Brandon Reynolds, United Kingdom: “A personal highlight of mine was Isabelle Kokoschka’s talk. Her perspective and points about how strong leaders step back and empower their team to be there best selves, was inspiring. The importance of transparent communication and trusting your team to do things their own way really resonated with me.”
Lizzy Makhubela, South Africa: “I was inspired by Isabelle’s story, which emphasizes that a leader doesn’t always have to lead from the front. Sometimes, leading from behind is just as important. This approach involves empowering your team and giving them ownership of their work. By instilling a sense of agency and placing full trust in their abilities, leaders can foster a powerful trait in effective leadership.”

Shradha Pandey, India: “Kathrin provided valuable insights into UBS’s innovative funding instruments, including philanthropy, equity, and outcomes-based contracts. She explained how UBS collaborates with organizations to integrate social impact with financial returns, creating products designed for intentional, measurable change. Something which particularly resonated with me was the concept of “outcomes contracts”—a structure that ties financial returns to tangible results. This approach inspired me to consider its potential application for my work at Grassroots Energy Management Support (GEMS), where funding could be directly linked to measurable progress in rural India’s energy transition. Moving forward, I’m eager to explore how this model could enhance GEMS’s fundraising strategy and amplify our impact.”

Fabricio Correa, Mexico: “Lelemba’s session was a powerful reminder that gender is not just a lens—it’s an opportunity for growth, justice, and dignity. She helped me reframe gender perspective as a strategic and ethical foundation for community leadership. What resonated most was her call to recognize and nurture governance structures that already exist within grassroots movements. Through her guidance, I now see the importance of identifying and empowering local leaders who act with integrity and center gender in their decision-making. Lelemba reminded us that real transformation begins when we uplift those who lead with empathy, courage, and purpose.”

David Hirschelmann, Germany: “The interactive expert breakout with Matthias Reuter from Siemens was a highlight, offering valuable insights into leadership for long-term goals. This was directly relevant to my Fellowship project, which focuses on the same objective. Matthias’s perspective validated the importance and potential profitability of our work. His real-world examples from Siemens illustrated how effective leadership can drive both long-term relevance and profitability, providing encouraging and practical guidance. The session’s interactive nature fostered a valuable exchange of ideas. Overall, Matthias’s expertise significantly enhanced my understanding and reinforced the value of my project. Thank you, Matthias, for the valuable insights.”