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

I feel extremely grateful for the opportunity to represent Deloitte Switzerland at this year’s Global OYW Summit. While I’m fortunate to work on sustainability projects at Deloitte, making a small impact one client project at a time, stepping outside this daily routine has been really refreshing.

I am originally from Austria and moved to Geneva four years ago with aspirations of working for the UN, driven by a desire to make a meaningful impact on global issues. Although my career path has meanwhile shifted away from diplomacy, I still firmly believe in the values of international cooperation and the urgent need to advance the sustainable development goals. Attending the OYW summit as part of the Deloitte delegation has not only reaffirmed my belief in collaborative solutions but also sparked new ideas for integrating sustainability into business practices and the corporate world.

What did you enjoy most about your OYW experience?

What I enjoyed most about my summit experience was the chance to learn from a diverse range of people, both on and off stage. The calibre of speakers was incredible, including leaders like Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the Queen of Jordan, Rania Al Abdullah, and conservation icon Jane Goodall. I am particularly passionate about climate issues, and therefore really enjoyed Johan Rockström’s scientific presentation on planetary boundaries and the importance of not crossing critical tipping points. I’ve also had the privilege of interacting with numerous other delegates, many of whom had such inspiring stories to share about the impact they are making in their organisations and communities. There is something about being surrounded by so many young changemakers that ignites a sense of hope and possibility.

I also enjoyed diving into topics I hadn’t encountered before, especially regarding the voices of Indigenous peoples. As an Austrian living in Switzerland, I realized just how limited my exposure has been to these discussions. Learning about Montreal’s history as unceded land of the Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) Nation was beautifully integrated into the summit program, with many speeches underscoring the importance of recognizing Indigenous rights and knowledge.

What were some of your key learnings from the speeches and workshops?

Reflecting on which learnings stuck with me the most, I would say the speeches from the climate experts really hit home. David Suzuki used a powerful analogy in response to people asking whether it is too late to take climate action: “It makes a big difference whether you're going to fall 10 feet or whether you're going to fall 100 feet. What we're doing now is trying to minimize the distance. But we’re going to fall.” Similarly, Johan Rockström pointed out that we are exceeding several planetary boundaries, putting our planet at unprecedented risk of losing its healthy state and the basic life support we all rely on. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by these facts, but inaction is simply not an option. Upon returning to work at Deloitte, I am committed to translating the inspiration from the summit into tangible action through my continued engagement with our WorldClimate initiatives and bringing impactful solutions to our clients.

Reflecting on all the discussions during the summit, I could observe the wealth of knowledge we already have, the consensus on the need for action, and the many innovative initiatives already in motion. However, it became clear that despite this progress, we urgently need systemic change to make a lasting impact. The gap between individual efforts and the scale of change required was eye-opening.

Do you have a key takeaway from the OYW summit?

My main takeaway is that while we undoubtedly have all the knowledge and motivation to drive action, we first need to overcome huge invisible systemic barriers. The energy at the summit was overwhelmingly positive, but we shouldn’t let that blind us to the reality outside the walls of the Montreal congress centre. The delegates will return to their everyday lives, many to places that won’t echo with applause for those advocating for Indigenous communities, urgent climate action, etc.

That said, there’s undeniable power in bringing people together. The connections made during the summit will be lasting, and I’m looking to the future with more optimism after meeting 1,500+ of the individuals who will lead our world forward.