Emerging Leader Initiatives
Shaping future leaders through global cross-sector collaboration, real-world impact, and immersive work alongside top industry executives
Overview
The Future Talent Council Emerging Leader Initiatives seek to meaningfully include, educate, and amplify future leaders.
The Global Student Fellowship Program is a 6-month global leadership and skills-development experience for high-potential undergraduate and graduate students who want to contribute to the future of work, learning, and human potential. Fellows join an international cohort, collaborate in cross-cultural teams, and complete practical insight work that strengthens their readiness for a rapidly transforming world.
The Emerging Leader Ecosystem (ELE) connects current university students to global research, mentorship/networking/conversations with global executives, and discussions shaping early-career pathways on the world stage.
Learn more about both programs below or…
Global Student Fellowship Program
Program Mission: To Prepare the next generation of globally minded leaders through immersive learning, cross-cultural teamwork, executive mentorship, critical AI engagement exercises, and opportunities to contribute meaningful insights to organizations navigating the future of talent and work.
Cohorts are recruited, formed, and launched in January and October each year.
Read more about the program below. Get in touch with Danielle Solar, danielle.solar@futuretalentcouncil.com, to learn more and explore opportunities for your university and students.
January 2026 Cohort
Future Talent Insight Briefs
The Entry Level Paradox: Preparing Young Workers for a Skills-Based Job Market
Ebrahim Alzaabi ’27, Abu Dhabi University, UAE
Valery Arevalo ’26, Alamo Colleges District, USA
Ellen Dungavell ’26, University of Newcastle, Australia
Pain and Gain: Lessons in Enhanced Bureaucratic Productivity Through Artificial Intelligence
Yolanda Cuevas Aguilar ’27, Alamo Colleges District, USA
Hugh Bright ’27, University of Newcastle, Australia
Mohammad Tasfiq Jawaad ’27, Leeds University, UK
Elena Motayne ’28, Northwestern University, USA
Redesigning Early‑Career Pathways for an AI‑Enabled Labour Market: Lessons from Chile and India
Abbie Finn ‘26, Kingston University London, UK
Brandon Kopp ‘28, Northwestern University, USA
Harrison Hottes ‘26, University of Newcastle, Australia
Iryn Tony ‘26, American University of Sharjah, UAE
The Hidden Cost of Intelligence: AI Infrastructure and the Global South
Amay Pandey, ‘26, Kingston University London, UK
Derek Gunter ’27, University of Tennessee Knoxville, USA
Júlia Rocha ’28, Federal University of Alfenas, Brazil
Krystyna Herasymenko ‘28, University of Liverpool, UK
Nathaly Avalos ’28, Universidad de La Libertad, Mexico
How Artificial Intelligence Is Reshaping Entry-Level Careers
Isaac Camacho ’26, Alamo Colleges District, USA
Nicolle Chuquilin ’26, Imperial Business School, UK
Nina Leger ’27, Uppsala University, Sweden
Joshua Le Roux ’26, Kingston University London, UK
Miana Rankin ’26, University of Tennessee Knoxville, USA
From Answers to Judgement: Rethinking Early Career Talent Assessment in an AI World
Farah Khanfar ‘26, American University of Sharjah, UAE
Juan Pablo Burguete ‘28, Universidad de la Libertad, Mexico
Julia Marotta ‘26, Imperial Business School, UK
Max Aba ‘28, University of Tennessee Knoxville, USA
Xuezhe Sheng ‘27, Leeds University, UK
Before and After: AI, Occupational Change, and the Future of Early Careers
Albert Wright ’26, Imperial Business School, UK
Maria Lozano ’27, Universidad de la Libertad, Mexico
Days Mmusi ’27, Botswana International University of Science and Technology, Africa
Nina Tsoy ’28, Northwestern University, USA
University Partners:
Alamo Colleges District
American University of Sharjah
Imperial Business School
Kingston University London
Northwestern University
Universidad de la Libertad
University of Newcastle Australia
University of Tennessee Knoxville
Students Participating from:
Abu Dhabi University
Botswana International University of Science and Technology
Federal University of Alfenas
Leeds University
University of Liverpool
Uppsala University
From Classroom to Global Impact: Watch Your Students Lead Change
Elite International Connections
Fellows engage with FTC experts and gain exposure to global leaders in education, talent, and industry. They learn from senior executives, innovation leaders, and workforce strategists who are directly shaping the future of work and learning.
Global Peer Network
Students work in small, diverse teams drawn from multiple countries and disciplines. Through collaboration on insight briefs, youth-insight activities, and shared learning experiences, Fellows build a professional international network that lasts well beyond the program.
Project Focused
Fellows work in cross-cultural teams to create concise, professional Future Talent Insight Briefs on emerging global talent topics, such as:
• Future skills and workforce preparedness
• Early-career expectations and talent attraction
• Cultural and behavioral trends in global talent
• AI literacy, trust, and critical engagement
• Employer messaging, authenticity, and reputation
Briefs are designed to be employer-ready and are informed by both global student perspectives and structured guidance from FTC.
Tangible Impact Outcomes
Throughout the Fellowship, students participate in masterclasses, critical AI engagement exercises, monthly mentorship sessions, creative intelligence labs, and insight activities with organizations in the FTC ecosystem. They collaborate across cultures, engage in structured focus groups and pulse surveys, and gain hands-on experience interpreting real-world talent trends.
Each team produces a 4-5 page Future Talent Insight Brief and presents their findings in a Capstone Presentation delivered virtually, posters presented during optional in-person participation at the Future Talent Summit in Stockholm (for universities able to support travel). Fellows who complete all program requirements receive an official credential package.
Emerging Leader Ecosystem
A recurring challenge we hear from employers and policymakers alike is a growing disconnect between what current student leaders expect from entry-level work and what organizations are actually designing and preparing for; particularly in the context of AI, flexibility, and early-career development. To help address this, we’ve created the FTC Emerging Leader Ecosystem (ELE).
A global pool of currently enrolled university students and young leaders 5 years or less since graduating who contribute candid perspectives through short surveys and research discussions on topics related to careers, skills, and the future of work.
Read more about the program below. Get in touch with Danielle Solar, danielle.solar@futuretalentcouncil.com, to learn more.
The Future Talent Council ELE connects current university students + young leaders 5 years or less since graduating to global conversations about careers, skills, AI, and early work experiences.
Through structured surveys, mentorship, and moderated discussions, young leader perspectives are gathered and translated into research and insight shared with leaders across industry, academia, and government.
Executives are redesigning entry-level roles.
Universities are rethinking curriculum.
Governments are shaping workforce policy.
Too often, these decisions are made without clear, real-time young leader input. The Emerging Leader Ecosystem ensures that emerging leader voices are included in the data shaping those decisions.
- Real influence in conversations shaping early careers
- Insight into how employers are thinking about skills, AI, and hiring
- Experience articulating ideas in structured, professional discussions
- Connections with leaders in the FTC ecosystem for mentorship/networking opportunities
- Exposure to global workforce strategy conversations
- Flexible participation (most surveys take 5–10 minutes)
- Occasional focus groups (1–2 hours; some may include compensation)
- No cost to participate
Participation is project-based and always optional.
Current full-time university students + young leaders within 5 years of university graduation who:
- Have thoughtful perspectives on education and work
- Want leaders to understand what students are actually experiencing
- Care about how the future of work is evolving
- Want to be connected to a global network and have their voice heard
- Value connection, mentorship, and networking with executive leaders from around the world
- Be connected to the Future Talent Council ecosystem on LinkedIn
Open to all disciplines and levels of study.
Request Emerging leader initiatives Information
Include young leaders’ voice in the global talent conversation
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Globally distributed organization headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden
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