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
- hHgh 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.
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
- 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