What is the NewNow?
The NewNow is a One Young World program supported by Virgin Unite, empowering the boldest emerging young leaders to shift the paradigm for how leaders worldwide drive change through systems-thinking and collective action.
Who We Are
A collective of rising leaders with exceptional track records of delivering real and lasting impact, committed to building unstoppable momentum towards a fair, sustainable future.
We take on big global challenges through an intersectional, ‘systems-thinking’ lens, for deep and long-term transformation.
"Our world grows more complex by the day and needs a new generation of leadership to tackle the global and local challenges we face. By bringing together brave new thinkers and doers from diverse backgrounds and experiences, we can start to develop a new way of thinking about these challenges and their solutions."
Taylor Wilson, The NewNow Founding Leader
About our mission
Over half the world’s population is under 30 with the power to make change happen. Through our collective strength, shared learning, and with insights and mentorship from leaders before us, we can rewrite the future of our generation and the generations to come.
- We amplify and support the voices of trusted young leaders taking bold strides toward global transformation.
- We challenge the status quo through collective action and strategic collaboration.
- We share knowledge, insights, and approaches, to foster ‘systems-thinking’ among young leaders and their enterprises initiatives.
Our special interest is in systems thinking, with a special focus on the Global South.
Systems thinking is really important for young leaders because it helps them see the big picture when they face challenges. Instead of trying to fix problems on their own, the big challenges we deal with, like inequality, education, women’s rights, and climate change, are part of complex systems.
Roya Mahboob, The NewNow Founding Leader
What do we mean by 'systems-thinking' and why does it matter?
Every pattern of behaviour, business-practice, or societal custom, happens within a complex ecosystem. The biggest challenges we face as humanity – from inequality to the climate emergency – are rooted in deeply embedded systems and structures. Taking on these challenges means that these systems, and those who uphold them, must adapt and evolve from within. For this change to be long-term and sustainable, leaders must adopt a ‘systems-thinking’ approach, which means understanding how to lead change at every level of the system.
Importantly, ‘systems-thinking’ also requires us to take a wider view. The world’s challenges are interlinked, and so it is almost impossible to meaningfully solve one problem, without tackling several others. For example, if we are serious about supporting better youth mental health, alongside transforming the healthcare system, we must also address education, food insecurity and youth unemployment.
Systems-thinking requires grass-roots organisations, business-leaders, educators, tech innovators and politicians to bridge divides, and take action towards building a fair and sustainable future for all.
How will it work?
The NewNow leaders will be offered:
- A place at the One Young World Summit Munich, 2025
- Features on One Young World and Virgin Unite channels elevating their profiles among the global community for young leaders and beyond
- High profile media and speaking opportunities - a chance to contribute to global dialogue and debate
- Access to the exclusive Global Leadership Programme and other One Young World Programmes
- Membership to The NewNow Community, a tailored experience and peer-support community designed to build their confidence, skills, and influence as systems leaders
- Opportunities to collaborate with fellow NewNow leaders on joint projects and advocacy
The NewNow leaders commit to:
- Use their platforms to share stories of young leaders using effective systems-based approaches to make an impact
- Seek out ways to combine strengths and resources to collaborate on new or existing projects and initiatives
This program is essential to young leaders because New Now gave us a support system when all of us needed it the most. It provided us with peers that made our leadership journey less lonely and helped us to not walk alone. This program allows young leaders to learn and grow as a collective and as individuals which is so critical in all of our leadership journeys.
Jaha Dukureh, The NewNow Founding Leader
Who are we looking for?
We are looking for ten of the most trailblazing, impactful leaders from the Global South who have a demonstrable understanding and commitment to creating systemic change. Applicants must apply through the application portal below.
The NewNow Young Leaders 2025
Janet Aguti 🇺🇬
Executive Director, Totya Platform
Janet Aguti is a Ugandan activist and founder of Totya Platform, dedicated to fighting against sexual violence. A survivor herself and a mother, she empowers victims through medical, psychosocial, and legal support while advocating for policy reforms, law enforcement accountability, and cultural shifts to end impunity and stigma. Hence being part of organisations fighting for systems change.
She is currenting sitting on the board of Ending Clergy Abuse (ECA) as the vice president and the advisory board of Brave Movement.
Vishal Tolambia🇬🇧🇮🇳
Founder, Humanity Centred Designs
Vishal Tolambia is a multi-award-winning, Forbes 30 Under 30 entrepreneur and social advocate for sustainable development. He is the founder of Humanity Centred Designs, an 11 international award-winning organization dedicated to empowering Indian artisans and promoting ethical, handcrafted products.
With a strong background in design and sustainability, Vishal is passionate about creating positive social and environmental impact through innovative solutions and community collaboration within the fashion Industry.
Hadiqa Bashir 🇵🇰
Executive Director, Girls United for Human Right
Hadiqa Bashir is a passionate human rights activist and feminist from Swat, Pakistan. As the
Executive Director of Girls United for Human Rights and a survivor of early and forced marriage, she leads transformative efforts to end child marriage, expand access to STEM education, and champion sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR), climate action, and legal aid for vulnerable communities. Guided by systematic thinking, her work tackles the root causes of injustice, earning her widespread international recognition as a powerful advocate for change.
May Asagba 🇳🇬
Founder, CAIN Educational Foundation
May Asagba is a trailblazing leader driving educational equity in Africa.
As Founder/CEO of CAIN Educational Foundation, she built a free state-of-the-art educational center in Nigeria, providing quality education, digital skills, and mentorship to underserved youth, transforming 10,000+ lives and earning global recognition from BBC and UNESCO.
Foday Kamara 🇸🇱
Founder, Ecovironment
Foday David Kamara is a Sierra Leonean social entrepreneur and environmental champion. He is the founder of Ecovironment, a systems-driven enterprise transforming plastic waste into sustainable construction materials, creating green jobs and advancing climate resilience across Sierra Leone.
Foday is reshaping how Africa tackles pollution, poverty and sustainability.
Lilan Dayananda 🇱🇰
CEO of Elzian Agro
Lilan Dayananda, a renowned Sri Lankan social-tech entrepreneur and CEO of Elzian Agro, is celebrated for his innovative contributions to agriculture and sustainability.
He actively empowers marginalized farming communities worldwide, helping them enhance crop yields and maximize resource efficiency through digital inclusion and cutting-edge solutions.
Renata Alvarenga 🇧🇷
Founder, EmpoderaClima
A Harvard graduate and Forbes Under 30 lister, Renata is an award-winning Brazilian leader for gender equality, climate action, and disaster resilience.
As a social entrepreneur, she is the Founder and Executive Director of EmpoderaClima, a youth-led Brazil-based organization implementing education and advocacy programs in Latin America for gender-just climate solutions
Abobakar Miakhel 🇦🇫
Co-Founder, AILEM
Abobakar is a young Afghan refugee, who, inspired by his journey, co-founded AILEM, the award-winning language learning and integration organisation created by refugees for refugees.
Abobakar utilises innovation for social good, and advocates for Afghans and refugees from the UN and the European Parliament to the GFMD and more
Yasmina Benslimane 🇲🇦 🇵🇷
Founder, Politics4Her and Climate Sirens
Yasmina Benslimane is a multi-award-winning feminist activist, consultant, and coach amplifying young women's leadership worldwide. As the founder of Politics4Her and Climate Sirens, she advocates for gender equality, political participation, and climate justice.
Through her work, she has impacted over 100,000 young women globally, championing intersectional, decolonial, and sustainable solutions.
Memory Banda 🇲🇼
Founder, Foundation for Girls Leadership
Memory Banda is a Child Rights Activist. She is the founder of Foundation for Girls Leadership (F4GL), an organization that dares adolescents and young people to be bold for change.
Through her foundation she has led child-and youth led innovative human centered designs initiatives which has exposed 10,000 young people since its inception in 2019 promoting and defending children rights and their self-urgency as advocates for social change.
Candidates must:
- be aged 18 – 30
- be nationals of countries in the Global South
- have demonstrated successful leadership through real and impactful initiatives
- show strong understanding of key local and/or global issues, especially those that require systems thinking approaches
- have a proven track-record of implementing systems-thinking principles to generate innovative, long-term, and sustainable impact
- showcase evidence of impact in addressing complex challenges through systems thinking
- be passionate about advocating for justice, fairness, and equity
- demonstrate a willingness to work collaboratively with The NewNow cohort and help promote successful examples of systems change through their own networks and media opportunities
The NewNow leaders are the compassionate and persistent bridge-builders with desire to do what is right. Where we have to compete we should - and where we have to forgive, we must. It’s young leaders who will beam light of peace to all corners of world in conflict and humanity in suffering.
Victor Ochen, The NewNow Founding Leader