When it comes to answering the world’s biggest challenges, who should be the ones to take responsibility and find solutions? We asked ourselves what it means to take responsibility for our shared future and how we can share this responsibility. How can we challenge preconceptions of who can lead and contribute, especially when solving complex problems like climate change and driving sustainability?

What Does Shared Agency Mean to Us? 

We believe that sharing agency and putting power in the hands of those most affected by the problem to drive solutions is the most effective response to the world’s biggest problems. From environmental sustainability to social equity, no individual or single institution can tackle these complex issues alone.

The solution lies in empowering people to reach their full potential and sharing agency with them to take action and impact their communities. By leveraging the power of shared agency, our goal is to celebrate our vision for a society in which every person feels invited and capable of driving planet-positive action. 

How We Share Agency Within the beVisioneers Ecosystem

beVisioneers: The Mercedes-Benz Fellowship is built on an ecosystem, each part of which has a role to play in sharing agency and shaping the Fellows into Future Sustainable Leaders. We bring together Mentors, Venture Coaches, Experts and Facilitators to create a unique learning experience for our Fellows.

The influence is not unidirectionally focused on the Fellows. They in turn influence the rest of our ecosystem with their innovative ideas and unique expertise they bring from their local communities. There are myriad lessons that Fellows have learned in navigating the ecopreneur landscape that they can, in turn, impart on Mentors, Experts, and Venture Coaches.

Venture Coaches

Venture Coaches are a key part of our ecosystem as they guide Fellows on their project development and help them sustain their motivation and well-being. Venture Coaches offer 1:1 calls where Fellows can address specific challenges and share their progress. They also have monthly group calls with the Fellows to fill in gaps, build on live sessions & learning content.

Venture Coaches have experience running their own ventures and in coaching early-stage entrepreneurs to move from idea to launch of a project or venture. We’re here to help the Fellows through their Venture Journey; from identifying an environmental  challenge all the way up to Pitching and Launch.

”As a Venture Coach, my role is to guide and support beVisioneers Fellows in shaping their projects—but shared agency means the learning goes both ways. Through their passion, creativity, and bold ideas, these young innovators have challenged my own thinking and have spurred motivation in me to do even better for our planet. These relationships aren’t just about giving—it’s about growing together.”

• Nihal Ahmed, beVisioneers Venture Coach

Mentors 

Throughout the Fellowship, each Fellow is supported by an individual mentor along their journey, from developing their idea to launching a project. Mentors meet Fellows in monthly sessions to provide guidance, feedback, and support to the mentee, serving as advisor, advocate and ally, depending on the specific goals and objectives. 

Both the Mentor and the Mentee gain valuable insights through this unique process. Viet-Chi Pham is a Senior Social Impact Advisor at Ørsted and one of our Mentors. She highlighted the two-way learning the Mentor-Mentee relationship brings her:

”To me, mentorship is a two-way street: I hope to uplift others with my experiences and insights, while I also learn so much from those I get to mentor. I’ve been lucky in that I myself have wonderful mentors who shaped my growth, and mentorship allows me to pay forward the support that has made such a difference in my own life.”

• Viet-Chi Pham, Senior Social Impact Advisor, Ørsted

We are currently looking for Mentors to guide our upcoming Cohort! If you’re interested in learning more about becoming a Mentor, find out more here.

Bringing Shared Agency to Life at the beVisioneers Global Summit

The beVisioneers Global Summit is our largest global community gathering. Every year, we bring together our young eco-innovation Fellows, social entrepreneurs, leaders from business and philanthropy, and ecosystem partners at our Global Summit. Our goal is to advance our shared vision: A global community of innovators and contributors building a more sustainable future.

The 2025 beVisioneers Global Summit, taking place in Stuttgart, Germany, from April 8-10, will bring together experts, ecopreneurs, and Fellows to explore environmental innovations that benefit communities worldwide. This dynamic gathering enriches collaboration among trailblazing eco-innovators, reinforcing our shared commitment to a sustainable future.

With a focus on Intergenerational Exchange, experts and innovation leaders will share insights and engage with beVisioneers Fellows—exceptional young innovators worldwide— who in turn offer guests a fresh, youth-driven perspective on key global challenges.

Through insightful discussions, hands-on experiences, and cross-sector collaboration, participants will challenge traditional leadership models, explore breakthrough solutions, and demonstrate how sharing agency accelerates change.

By 2030, beVisioneers is committed to empowering 10,000 innovators and contributors—people from all backgrounds, united by a mission to create a more sustainable and equitable world.