Global shapers on the move: A Bangladeshi pioneer at India Economic Summit

Global Shapers Community is a network of city-based hubs developed and led by young leaders between 20 and 30 years of age who want to develop their leadership potential towards serving society.  It is one of several multi-stakeholder communities at the World Economic Forum. This community now has over 356 hubs in over 150 countries with over 4,000 young people at work. Global Shapers are well represented in South Asia with their 36 hubs.
Shapers are highly motivated individuals who have a great potential for future leadership roles in society. They are selected on the basis of their achievements, leadership potential, and commitment to make a difference and enthusiasm into building a more peaceful and inclusive world.
Through the Global Shapers Community, shapers are provided with opportunities to connect with the worldwide network, to collaborate with other World Economic Forum communities, and to represent the voice of the youth at several events of the World Economic Forum and its strategic partners globally.
Local hubs work with governments, businesses, and cultural leaders in impact-driven initiatives to improve their communities. The Dhaka hub was formed a year back and currently has 6 members. Dhaka hub is currently working on lots of interesting projects.
Global shapers have already shared their voice at the recent Annual Meeting of New Champions in Dalian, the Special Meeting on Economic Growth and Job Creation in the Arab World, the India Economic Summit, and the Annual Meeting at Davos. They raised voice against the most pressing global issues and interacted to come up with viable solutions. In this way the shapers are helping to maintain the growth and dynamism of the world.
It is in one such global meeting platform, the Indian Economic Summit, our representative from the Dhaka hub, global shaper Saif Kamal, left a promising mark. From 4 to 6 November 2014 in New Delhi, the World Economic Summit hosted the India Economic Summit 2014. Held under the theme 'Public Sector, Private Sector Corporation for a New Beginning', the Summit brought together business leaders, members of the public sector, media, as well as communities of The Forum, including the Young Global Leaders and 40 Global Shapers from India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
This year's programme focused on key issues of national and regional importance under three sub-themes: Boosting Global Competitiveness; Launching a Domestic System Reset; and Scaling Local and Social Innovation. The first session aimed at the skill and employment "Which comes first: Employment or Employability?" Through innovative session formats, participants examined how sustainable and equitable growth can be achieved and considered innovative strategies to tackle corruption, gender violence, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure and other looming issues. A major focus of the programme was on ways to scale local and social innovation to achieve inclusive growth.  
Saif Kamal, who runs the social innovation lab Toru -- an idea tree -- was able to actively take part by sharing and learning from leaders. "It was very fascinating to see not just the heads of corporations but bureaucrats and political leaders being open to newer ideas and interest in implementing solutions, accepting the flaws in systems and making a promise to bring a change," he says.
The global shapers joined in many interactive sessions and panel discussions. The panel was mainly divided into two kinds -- breakout sessions and panels. Some of the esteemed panel members included Ms. Smriti Irani, Human Resource Development Minister; Mr. Arun Jaitley, Minister of Finance, Minister of Corporate Affairs and Minister of Information and Broadcasting of India; Mr. Yorihiko Kojima, Chairman of Mitshubishi; Mr. Anand Mahindra, Chairman of Mahindra & Mahindra; Professor Klaus Schwab, the Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum; Deb Roy of the MIT Media Lab; Saranth Amunugama, Senior Minister of International Monetary Cooperation of Sri Lanka; Shekhar Kapur Film Director; Bhaskar Pramanik, Chairman of Microsoft India; Barkha Dutt, group editor NDTV, and many others.
Saif mentions the global shapers focused on the 'positive disruption'. He says, "We threw in the ideas and represented the voice of the majority of the population: the youth. We dared to ask the questions less asked and shared our thoughts on solutions. What impressed me most was how each Global Shaper stood out with his or her thoughts and ideas which are implemented, be it on a small scale."
The frank and lively discussions drew upon the dynamic and energetic spirit and in so doing underscored the wisdom of taking the Summit from the centre into the states where the world's implementation agenda must be realised.
 The core of many collaborative sessions focused on "nudging", which mainly focuses on small changes which, when implemented, can lead to behavioural change. Behavioural change is the most important factor when it comes to addressing large-scale social issues like violence against women, littering on the streets or a nationwide health and hygiene behavioural shift. After many sessions, the esteemed panel members, dignitaries and delegates reached out to shapers to take the discussion ahead and how they can help the idea discussed grow further.
Moreover, the shapers also got to meet CEOs from strategic partner companies of the World Economic Forum to discuss their views on several prevailing issues.
Saif was thrilled to meet Professor Schwab, who, despite his hectic schedule, found time to meet the shapers and discuss his vision of the future. How different social, economic, political challenges will shape the days ahead and what shapers as the future leaders can do and find their place to shape the positive of change.
Saif mentions: "His emphasis on Social Entrepreneurship being the present and the future of inclusive growth motivated me. I learned so much more from the fellow Shapers who are doing incredible work that will inspire generations to come."
Artists, educationists, researchers, human rights activists, people developing entrepreneurial ecosystem, working gender issues and the disabled, advocacy specialists, health workers and people helping farmers with market connections put their heads together in the brainstorming. Each of the 40 participants was a source of energy that will light up the future. "I have found 39 more people seeking guidance and support in the days ahead."
The shapers were invited to join a cultural learning experience in order to immerse in the wonderful city of New Delhi.  The Delhi hub arranged great day filled with meetings with politicians, social entrepreneurs, philanthropists and a warm welcome by the kids of Music Basti. However, no great show is possible without fantastic support from behind the scenes. A very special thank goes to Mr. Vijay Raju, Associate Director, South Asia, and Vera Schneider, Head of Community Architecture at Global Shapers.
After each event global shapers have bigger responsibilities for their own societies and hubs to take up challenging projects and solve global issues. They are the successful few who have the voice to address the global issues and can extract plausible solutions for them. The number of global shapers is increasing every year and more voices are welcomed. This is because as the global issues are rising, so is the need of more people to address them. For that, the community is always looking for self-driven people with entrepreneurial spirit who believe in positive disruption and have the courage to lead the community.
 The writer is a senior student in BBA Program of the Institute of Business Administration, Dhaka University. He can be reached at:
[email protected]