Youth 4 Sustainability Completes Inaugural Global Mentorship Programme For Emerging Leaders

Youth 4 Sustainability (Y4S), a global initiative by Masdar, has wrapped up its first Mentorship Programme. Over 20 weeks, 25 aspiring leaders from 11 countries were paired with experts and senior executives to enhance skills, set goals, and create meaningful impacts. The programme aimed to empower the next generation of sustainability leaders.

Participants came from a diverse international network, including the UAE, Germany, Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, the US, Brazil, Yemen, India, Kazakhstan, and Syria. Mentors hailed from organisations like Masdar, Siemens Energy, UAE Ministry of Cabinet Affairs, GE Vernova, Stellr, NYU Abu Dhabi, Al Futtaim, IRENA, East Africa Carbon Markets Forum, ADNOC Group, Hub71, Ikea UAE Qatar Egypt Oman, Hilton Hotels and Resorts (APAC), UAE University and EY.

The programme highlighted its commitment to gender equity with 64% of mentees and 60% of mentors being female. This focus on inclusive leadership aims to foster a diverse range of voices in sustainability discussions. By pairing young leaders with seasoned professionals from various sectors such as government entities and international companies, the initiative sought to broaden perspectives on sustainability challenges.

Through regular one-on-one sessions between mentors and mentees, participants exchanged insights and developed professional roadmaps. These interactions strengthened leadership capabilities in areas like innovation and entrepreneurship. The programme also provided structured guidance to help future leaders navigate sustainability transformations confidently.

Dr. Lamya Fawwaz from Masdar stated that their priority is preparing future leaders who can operate with clarity and purpose. "The Y4S Mentorship programme gives them structured guidance," she said. Dana Alkaabi added that the programme shaped her professional journey by providing direction and confidence.

The mentorship united experts from 14 organisations with young leaders to deepen their understanding of sustainability opportunities while enhancing their ability to lead change within their communities. This collaboration aimed at building skills necessary for driving impactful initiatives in sustainability.

The Y4S Mentorship Programme has been instrumental in shaping how participants view their professional journeys. It equipped them with mindsets needed for personal growth as well as professional development. By fostering connections between emerging talents and experienced mentors across different fields globally it created an environment conducive for learning about sustainable practices effectively.

With inputs from WAM