August/September 2025 CEO Letter

 

Dear colleagues,

Every two years, at the JA Global Leadership Conference (GLC), we pause to recognize the extraordinary people and JA locations whose vision, dedication, and innovation move our mission forward. This November, as staff gathers in Rio de Janeiro under the theme of Thrive, we’ll once again present the GLC Awards, our network’s highest honors.

These awards are about more than recognition: They set a standard for the kind of excellence that both inspires us and remind us that every bold idea, every innovative program, and every act of leadership contributes to JA’s global impact.

This year, we’re introducing an expanded set of awards that reflect the creativity and diversity of our network:

  • Jonas Prising Award for Leadership and Lifetime Achievement: Honoring a JA chief executive who has made a significant, sustained contribution to student impact and organizational growth. Named after Jonas Prising, Chairman and CEO of ManpowerGroup, who has served JA as a board chair and board member in multiple JA entities and in multiple geographies, this award reflects the transformative leadership that shapes the future of our network.

  • Soraya Salti Award: Celebrating visionary leaders who push boundaries and inspire systemic change, exemplifying JA’s values through innovation and influence. This award is named in memory of Soraya Salti, the extraordinary founder of INJAZ Al-Arab, who dedicated her life to empowering youth across the Middle East and North Africa.

  • JA Bold Tech Award: Recognizing pioneering uses of technology—AI, VR, immersive apps, and more—that transform learning experiences and deliver measurable outcomes.

  • JA Access Award: Celebrating low-tech and no-tech innovations that ensure students without reliable internet can still access high-quality JA learning experiences.

  • JA Youth Advocacy and Alumni Impact Award: Highlighting JA locations that elevate youth voices and engage alumni as co-creators, advocates, and leaders driving meaningful change.

  • JA Activator Award: Honoring JA locations that excel at adopting and amplifying innovative ideas developed elsewhere in the network, demonstrating collaborative leadership in action.

  • JA Growth and Impact Award: Recognizing JA locations achieving significant student growth while measuring and demonstrating outcomes across JA’s Inspire, Prepare, Succeed pillars.

  • JA Brand Amplification Award: Celebrating creative and powerful storytelling that extends JA’s reach and builds brand visibility, while staying true to our shared identity.

  • [NEW this year] AI in the JA Workplace Award: Recognizing bold, forward-looking JA locations using AI to transform the way we work, improve efficiency, and open up new possibilities for impact.

Staff edition only:
Each award celebrates leadership in its own way but, together, they reflect the heart of our goals: empowering young people with the skills, mindset, and opportunities to thrive. I encourage your JA location to nominate your best work or the work of your colleagues. Your stories inspire others, showcase the breadth of our innovation, and strengthen our shared identity as OneJA.

For full award details and eligibility, visit www.oneja.org/2025-glc-awards. Deadline is September 26, 2025. And don’t forget that you can nominate yourself!

I look forward to seeing many of you in Rio as we celebrate your achievements, learn from one another, and chart the next chapter of JA’s global journey.

Until next time,
Asheesh