Laure sits in several supervisory boards in France and abroad. She was ranked 2nd top French economic leader under 40 (Figaro-Choiseul 100).

Haley Lowry

Global Sustainability Director, Dow, USA

Haley is a Head of Sustainability at Dow with 20 years’ experience creating new circular business models and products that integrate social, environmental and commercial goals across CPG, retail, and plastics sectors. As a courageous-leader in sustainability, she has shaped one of the largest company risks into growth opportunity. She frequently speaks about plastic waste issues and solutions at Green Biz, USAID, and SXSW and has been published in Sustainable Brands, WEF and the Guardian. Haley holds an MBA from the University of Texas.

Esraa Al-Buti

Partner, EY, Saudi Arabia

Esraa is a Partner at Ernst & Young( EY). She leads the Tax Policy and Controversy practice in Saudi Arabia. A member of the Young Global Leader (YGL) at the World Economic Forum. Sits in multiple adviosry boards and Audit committees.

Virginijus Sinkevicius

Member of the European Parliament, European Parliament, Belgium

Virginijus Sinkevičius has been the European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries since 2019. He was formerly the Minister of Economy of Lithuania (2017-2019). Before becoming the Minister of Economy, Sinkevičius led the Economic Committee of the Parliament of Lithuania. Sinkevičius was elected to Parliament in October 2016. Before that, he was a Team Lead for Regulatory Affairs at Invest Lithuania. Prior to joining Invest Lithuania, Sinkevičius was Managing Editor at the US Office of The Lithuanian Tribune in Washington D.C. Sinkevičius holds a BA in International Relations and Affairs from Aberystwyth University and a Master’s degree in European International Affairs from Maastricht University.