Global Leadership Challenge

Our week-long leadership challenge to develop a new understanding of responsible leadership through practical actions.

100 young leaders

Join a diverse group of leaders in a week-long leadership challenge, delivered in a hybrid format

3 challenges

Design action projects in one of our three challenge areas, contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals

1 vision

Align your personal values and professional aspirations to fulfil your leadership potential

Programme overview

The Global Leadership Challenge is a joint initiative of the University of Oxford and the St. Gallen Symposium. Together, we aim to connect young leaders across boundaries to address sustainable development goals and enable them to become responsible leaders in their local contexts. GLC 2023 will take place from 7 - 11 December 2023 in a fully virtual format.

GLC 2023 will focus on “Confronting scarcity” as its core theme and participants will be asked to develop projects addressing SDG 3 - Good Health and Wellbeing, SDG 4 - Quality Education, and SDG 13 - Climate Action. Learn more about our three challenges for this year and the application process on the challenge website.

Application launch: 28 September 2023

Check out the challenge website and our three themes for this year.

Application deadline: 1 November 2023

Answer a few short questions and submit your application.

Decision announcement: Mid November, 2023

Applicants will hear from us about the outcome of their application.

Confirmation of acceptance (TBD)

Successful applicants need to accept the offer to secure a spot in GLC 2023.

GLC week: 7 - 11 December 2023

Join us virtually to tackle the challenges and experience the GLC journey.

GLC 2023 themes

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SDG 3: Good health and well-being

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SDG 4: Quality education

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SDG 13: Climate action

Office working

How it works

During the GLC week, participants will engage with leading academics, industry experts, and practitioners in a series of dialogues, masterclasses, and workshops. To put the learnings into practice, they will collaborate in small groups to develop impact projects that address at least one of the three challenge areas, directly contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Evaluated by our Award Jury, the group with the most outstanding project idea will be able to attend the 53rd St. Gallen Symposium as Leaders of Tomorrow.

​After GLC, participants can apply for further mentoring to reflect on their own purpose and grow as future leaders. All active participants will receive a Certificate of Achievement from the University of Oxford and the St. Gallen Symposium.

The GLC is a joint initiative of the University of Oxford and the St. Gallen Symposium, supported by the Templeton World Charity Foundation, the Lemann Foundation, and HCL Technologies.