Events

The World’s Toughest Job

Virtual Dialogue Series on the Next UN Secretary-General

In 2026, the United Nations will select its 10th Secretary-General,  a role often described as the world’s top diplomat. But what does that job actually involve? What kind of leadership does this moment demand? And how should young people and young countries shape expectations of the office?

The World’s Toughest Job is a four-part intergenerational dialogue series as part of a broader effort by the United Nations Foundation. Each session unpacks a different dimension of the Secretary-General’s role to demystify the job and surface priorities that reflect the realities of a rapidly changing world.

The Role

March 12 | 8:30-9:45am ET

What the UN Secretary-General actually does: how global priorities are set and cooperation is kept moving in a divided world.

The Leadership

March 19 | 8:30-9:45am ET

The qualities that matter most in global leadership today and what young people expect from the person representing We the Peoples.

The Trade Offs

March 26 | 8:30-9:45am ET

How decisions are really made inside the UN, why trade-offs shape outcomes, and what judgment looks like when power is shared.

The Vision

April 2 | 8:30-9:45am ET

How the UN Secretary-General helps anticipate what’s coming next and protect the interests of future generations.

Guest Speakers

Hear from inside the UN system and beyond, including former leaders, diplomats, global advocates and young people shaping what comes next.

Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli

Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli

President and CEO of the ONE Campaign
Aya Chebbi

Aya Chebbi

Founder and President, Nala Feminist Collective
Corinne Momal Vanian

Corinne Momal Vanian

Executive Director, Kofi Annan Foundation
Tony Oweke

Tony Oweke

Research Fellow, Artificial Intelligence, Council on Foreign Relations
Richard Gowan

Richard Gowan

Director of UN and Multilateral Diplomacy, International Crisis Group
Mariam Solika

Mariam Solika

Young Leader for the SDGs
Mavis Owusu-Gyamfi

Mavis Owusu-Gyamfi

President & CEO, African Center for Economic Transformation
Elizabeth Cousens

Elizabeth Cousens

President and CEO, United Nations Foundation
Jacob Blasius

Jacob Blasius

Executive Director, Global Student Forum
Nudhara Yusuf

Nudhara Yusuf

Co-Chair, Coalition for the UN We Need
Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli

Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli

President and CEO of the ONE Campaign
Aya Chebbi

Aya Chebbi

Founder and President, Nala Feminist Collective
Corinne Momal Vanian

Corinne Momal Vanian

Executive Director, Kofi Annan Foundation
Tony Oweke

Tony Oweke

Research Fellow, Artificial Intelligence, Council on Foreign Relations
Richard Gowan

Richard Gowan

Director of UN and Multilateral Diplomacy, International Crisis Group
Mariam Solika

Mariam Solika

Young Leader for the SDGs
Mavis Owusu-Gyamfi

Mavis Owusu-Gyamfi

President & CEO, African Center for Economic Transformation
Elizabeth Cousens

Elizabeth Cousens

President and CEO, United Nations Foundation
Jacob Blasius

Jacob Blasius

Executive Director, Global Student Forum
Jacob Blasius

Nudhara Yusuf

Co-Chair, Coalition for the UN We Need

Insights will feed into a youth-led open letter and final synthesis report on how leadership of the office is understood from day one.

Intergenerational dialogues to shape our shared future

Building a fair and sustainable world requires bringing together diverse generations – combining fresh ideas from young leaders with the experience of policymakers and communities worldwide. At Our Future Agenda, our events foster meaningful conversations that bridge generational divides and ensure all voices are heard on global stages.

Our events create spaces where young people and decision-makers meet, collaborate, and shape global agendas. We host four key types of events:

Pitstops to the 2027 SDG Summit

These virtual dialogues occur at strategic moments leading up to the final 2027 SDG Summit. They provide regular opportunities for young changemakers, global policymakers, and experts to track progress, share insights, and co-create solutions on pressing global issues like climate action, economic equity, and social justice.

Register for a Pistop today!

National Town Halls

Our town halls connect local communities directly with national and international policymakers, creating platforms for intergenerational dialogue. Hosted globally – from Brazil to Sierra Leone and India – these forums ensure grassroots voices inform policies and action plans for the future, building bridges between local concerns and global solutions.

India Consultations

Specially tailored consultations across India provide young Indian leaders with opportunities to influence policy on national and global scales. Covering topics like sustainable cities, digital innovation, economic opportunities, and climate resilience, these sessions feed directly into global conversations, amplifying India’s voice and priorities on the world stage.

In Person at the United Nations

Held at the United Nations in New York, our high-level events place young leaders face-to-face with global decision-makers. These gatherings highlight youth leadership and intergenerational collaboration, ensuring young voices directly influence UN discussions and international policymaking.

Our Impact

Through our events, we’ve created meaningful change:

Engaged +100,000 in-person worldwide through National Town Halls, influencing national and international policies.
Connected young leaders directly to global decision-makers at the United Nations, impacting global summits like the SDG Summit and the Summit of the Future.
Amplified diverse youth voices from India consultations and global Pitstops, informing and inspiring action at local and global levels.

How to Engage

We welcome young changemakers, community leaders, policymakers, and advocates passionate about creating an inclusive and sustainable future:

Join an event: Attend upcoming Pitstops, Town Halls, and UN dialogues.

Host a dialogue: Organize a Town Hall or consultation in your community.

Stay connected: Subscribe for event updates and opportunities to shape global conversations.