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Membership Opportunities

Last update: March 2026

All Global Shapers have access to unique opportunities to develop practical skills for leading positive social change including training, mentorship, coaching and hands-on experiences at the local and global level.

Develop Youth Leaders
  • Global Shapers Annual Summit
  • SHAPE Events
  • National and Sub-Regional Retreats
  • Hub Activities
Accelerate Youth Action
  • Hub Projects and Impact
  • Innovation Prize
Amplify Youth Voices
  • Write for Agenda
  • World Economic Forum Meetings
  • World Economic Forum Centres & NextGen Labs
  • Forum Spaces
  • Strategic Intelligence
  • Forum Communities

Global Shapers Skills

The Global Shapers Community focuses on three strategic goals to empower young people around the world: developing youth leaders, accelerating youth action, and amplifying youth voices. To achieve these goals, Global Shapers can acquire critical skills that enhance their effectiveness and impact.

Our learning activities are structured around our community’s five core leadership values, including: passion, integrity, service, cooperation and commitment.

The Global Shapers HQ shares all the opportunities in the monthly Newsletter, or directly with the concerned Global Shapers or Alumni.

Develop Youth Leaders

Global Shapers Annual Summit

Each year, Hub leaders are invited to participate in the Global Shapers Annual Summit, the World Economic Forum's foremost event for young innovators, activists and changemakers. The new elected Curators of all Hubs are invited for a three-day programme focused on accelerating youth leadership and collective action. Members build relationships and year-long support.

SHAPE Events

SHAPEs are regional events created by Shapers for Shapers. Each year, Hubs are invited to submit proposals to host their regional SHAPE event. Host Hubs define the theme and objectives. SHAPEs strengthen the capacity of Shapers and relationships across the network.

Shapers should participate in their regions SHAPE, but are also invited to participate in other events around the world. See what it takes to host an event in our SHAPEs guide.

Hosting a SHAPE event is by application only. Unless otherwise approved by Global Shapers HQ, regional events are only organized by Hubs that have won the bid to host their regional SHAPE. Sticking to this standard keeps the process fair and transparent. SHAPE hosts work closely with Global Shapers HQ to avoid calendar conflicts and maximize participation. Global Shapers and Alumni can access the Call for Applications for all the SHAPEs, in our monthly Newsletter.

National and Sub-Regional Retreats

National and Sub-Regional retreats provide opportunities for Shapers to exchange expertise, share best practices, have impact on a local scale and join forces with other Hubs in their country or sub-region. Reach out to your Community Champion if you’d like to host a national retreat in your country.

Hub Activities

Hubs develop their own activities and programming to facilitate interactions between members and their local community. Activities include capacity building workshops, retreats, learning journeys, debates and discussions. Speak to your Curator about upcoming Hub activities, or propose a new one.

Accelerate Youth Action

Hub Projects and Impact

The Global Shapers Community focuses on moving from talk to action. We are a community of doers. Global Shapers set ambitious goals and implement Hub projects that focus on local transformations. Success is measured by improving the life of at least one person outside of each Hub. Throughout this process, Global Shapers gain key skills and develop knowledge on how to lead and manage projects in their communities.

Innovation Prize

In collaboration with Accenture and the Global Alliance for Youth, the Global Shapers Community launched it new Innovation Prize in 2024. Our Innovation Prize empowers young changemakers worldwide to accelerate positive and lasting change through collective action. The prize rewards inspiring, uplifting, impactful Hub projects with grant funding and valuable training, mentorship and coaching.

Amplify Youth Voices

Write for Agenda

The Global Shapers Community is a network of young people who are talented, knowledgeable and who have a unique perspective on a variety of topics and global issues. The World Economic Forum wants to hear from you. The Agenda explores the Forum’s latest opinion articles, timely analyses and explainers from leaders in business, politics, and civil society. In addition to being able to read all these articles, Global Shapers and Alumni have the opportunity to write for the Agenda, allowing them to both read and contribute to a platform that garners 6 million monthly views. Whether it's on the importance of breaking the stigma around mental health, ensuring the development of inclusive AI, revolutionizing education systems or eradicating plastics from our oceans, share your expertise by pitching a blog!

Pitch your Article

World Economic Forum Meetings

Connections to the World Economic Forum and its network of experts and leaders, expand our members influence and desire to take action.

The World Economic Forum convenes two flagship Annual Meetings, alongside several meetings and events throughout the year. Reflecting its strong commitment to youth representation and intergenerational dialogue, youth delegations are invited to participate in both Annual Meetings.

  • Annual Meeting in Switzerland: Convenes leaders from government, business, and civil society to address the state of the world and discuss priorities for the year ahead.
  • Annual Meeting of New Champions in China: Global gathering on science, technology, innovation and entrepreneurship, convening next generation leaders and executives.

For more information on how to apply and selection criteria, review our Forum Meetings FAQs. Access to events and opportunities is earned, not guaranteed. All major events are subject to open application and selection processes. Global Shapers listed on Forum Spaces may apply, provided they remain eligible at the time of the meeting. All event opportunities are communicated through the monthly newsletter.

World Economic Forum Centres & NextGen Labs

The World Economic Forum organizes its work around several Centres, each dedicated to tackling global challenges and driving positive change. These Centres house multiple initiatives that address key issues across various sectors, such as the global economy, society, technology, and the environment. Global Shapers and Alumni with relevant expertise are encouraged to engage with these initiatives, contributing their knowledge and skills to advance the Forum's mission of improving the state of the world.

NEXT-GEN LABS   NextGen Labs is the engagement framework that integrates the Global Shapers Community into the work of World Economic Forum Centres and Initiatives through structured, outcome-driven collaboration aligned with Forum priorities. Its goal is to amplify the leadership and solutions of young experts by activating a globally diverse network of next-generation leaders and practitioners to embed intergenerational perspectives into Centre work, driving dialogue, generating actionable insights and accelerating impact that shapes global agendas. The NextGen Labs framework is built around three core components: Dialogue, Insights and Action. Together, they provide a comprehensive model for embedding intergenerational perspectives into Centre agendas, from agenda-setting to knowledge generation to implementation.

  • Dialogue enables Centres to convene young experts alongside senior leaders to shape priorities and inform direction.
  • Insights provides structured mechanisms to generate youth-driven intelligence, foresight and knowledge outputs.
  • Action mobilizes and scales youth-led initiatives that advance Centre priorities in practice.

Ongoing Labs:

  • NextGen Lab on Foresight: Future26
  • NextGen Lab on Clean Air: Equal Air Collaborative
  • NextGen Lab on the Longevity Economy
  • NextGen Lab on Circularity

NEXT-GEN LABS CORE COLLABORATORS   Core Collaborators hold a defined leadership and coordination function within a specific NextGen Lab. They act as the primary liaison between the Centre or Initiative and the Global Shapers Community, ensuring alignment, continuity and quality of engagement across Dialogue, Insights and Action.   The role is open to active Global Shapers and Alumni who seek to take on a formal leadership mandate within the framework. Core Collaborators are appointed by HQ in coordination with the relevant Forum team, based on expertise, commitment and alignment with the Lab’s objectives.   Purpose of the Role

  • Create a structured leadership pathway for Global Shapers to engage in the work of Forum Centres
  • Provide Centres with a dedicated community focal point to manage engagement, maintain continuity and support execution
  • Ensure consistent, high-quality coordination across Labs

  Mandate

  • One-year term
  • Running from 1 July to 30 June, aligned with the Global Shapers curatorship cycle
  • Renewable once (maximum of two consecutive years)

  Responsibilities

  • Design and coordinate the NextGen Lab workplan in partnership with the relevant Centre, defining workstreams, timelines and expected outputs within the selected engagement formats
  • Manage the community of participating Shapers within the assigned Lab, ensuring clarity of roles, expectations and communication
  • Moderate and facilitate sessions within the scope of the engagement
  • Represent participating Shapers in relevant World Economic Forum institutional events
  • Participate in regular coordination meetings (every 2–3 weeks) with Forum leads and the GSC team to review progress, align on deliverables and address implementation needs

  Recognition & Benefits Core Collaborators receive formal recognition for their leadership and contribution within the NextGen Labs framework, including:

  • Recognition by the Global Shapers Community
  • Preferential consideration for participation in Global Shapers and Forum institutional events
  • Opportunities to co-design initiatives in collaboration with World Economic Forum Centres
  • Acknowledgment or authorship in relevant Forum knowledge products, where applicable
  • Expanded networks through structured collaboration with senior leaders and Centre teams
  • A Certificate of Recognition upon successful completion of the mandate

NEXT-GEN LABS CONTRIBUTORS   Contributors participate in defined Dialogue, Insights or Action streams within a specific Next Gen Lab. They provide subject-matter expertise, regional perspective and implementation support, while not holding coordination or oversight responsibilities. Engagement is structured and time-bound, with clearly defined expectations aligned with the relevant Centre or Initiative. Depending on the scope of the Lab, Contributors may commit approximately 1–2 hours per week on average.   Role Contributors may:

  • Participate in taskforces or thematic working groups
  • Contribute to knowledge products, consultations and research outputs
  • Support pilot implementation at Hub level
  • Engage in structured dialogue formats and workshops
  • Provide regional insight and local intelligence relevant to Centre priorities

For further information or inquiries related to Next Gen Labs, please contact Tobias Lindström Battle.

Forum Spaces

Forum Spaces is the World Economic Forum’s engagement platform, accessible only by Forum partners and community members, including Global Shapers and Alumni. It is a digital tool used for community, knowledge, and event management as well as showcasing impact and Global Shapers can access a wide range of content curated by the World Economic Forum.

On Forum Spaces, beyond standard community management functions, Global Shapers have access to the following features:

Strategic Intelligence

As Global Shapers, our members automatically receive a free Pro Digital Membership, which grants them access to our Strategic Intelligence platform with unlimited use of advanced analytics and collaboration tools.

The World Economic Forum's Strategic Intelligence is a comprehensive platform designed to enhance understanding of the global, regional, and industry agendas. It leverages a dynamic system of Transformation Maps, which are interconnected and knowledge-driven visualizations of global issues, industries, and countries. These maps are developed in collaboration with experts, practitioners, and researchers and are continuously updated to reflect the latest insights and emerging trends. Global Shapers and Alumni have the opportunity to contribute to these Maps.

Forum Communities

The World Economic Forum Communities are integral components of the Forum's multi-stakeholder approach, designed to foster collaboration and drive global change across various sectors and disciplines. These communities consist of diverse groups, including business leaders, political figures, academics, and other influencers who come together to address the world's most pressing issues.

Exceptional Global Shapers and Alumni, recognized for their impact and leadership, may be nominated or apply to join these communities, where they contribute their perspectives and expertise to addressing pressing global challenges.

If you believe you or a fellow Global Shaper should be nominated for a World Economic Forum Community, email your regional Community Manager with details on the nominee's contributions and potential impact.

For example, Global Shapers and Alumni frequently engage with the following communities:

The Forum of Young Global Leaders

The Forum of Young Global Leaders (YGL) is an initiative of the World Economic Forum that brings together exceptional young leaders under the age of 40 from diverse backgrounds and sectors. Aligned with the World Economic Forum’s mission, the YGL Foundation seeks to drive public-private co-operation in the global public interest. Founded in 2004, the YGL Foundation provides leaders with the insights, tools and learning opportunities they need to amplify aspirations of improving the state of the world. The community is composed of dynamic individuals who have demonstrated significant leadership, impact, and a commitment to shaping a better future. Members are selected for their achievements and potential to drive positive change in their industries and communities. The programme brings them together for a 3-year leadership development journey to realize their potential by joining forces to achieve more.

Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship

The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, sister organization of the World Economic Forum, is a leading global platform to advance social innovation that works to transform society for a more inclusive, equitable and sustainable world. It brings together a community of over 450 social innovators operating in 190 countries across the most diverse and challenging social and environmental issues. Since its inception, the Schwab Foundation has acknowledged social innovators as a brave new breed of leaders – values-driven, inclusive, entrepreneurial individuals who reimagine social and economic systems to be more inclusive of people and more sustainable for our planet. Their models put purpose before profit and have proven to be effective and economically viable in creating social and environmental progress where market or development approaches have failed.

The Schwab Foundation’s Awards seeks to honour social change leaders, across a diversity of social innovation models in society in four different award categories:

  • Social Entrepreneurs
  • Corporate Social Innovators
  • Public Social Innovators
  • Collective Social Innovation Award
Global Future Councils

The World Economic Forum’s network of Global Future Councils is the world’s foremost multistakeholder and interdisciplinary knowledge network dedicated to promoting innovative thinking to shape a more resilient, inclusive and sustainable future. Each council’s insights are taken forward by the Forum’s ongoing initiatives, communities and meetings to ensure impact.

The Network is an invitation-only community. Members join for a two-year term. It works as a time-bound think-tank and convenes around 600 of the most relevant and knowledgeable thought leaders from academia, government, international organizations, business, and civil society, grouped in expertise-based thematic councils.

Innovator Communities
  • Technology Pioneers: The Technology Pioneer Community is composed of early-stage start-ups from around the world involved in the development and deployment of new technologies and innovations. The World Economic Forum selects 100 companies annually to work with society's foremost political, business and cultural leaders to address issues facing people and the planet.
  • Global Innovators: The Global Innovators community was established in 2019 to engage mission-driven, growth-stage companies in the Forum's content-driven initiatives. Companies that are selected to become Global Innovators share insights and connect with public and private sector leaders to solve key issues for people and planet.
  • Unicorns: The Forum’s Unicorns community was established in 2022 to engage hypergrowth, mission-oriented companies, valued at over $1 billion, in the Forum’s work. The Unicorn community offers them a platform to gain insights, develop professionally and connect with large industry players and policy-makers.
UpLink

UpLink unites motivated, mission-aligned entrepreneurs, investors and partners committed to building a resilient global economy. Early-stage start-ups often lack the resources, visibility and connections needed to scale their solutions, and UpLink bridges that gap through a collaborative ecosystem that drives real-world impact. By combining capital, expertise and shared purpose, this growing network accelerates the adoption and scaling of solutions that can transform entire systems and industries, creating measurable progress across economies, sectors and communities.

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