Hub Engagement Last update: July 2025

Hub members collaborate to develop their leadership skills, implement impactful projects, and support one another in finding their voice, learning to listen, influencing others, managing for results, fostering constructive dialogue, and building consensus. Each hub is unique, existing at different stages of development. It's important to set goals that are right for your hub, whether you're a new group with just a few members or a well-established team.

As you begin each new Curatorship Year, work together to define your goals and ensure all members are committed to and actively contribute to your mission and vision. This guide is designed to help you maximize your hub's engagement and governance, providing the support you need to thrive.

Hub Principles (a Recap)

  • Global Shapers Hubs are city-based volunteering communities that designed to harness the power of collaborative decision-making and collective action.
  • Hubs are an integral part of our global network – The Global Shapers Community, a non-profit, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
  • The Global Shapers Community’s mission is to develop youth leaders, accelerate youth action and amplify youth voices.
  • Each hub of at least 20 members is led by a Curatorship team serving for a one-year mandate, has a sub-regional Community Champion for support, and a Community Manager serving as the primary contact with Global Shapers HQ.
  • Impartial and independent, hubs cannot be formed based on political, racial, religious, or sectoral affiliations. They reflect the diversity and demographics of their respective cities.
  • Hubs are responsible for prioritizing impactful projects for people outside the hubs and meaningful activities for members inside the hubs.
  • Hubs organize regular meetings—ideally twice a month, but at least once a month. Each member is expected to participate in a minimum of 60% of hub meetings and contribute to at least one project per year. This is the minimum; there's so much more hubs can do!
  • Hubs are safe spaces for the personal and professional development of each member.

Hub Charter

Create a written constitution to set expectations, avoid misunderstandings and maintain a standard of excellence in your hub. This document should be locally relevant while adhering to the Global Shapers Community Charter as the foundation for all local guidelines.

  • As a hub, co-design and define common values and responsibilities for all hub members to foster accountability.
  • To create ownership, have new and existing hub members sign the charter in a hub meeting.
  • You don’t have to build a Charter from scratch, use previous hub resources, ask other hubs and seek guidance from your Community Champion.

When it comes to your local guidelines, you may wish to ask yourself:

  • Do we have a charter and have all members read it? Are the requirements still relevant?
  • What is our hub's engagement policy? Are there clear expectations for all members?
  • Do you have membership selection committees or bodies appointed to fulfil this role?
  • What are your recruitment cycles? Are your recruitment practices inclusive to all?
  • Does your hub have a probation period and defined onboarding process for new members?
  • How do you welcome, celebrate and mentor new members to fully integrate into the hub?
  • Does your hub have a clear transfer policy? Where is it communicated?
  • What is your hub's leadership structure? Do you have distributed roles and responsibilities?
  • Do hub projects have clear focal points? Does your hub have an Impact Officer?
  • Do you have a conflict resolution policy and/or committee to terminate hub membership?
“Our charter has evolved significantly since the first iteration. We conduct an annual review and amend the charter at hub retreats. This helps set and clarify expectations for all hub members" - Durrie Hassan, Hong Kong Hub

Recruitment and Onboarding of New Members

As a hub, design a recruitment process that is repeatable, easy-to-execute and relevant to your local context. Be intentional about recruiting diverse and committed Shapers – both experienced leaders and candidates with potential. Read the Recruitment Overview section in the Hub Membership guide for additional details.

“When we host a local event, for example our series #ShapeTalk, we take five minutes to introduce our hub and highlight our open recruitment policy to the audience. This helps build awareness and a diverse pool of applicants.” - Akil Logeswaran, Munich Hub

Establish a Clear Onboarding Process

Develop a written document capturing the essential knowledge and actions required when new members join your hub. Share this document with all hub members to support the onboarding of new Shapers. Reference the community’s Official Guides and complement it with your hub’s charter and other local resources, including a list of all Shapers.

  • Ensure new Shapers complete their formal registration on TopLink.
  • Encourage existing Shapers to share their expertise and serve as mentors for new members, fostering a supportive and knowledgeable community.
  • Clearly communicate the hub’s participation requirements, setting realistic expectations to ensure everyone is on the same page.
  • Maintain records of join dates and ages of Shapers to track when they will transition to Alumni, and plan something special to celebrate Shaper birthdays, adding a personal touch to their journey.
“Building strong, trusting relationships is the foundation of creating impact. We host a hub retreat and start with a one- hour orientation session for new members within their first month of joining the community.” - Tanya Schmitt, Minneapolis Hub

Hub Culture

Attracting members is just the first step; creating opportunities for personal and professional growth will help keep them engaged and committed. Fostering a strong hub culture begins with a shared vision or project pipeline. This process involves not only setting ambitious goals but also creating an inclusive environment where every member feels valued and empowered to contribute.

A thriving hub culture is built on trust, open communication, and mutual respect. Encourage members to share their diverse perspectives and ideas, fostering an atmosphere of collaboration and innovation. Regular meetings and social events can strengthen bonds and ensure that everyone is aligned with the hub’s mission and values. Moreover, recognize and celebrate the contributions and milestones of your members. Acknowledging their efforts boosts morale and reinforces a sense of belonging. Practical support, such as mentoring programs and professional development opportunities, can help members grow and stay engaged.

Build Trust and Friendships

Encourage social and extracurricular activities to foster friendships within the hub. The options available will vary based on your location, ranging from monthly dinners and yoga sessions to volunteering opportunities that benefit the local community.

  • Cultivate Friendships: Foster a hub environment where members see each other as friends, not just colleagues. Adhere to official guidelines for organization while prioritizing the building of meaningful relationships.
  • Engage Personally: Begin hub meetings by inviting Shapers to share updates on their current projects and reflect on the highlights or challenges of their week. Offer assistance and encouragement as needed.
  • Promote Social Engagement: Encourage Shapers to propose and organize social activities, whether formal gatherings like attending local speaking events or informal team-building exercises following meetings.
Remember, a strong hub culture is dynamic and evolves with the needs and aspirations of its members. By continuously nurturing this culture, you can create a resilient and passionate community capable of making a lasting impact.

Hub Retreats: Maximizing Engagement and Collaboration

Hub retreats are pivotal for Global Shapers to cultivate camaraderie, align on goals, and strategize for success. Allocate sufficient time for both productive discussions and social bonding to enhance participation. Make attendance mandatory for all hub members, ensuring everyone contributes to shaping the hub's direction.

  • Strategic Timing: Host a retreat following the Global Shaper Annual Summit to rejuvenate and implement new ideas.
  • Alignment and Integration: Conduct a retreat after recruiting new members to align on objectives, values, and expectations.
  • Inclusive Discussions: Dedicate time for feedback from all Shapers, old and new, fostering open dialogue and collective decision-making.
  • Vision Setting: Use the retreat to establish unified goals and a vision that guides the hub throughout the year.
  • Documentation and Accountability: Assign someone to document discussions, action items, and follow-up responsibilities to ensure continuity and progress.
  • Early Planning: Set the retreat date early to maximize participation and accessibility for all members.
  • Global Collaboration: Consider inviting Shapers from other hubs via video conference to share insights and experiences, promoting cross-hub learning and global network integration.

By implementing these strategies, hub retreats become powerful tools for enhancing cohesion, productivity, and global connectivity within the Global Shapers Community.

Virtual Session Toolkit

Are you gearing up to host a virtual workshop, conversation, or meeting with your hub or local stakeholders? This toolkit is your go-to resource, packed with essential tips on setting clear intentions, testing technologies, crafting effective agendas, and refining your facilitation approach to ensure successful virtual sessions.

This toolkit equips you with strategies to navigate the complexities of virtual facilitation, fostering collaborative and impactful sessions within your hub or community.

1. Intention Setting

In virtual sessions, without the benefit of non-verbal cues or physical tools, honing your virtual facilitation skills is crucial for reading participant energy and maintaining engagement. Equally vital is setting clear intentions for the atmosphere and objectives you aim to achieve. Whether advancing long-term hub plans, strengthening projects, or fostering new relationships among members, defining these objectives and desired outcomes upfront is key.

2. Testing Technology

If Zoom is your platform of choice, ensure both you and participants are comfortable with its features beforehand. Provide introductory materials and share guidelines, such as joining with a stable internet connection and using a headset for clarity. Consider incorporating collaborative tools like Google Docs or Mural for interactive sessions.

3. Design Your Agenda

Time is precious in hub meetings, so start and end promptly. Tailor your agenda to suit your group size and session goals, incorporating check-ins, focused work segments, sharing sessions, and clear next steps. Vary formats to keep sessions engaging and invite participant input for future topics.

4. Facilitation Approach

Facilitating virtually often benefits from a team approach, especially for larger groups. Roles like main facilitator, co-facilitator, technology host, energy keeper, and harvester help ensure smooth sessions. Focus on creating conducive virtual spaces, nurturing participant engagement, and managing session logistics effectively.

Twin Cities Programme

The Global Shapers Twin Cities Programme is inspired by the sister city concept and enables broad-based, long-term partnerships between two city-based hubs. The main goal of the Twin Cities Programme is to strengthen collaboration within the Global Shapers Community through the exchange of insights, ideas and best practices.

Our Twin Cities Programme enables participating hubs to:

  • Gain insights into different cities worldwide through regular contact with twin hubs.
  • Exchange and replicate best practices for hub recruitment, engagement and impact.
  • Build new skills through peer-led trainings and mentorship provided by twin hubs.
  • Access peer support for hub leaders (Curators, Vice-Curators and Impact Officers).
  • Explore joint challenges and develop various approaches for place-based solutions.
  • Join forces to launch new global initiatives and share changemaking methodologies.
  • Influence global affairs through long-term cooperation, collaboration and partnership
The Vice-Curator of each hub is responsible to oversee the implementation of the Twin Cities Programme and facilitate the exchange of best practices, insights, ideas, learnings and solutions between hubs over the Curatorship year.

Vice-Curators should set-up regular calls that bring hub members together to exchange ideas. We propose the following structure and topics for your upcoming calls:

  • Step 1: Where do we come from? Get to know more about your twin hub’s city, community and country. What challenges and opportunities does their community face?
  • Step 2: How do we get things done? Get to know how your twin hub is organized. How do they recruit, distribute roles, what do they put in their local charter, and more?
  • Step 3: What are we working on now? Get to know what projects your twin hub delivers. How do they enable positive and lasting impact in their local community?
  • Step 4: Where do we want to go? Get to know about your twin hub’s aspirations and plans. What issues will they will work on next? What space exists for collaboration?
  • Step 5: What have we learnt? Share with each other your key learnings and what you take away from this experience. Take a moment to share your gratitude and appreciation.

There is no set time commitment for the Twin Cities Programme. Varying opportunities for engagement allow participants to adjust involvement based on their capacity. Additional activities that participating hubs can consider include but are not limited to:

  • Development of a buddy system for new hub members from different city-based hubs.
  • Joint onboarding sessions with new hub members and Community Champions.
  • Creation of a repository of ideas, best practices or solutions for creating lasting change.
  • Working sessions between similar positions (for example, Curators or Wellbeing Officers).
  • Brainstorming sessions to exchange tactics for recruitment, engagement or elections.
  • Guest speakers, facilitators or Firestarter remarks for hub meetings from twin hubs.
  • Joint projects, cross-hub collaborations or global initiatives to make a difference.
  • In-person Twin Cities visits to see first-hand hub members and the local community.

The Twin Cities Programme is not intended as a fundraising mechanism for paired hubs. Hubs should not exchange donations or ask for financial contributions from one another. Contact your Community Manager or Global Shapers Headquarters for more information.

Your Hub has not found a Twin yet? No worries, there are still plenty of Hubs to choose from! Discuss with your Hub what your Twinning objectives for this year should be. Do you want to learn how to successfully recruit and retain members? Do you want to find inspiration from great existing projects? Or your goal is to broaden views of your members and learn about youth activism across the oceans? Once you have your objectives set, find a perfect match and reach out to them directly on Forum Spaces to suggest twinning for this year.

Annual Calendar

The Global Shapers Calendar Year begins on 1 July and ends on 30 June. While each year our Community Calendar changes, many milestones stay the same. For example, the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting happens each year in January, elections run each year in February, and new Curators, Vice-Curators and Impact Officers begin their leadership mandate on 1 July. Review our community's yearly milestones and key processes below:

JULY

  • 01 July Curatorship Transition: Curators, Vice-Curators and Impact Officers begin their new mandate.
  • 01 July Governing Bodies Transition: Governing Bodies begin their new mandate.
  • Global Shapers Annual Summit welcomes hub leaders to Geneva, Switzerland.
  • Global Shapers Foundation Board convenes in Geneva, Switzerland.

AUGUST

  • Hubs host retreats (either locally or sub-regionally) to set goals for the year ahead.
  • Hubs conduct membership audits before the Annual Meeting application opens.

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

  • Hub Incubator kicks-off a 100-day onboarding programme for new Founding Curators.
  • Alumni Celebration Day celebrates Shapers who have recently transitioned to our alumni community.

NOVEMBER

  • The Annual Meeting #Davos50 representatives are announced in our newsletter.

DECEMBER

  • End-of-Year Celebrations showcase accomplishments and recognize members.
  • Project Showcases spotlight leading projects and initiatives per region worldwide.

JANUARY

  • The Annual Meeting welcomes 50 Global Shapers and 2,000 World Economic Forum members to Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, to build problem-solving initiatives.
  • All Global Shapers are invited to follow the Annual Meeting and watch live sessions.
  • Global Shapers Board Meeting convenes in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland.

FEBRUARY

MARCH

  • 01 March: Deadline to submit elections results to Global Shapers Headquarters.
  • SHAPE Events often begin worldwide. Be sure to attend your regional SHAPE!
  • Incoming Curators are invited to register for the Global Shapers Annual Summit.
  • Hub Audit closes hubs that fail to uphold the standards outlined in our Charter.

APRIL

  • Alumni Celebration Day celebrates Shapers who have recently transitioned to our alumni community.

MAY

  • May is our Month of Impact! Impact Officers share missing projects and progress on TopLink.
  • Hub leaders have 1 month left in their roles. This is the final push to achieve annual goals!

JUNE

  • 30 June Hub Leadership Ends: Curator, Vice-Curator and Impact Officer mandates come to an end.
  • Curators, Vice-Curators and Impact Officers complete the end-of-year Annual Review to share feedback.
  • All Global Shapers complete the end-of-year Annual Review to shape our future strategy.

Curatorship Curriculum - Best Practices for a One-Year Mandate

The Global Shapers HQ designed a twelve-month self-paced curriculum. This curriculum featured five modules split over the one-year mandate. Each module focused on a specific responsibility and associated skill set related to effective hub leadership. Resources and recordings are available for each module.

Explore the best practices identified by past hub leaders since 2011, below!

Module 1: Learn, Evaluate and Strategize (July - August) - Assess your knowledge about the Global Shapers Community and take stock of where your hub stands. Define a roadmap to advance your hub's goals over the next twelve months.

  • Learn: Start by familiarizing yourself with essential resources. Understand the Global Shapers Community Charter and explore and share the Official Guides covering membership management, meeting protocols, and more. Review and enforce the Responsible Behaviour guidelines to maintain a respectful hub environment.
  • Evaluate: Conduct a thorough evaluation ensuring you meet the hub minimum requirements. Update your hub's TopLink page and digital presence. Ensure membership meets diversity and participation standards. Revise or create local guidelines aligned with the Global Shapers Charter.
  • Strategize: Tailor your hub's vision and goals and engage all members by defining the yearly objectives. Participate in the Global Shapers Annual Summit to drive collective impact. Align hub activities with sustainability practices for in-person meetings.

Module 2: Mobilize and Connect (September-October) - This module focuses on effective leadership and fostering connectivity within your hub to drive collective action.

  • Mobilize: Focus on empowering every member of your hub by assigning meaningful roles aligned with your collective goals and vision. From Curators and Vice Curators overseeing operations and growth, to Impact Officers ensuring project excellence, each role plays a crucial part. Emphasize inclusivity and engagement, ensuring all members contribute actively. Address recruitment strategically, aiming for diversity and skill alignment, reflecting your community's demographics. By mobilizing effectively, your hub can harness diverse talents to drive impactful initiatives forward.
  • Connect: Facilitate regular interactions and meetings within your hub to maintain alignment and momentum. Monthly gatherings serve as crucial touchpoints for discussing progress, refining strategies, and fostering unity. Enhance connectivity through activities like Hub Retreats for team cohesion, Meet the Leaders sessions for networking with local influencers, and Stakeholder Dialogues to engage community stakeholders. Foster informal interactions to strengthen personal bonds and inspire collaborative efforts. Forge meaningful partnerships with local stakeholders, leveraging community insights and media engagement to amplify your hub's initiatives and impact.

Module 3: Assess, Share and Celebrate (November - December) - This module will help you to assess your achievements to-date. Learn how to develop a positive feedback culture, facilitate inclusive conversations that lead to action, and express gratitude.

  • Assess: Focus on evaluating your hub's progress and member engagement. Reflect on the goals set at the beginning of your term and assess achievements against them. Conduct individual reviews to identify successes and areas needing improvement. Facilitate open discussions during hub meetings to encourage members to share their experiences and insights. Address any challenges or member issues constructively, seeking feedback to refine strategies for the upcoming months. Ensure all members feel supported and motivated to contribute effectively to the hub's mission.
  • Share: Communicate your hub's progress and accomplishments to stakeholders, including partners and Global Shapers HQ. Collaborate with your Impact Officer to showcase achievements on platforms like Toplink and social media. Involve stakeholders in future plans and express gratitude for their support. Document milestones and project updates comprehensively to inspire other hubs and showcase your impact globally. Utilize feedback to enhance transparency and strengthen relationships within your community.
  • Celebrate: Wrap up the calendar year by celebrating your hub's achievements and collective efforts. Transform your end-of-year hub meeting into a festive occasion to recognize accomplishments, acknowledge members' contributions, and foster camaraderie. Consider creating awards, inviting special guests, or involving Alumni to highlight achievements and inspire future initiatives. Emphasize the importance of resilience and learning from setbacks, ensuring all members feel valued and motivated for the year ahead.

Module 4: Support, Motivate and Facilitate (January - March) - This module will help you understand the roles of follower, supporter and facilitator. Adopt a growth mindset and a desire to learn and embrace challenges, share the spotlight with your peers and empower leadership potential in others. This module will also cover how to run democratic and transparent elections.

  • Support: Prepare for upcoming hub elections by familiarizing yourself with Election Guidelines and ensuring a fair and transparent process. Encourage potential candidates for Curator, Vice-Curator and Impact Officer roles and support them in developing their leadership plans. Facilitate discussions among hub members to ensure a diverse range of candidates and promote an inclusive election environment. Your goal is to foster enthusiasm and ensure all members feel empowered to participate in the democratic process.
  • Motivate: Launch an open call for Curator, Vice-Curator and Impact Officer applications to promote transparency and inclusivity within your hub. Encourage all members to consider applying, fostering a culture where leadership opportunities are accessible to all. Support potential candidates through mentorship and personalized encouragement, ensuring they understand the responsibilities and expectations associated with hub leadership. Maintain an open dialogue to address concerns and motivate reluctant candidates to step forward.
  • Facilitate: Facilitate the election process by providing equal opportunities for candidates to present their leadership plans to hub members. Ensure all proposals are accessible on TopLink for transparent review and discussion. Promote voter engagement to achieve a valid election outcome, emphasizing the importance of participation in shaping the hub's future. Appreciate and acknowledge all candidates for their contributions, ensuring a supportive environment where runner-ups are reintegrated and encouraged to continue impacting the hub positively.

Module 5: Solicit Feedback, Finalize and Empower (April - June) - This final module will help you to reflect on your achievements and provide feedback on your progress. You will complete all pending tasks, empower your successor and ensure a smooth leadership transition for your hub. Your term will come to an end!

  • Deliver Results: As your Curatorship nears its conclusion, focus on solidifying your leadership legacy. Complete outstanding tasks from your Curatorship checklist and ensure all initiatives are on track for completion by June 30th. Reflect on the impact you aimed to achieve and take decisive actions to fulfill your commitments to the hub and community. Fill the Annual Review to report on hub progress in June, and ensure maximum responses from hub members.
  • Seek Feedback: Seek honest and constructive feedback from hub members regarding your leadership. Conduct anonymous surveys or engage in one-on-one discussions to gather insights on your strengths and areas for improvement. Consult with your Community Manager or Regional Champion to gain additional perspective on your leadership journey. Use this feedback to refine your skills and leave a positive impact on future Curators.
  • Empower Successor: Prepare for a smooth transition by empowering your successor with essential knowledge and insights. Document key learnings, challenges, and successful strategies to guide the next Curator effectively. Ensure all necessary information is transferred and provide ongoing support to facilitate a seamless handover process. Empower your successor to build upon your achievements and continue advancing the hub’s mission with enthusiasm and clarity.

Curatorship Curriculum Virtual Sessions (Recordings & Slides 2020-2023)

Curatorship Curriculum Virtual Sessions in 2020-2021

Curatorship Curriculum Virtual Sessions in 2021-2022

Curatorship Curriculum Virtual Sessions in 2022-2023

Impact Curriculum Virtual Sessions (Recordings & Slides 2021-2023)

Impact Curriculum Virtual Sessions 2021-2022

Impact Curriculum Virtual Sessions 2022-2023

Return to Homepage
CREATED BY
Global Shapers Community