Global One Young World Q&A with Clara

Tell us a little bit about yourself and what it means to be this year’s Global OYW delegate.

I feel truly honoured and thankful to have been selected by Deloitte Switzerland as one of the 10 Swiss delegates for the Swiss National OYW Summit and then by Deloitte NSE as the representative of Deloitte Switzerland at this year’s Global OYW Summit in Munich.

Originally from Geneva, a city known for its strong international presence, I have always been driven by a genuine desire to make a meaningful and positive impact on the lives of individuals and the broader society. Guided by this awareness and motivation, I began my legal journey, first as a litigator, and now as a legal counsel, cultivating a profound commitment to upholding justice and advocating for fairness and balanced views.

Attending the Global OYW Summit as a member of the Deloitte delegation has been an invaluable opportunity to broaden my understanding of global challenges, engage with inspiring leaders, and explore innovative ways to drive positive change.

What did you enjoy most about your Global OYW experience?

Without a doubt, the conferences and the people I met.

The Summit covered four critical topics: Peace and Security, Sustainability, Anti-Hate, and Technology.

The first topic was thoughtfully conveyed by influential figures such as Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan, and Nobel Peace Prize laureates, Tawakkol Karman and Maria Ressa, who moved us deeply with their powerful reflections on the alarming state of current global geopolitics.

We also heard poignant testimonies from survivors of history’s darkest moments, Shigemitsu Tanaka, a survivor of the Nagasaki atomic bombing, and Eva Clarke, a survivor of the Holocaust, who shared their stories as a heartfelt and crucial reminder to ensure that history shall not repeat itself.

Moreover, I had the opportunity to meet incredible delegates from various companies, NGOs or associations, with diverse nationalities and backgrounds, all united by a single shared goal: to drive progress and create positive change. In particular, I had the privilege of meeting some inspiring entrepreneurs, who have developed platforms leveraging AI to monitor and prevent natural disasters in South America, empower special needs education in India and combat famine and poverty in rural areas in Africa.

What stood out to you the most from the speeches?

The speeches were remarkably diverse, delivered by individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.

Alongside these heartfelt speeches mentioned above, we were energised by visionary CEOs who are shaping today’s world. While Julien Hemard, CEO of Pernod Ricard Germany, whom he described as a créateur de convivialité, light-heartedly encouraged us to drink more water, Leena Nair, Global CEO of Chanel, shared her remarkable and unconventional journey from her roots in India and a background in electronic engineering to leading a prestigious global luxury brand. 

Deloitte fully embraced the Global OYW Summit’s core mission by empowering two outstanding young leaders, invited as “Deloitte One Young World Scholars”: Zandile Mkwanazi, founder of GirlCode, and Lorena Niera, founder of Blusink.  Elizabeth Faber, our Global Chief People & Purpose Officer, facilitated a thoughtful and inspiring dialogue with Zandile and Lorena, delving into their innovative projects, the challenges they have faced, and the tangible impact they are making. 

Do you have a key takeaway from the Global OYW Summit?

Many speeches emphasised the importance of empathy, a quality often lacking in areas such as politics, health care or artificial intelligence. 

This recurring theme throughout the Summit led to a key takeaway: empathy is not simply a soft skill; it strengthens our leadership and elevates our actions, enabling us to make a meaningful impact. Empathy is essential not only for addressing today’s complex challenges but also for building a more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable future.

To conclude

As Maria Ressa, Nobel Peace Prize laureate 2021, stated “Young people are not the future, they are the present, so act now before it is too late”.