Davos Reflections: Youth, Partnership, and Shared Responsibility
January 23, 2026
Each year, the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, offers an opportunity not only to reflect on global challenges, but to reimagine who has a voice in shaping solutions. This year, JA Worldwide joined partners, board members, and colleagues from across the JA network to engage in conversations focused on education, skilling, and technology.
From formal panels to informal gatherings, the week reinforced a shared belief across the JA network: We need to prepare youth for the future of work by connecting education with business. Below is a curated snapshot of how JA leaders, board members, and partners engaged at Davos, shared through their own reflections and moments from the week.
Highlights from Davos
Ahead of Davos, Asheesh Advani, CEO of JA Worldwide, reflected on the importance of identifying the human capabilities that matter most for youth as we confront a period of deep geopolitical shifts, accelerating AI disruption, and rising complexity.
While in Davos, we were especially proud to be a convening partner for Education House with Teach for All and HundrED. Session partners included Dalberg, Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), Remake Learning, SEK Education Group, ShikshaLokam, Teach Billions, The Villars Institute, and Education International, as well as media partners Devex and Diplomatic Courier. (The session was so popular that it had a waiting list for registration!) Together, we created a shared space for cross-sector dialogue on the future of learning, youth capabilities, and collective responsibility. We were honored with the presecne of the Prime Minister of Mongolia, Prime Minister Gombojavyn Zandanshatar. Because JA is in the process of establishing a member location in Mongolia, this was a timely meeting. Asheesh joined JA Worldwide Board Member Rebecca Winthrop to lead the first panel at Education House, “What Are the Capabilities Youth Need to Navigate the World Today and in the Future Ahead?”
Education was also front and center at Youth House, where a panel explored how young people can engage in global governance using pro-social media tools. Tere Stouffer, Chief Marketing Officer of JA Worldwide, participated in the session, sharing a JA perspective on youth agency and the role of collective intelligence in shaping more inclusive systems.
With Davos in its backyard, JA Europe played an especially active role throughout the week, convening and contributing to multiple conversations at the intersection of education, leadership, entrepreneurship, and artificial intelligence.
CEO Salvatore Nigro participated in a discussion at the House of Trust around education and AI, emphasizing the importance of human-centered innovation and responsible design.
At Wisdom House, Deputy CEO Diana Filip presented at a high-level roundatable on "Empowering the Next Generation with Human Skills for Leadership, Work, and Impact."
At the Leaders Forum Davos, Salvatore participated in a panel discussion titled “Society Resilience: How to cooperate to face systemic challenges of the XXI century?”
Other leaders from across the JA network were also active participants.
Simi Nwogugu, President and CEO of JA Africa, shared reflections on key themes emerging from the week, and spoke at Belgium House about an AI-generated TV episode designed around an African girl learning financial capability.
Noël Zemborain, President of JA Americas, reflected on conversations at Davos and the role of youth entrepreneurship across the Americas.
JA Worldwide Board and Global Council members also engaged deeply throughout the week:
Jonas Prising, Chairman and CEO of ManpowerGroup, JA Worldwide Board Member, and former Board Chair, shared reflections on leadership and the future of work.
Rebecca Winthrop, Director of the Center for Universal Education at Brookings Institution and a JA Worldwide Board Member, played a particularly influential role in Davos. Her reflections focused on transforming education systems in an era shaped by AI, youth agency, and rapid global change, underscoring the urgency of designing learning environments that prepare young people not just for jobs, but for active participation in society.
Bhakti Vithalani, Founder and CEO of Reps and JA Worldwide Board Member, shared insights from discussions on people-centered, multimodal approaches to AI. Her post also marked the announcement of her company’s new name, unveiled in Davos.
Omar Bawa, Founder and CEO of Goodwall and a member of the JA Global Council, convened three high-level conversations on preparing the next generation with future-ready skills. As a partner of JA Worldwide, Goodwall plays a tech-forward role in expanding access to opportunity, community, and purpose for young people worldwide.
We were also pleased to have brought together a broader JA delegation, including Johanna Aebi, CEO of JA Switzerland (YES) and additional colleagues from JA Worldwide and JA Europe, including Ana Martiningui, Sam Alpert, and Sophie Norman.
The week concluded with a dinner sponsored by JA Global Council member X. Rick Niu, bringing together JA staff and honored guests, including Francesco Vanni d'Archirafi, Chair of Euroclear and JA Worldwide Emeritus Board Member, and Cid Wilson, President and CEO at HACR and Board Member of Junior Achievement New Jersey and Junior Achievement USA. Reflecting on the gathering, Cid shared a personal perspective on leadership, connection, and shared purpose during the Davos week.
Looking Ahead
We’re grateful to everyone who joined us in Davos, shared their perspectives, and helped advance a collective commitment to the economic opportunities of young people.