Recognizing the World’s Most Inspiring Youth Leaders

Hugh Evans is the CEO and Co-Founder of Global Citizen. Raised in Melbourne, Australia, he has become one of the leading voices in international development, building a global movement of millions working to end extreme poverty by 2030 in support of the UN Global Goals. Under his leadership, Global Citizen has driven billions of dollars in commitments toward this mission and earned global recognition for its innovative campaigns and impact.

Hugh has received numerous honors, including Young Australian of the Year, Forbes 30 Under 30, Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business, and Billboard’s Humanitarian of the Year. He has spoken at major international forums such as the World Economic Forum, Cannes Lions, SXSW, and CES, and his work has been featured globally, including on CNBC’s The Brave Ones.

Francine Katsoudas is Executive Vice President and Chief People, Policy & Purpose Officer at Cisco, where she brings together people and technology to drive positive global impact. She leads teams across People & Communities, Sustainability, Social Impact & Inclusion, Government Affairs & Policy, Workplace Resources and Cisco’s Digital Impact Office, advancing the company’s purpose to Power an Inclusive Future for All.

Over her 30-year career at Cisco, Fran has led major transformations, championed inclusive leadership, and helped build the company’s employee-first culture. She is a longtime advocate for women’s leadership, homeless youth, and closing the digital divide.

Fran serves on the Board of Directors for ADP and as Co-Chair of Global Citizen. She has been recognized on the Forbes 50 Over 50 list and is a UC Berkeley graduate.

Esther Wanjiru Kimani is a Kenyan innovator using AI to transform agriculture for smallholder farmers. Growing up in the Aberdare Mountains, she witnessed how pests, disease, and climate shocks devastated crops and livelihoods—driving her to study computer science and develop practical, tech-driven solutions for rural communities.

She is the founder of Farmer Lifeline, an agri-tech platform now deployed across seven counties in Kenya, helping thousands of farmers detect threats early, protect their harvests, and increase their incomes. Focused on ending extreme poverty and hunger, Esther prioritizes empowering women, who make up the majority of those she serves. Her work has earned global recognition, including the 2025 Global Citizen Prize: Cisco Youth Leadership Award, the UN FAO Achievement Scroll, and speaking engagements at COP28 and the Grace Hopper Celebration.

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka is the former United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, and a Hauser Leader at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Center for Public Leadership. She holds a doctorate in Technology and Education from Warwick University and has authored several scholarly and opinion pieces. She served as a Member of Parliament, Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Minister of Minerals and Energy, and Deputy President of South Africa from 2005 to 2008, where she worked extensively on programs and policies to reduce inequality.

As head of UN Women, Dr. Mlambo-Ngcuka was a global advocate for women and girls, establishing initiatives such as HeForShe to engage men and boys in advancing gender equality. She also successfully mobilized a historic $40 billion for women and girls worldwide. She is the founder of the Umlambo Foundation, which is dedicated to improving education and digital literacy training for educators.

Indonesian singer-songwriter and producer Jinan Laetitia writes, produces, and performs her own music, creating immersive audio-visual narratives. Her debut album One reflects on self-love, identity, and transformation, while her genre-spanning sound moves between indie pop, alt-R&B, house, and more. Recent releases include “Renaissance Man” and “BATARA” (with Dipha Barus).

In 2024, she made headlines as the opening act for Coldplay’s six-nights concert series in Singapore, marking one of her biggest international live performances to date.