The NewNow is an innovative program by One Young World, supported by Virgin Unite, designed to empower the most ambitious emerging young leaders who are committed to shifting the global paradigm for how leadership can drive change. By embracing systems-thinking and collective action, the NewNow leaders work to tackle some of the most pressing challenges of our time and build momentum for a fairer, more sustainable future.
Who They Are
The NewNow is a collective of rising leaders with exceptional track records of creating real and lasting change. United by a shared commitment to addressing global challenges through a systems-thinking lens, they aim to foster deep, long-term transformation. Their approach is intersectional, focusing on solutions that span across sectors to create holistic change.
As Taylor Wilson, The NewNow Founding Leader, says:
“Our world grows more complex by the day and needs a new generation of leadership to tackle the global and local challenges we face. By bringing together brave new thinkers and doers from diverse backgrounds and experiences, we can start to develop a new way of thinking about these challenges and their solutions.”
Their Mission
With over half the world’s population under the age of 30, young people have the power to reshape our future. The NewNow amplifies and supports the voices of young leaders who are taking bold steps toward global transformation. The program nurtures the strength of collective action, shared learning, and mentorship from previous generations of leaders to forge a path toward a sustainable, equitable world.
The NewNow’s mission includes:
- Challenging the status quo through collective action and strategic collaboration.
- Sharing knowledge, insights, and approaches that encourage systems-thinking.
- Focusing on solutions for global challenges, with a particular emphasis on the Global South.
As Roya Mahboob, The NewNow Founding Leader, explains:
“Systems thinking is really important for young leaders because it helps them see the big picture when they face challenges. The issues we deal with, like inequality, education, women’s rights, and climate change, are part of complex systems. To create lasting change, we need to understand how these systems interact and evolve.”
What is Systems Thinking?
The term “systems-thinking” refers to the idea that every behavior, business practice, or societal custom exists within a larger ecosystem. The biggest challenges we face—such as inequality, climate change, and healthcare—are deeply embedded within these systems. Tackling them requires understanding how to lead change at every level of the system.
The interconnectedness of global challenges means that solving one problem often requires addressing multiple others simultaneously. For instance, improving youth mental health involves not just transforming healthcare, but also addressing education, food insecurity, and youth unemployment. Systems-thinking necessitates collaboration across sectors, bringing together grassroots organizations, business leaders, educators, innovators, and politicians to create meaningful, sustainable solutions.
How The NewNow Works
The NewNow offers a unique opportunity for young leaders to connect with a global community of like-minded individuals. Leaders in the program will receive:
- A place at the One Young World Summit Munich, 2025.
- Features on One Young World and Virgin Unite channels to elevate their profile.
- High-profile media and speaking opportunities to contribute to global dialogues.
- Access to exclusive One Young World Programmes and the Global Leadership Programme.
- Membership in The NewNow Community, a tailored support system to build confidence, skills, and influence as systems leaders.
- Opportunities to collaborate with fellow NewNow leaders on joint projects and advocacy efforts.
In return, The NewNow leaders commit to:
- Using their platforms to share stories of young leaders using systems-based approaches to create impact.
- Collaborating with others to combine strengths and resources for collective action.
As Jaha Dukureh, another Founding Leader, reflects:
“This program is essential to young leaders because it gave us the support system we needed when we needed it most. It allowed us to connect with peers and made our leadership journey less lonely, helping us grow both as individuals and as a collective.”
Who Are They Looking For?
One Young World is searching for ten trailblazing, impactful leaders from the Global South who are committed to creating systemic change. Candidates must:
- Be aged 18–30 and nationals of countries in the Global South.
- Have demonstrated leadership through impactful initiatives.
- Possess a strong understanding of key local and global issues, particularly those requiring systems-thinking approaches.
- Have a proven track record of generating long-term, sustainable impact through systems-thinking.
- Be passionate advocates for justice, fairness, and equity.
- Be willing to collaborate with the NewNow cohort and share their knowledge through media opportunities.
As Victor Ochen, Founding Leader, states:
“The NewNow leaders are the compassionate and persistent bridge-builders with the desire to do what is right. Where we have to compete, we should. And where we have to forgive, we must. It’s young leaders who will beam the light of peace to all corners of the world.”
Application Deadline: December 1, 2024
Ready to be part of a global movement driving systems change? Apply now to join The NewNow and become a leader in transforming our future.