The Forum of Young Global Leaders received a “Power, Together Award” at the 2021 Reykjavík Global Forum. These awards honour outstanding global initiatives that inspire people to create positive change in society.

Each year, the Forum of Young Global Leaders selects remarkable leaders under the age of 40 and nurtures their capacity to drive change. As our world continues to shift at a rapid pace, there is demand for a new approach to leadership – one that embraces experimentation and leads with purpose.

Over the last 17 years, we have invested in nearly 1,000 women leaders from around the world. Our foundation has connected them with peers to foster growth, brought them together to create initiatives to tackle pressing issues and worked with leading universities to deliver tailored courses to develop their leadership skills. Through this, YGLs have built lasting bonds, forged new partnerships, expanded their networks, and leveraged new opportunities.

Since 2004, we have watched women leaders shatter barriers, chart new paths, and make history. For example, YGL Razan Al Mubarak became the first Arab woman to be elected President of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and YGL Jane Burston collaborated with community members to launch the first global private sector initiative to tackle air pollution at COP26. Alongside these women leaders, there are many more whose work inspires us to challenge our perception of leadership.

This award signals our commitment to supporting leaders in accelerating their leadership journeys and scaling their impact. We will continue working towards a world where power distribution is balanced and where women are equally recognized as leaders.