2024 Global Leadership Summit

THE IMPACT OF WATER ON SOCIETY

EF Summits combine the magic of an international tour with the energy of a three-day global leadership conference—and this summer, you’ll feel the electricity of it all. Think of this page as your go-to spot to learn all about the conference in Berlin taking place July 12–14. Check back here for speaker announcements, workshop updates, schedule information, and other sneak peeks.

What’s on the agenda

Teamwork, design thinking, and lots (and lots) of fun

So, what happens during the best weekend ever? You learn from featured speakers and experts. You recharge during brain breaks (they’re like recess, but better). And you team up with new friends to journey through the six steps of the design thinking process.

First, you’ll define a problem related to water that’s unique to one person (your “user”). Then, after a weekend of brainstorming potential solutions, you’ll develop a physical prototype that addresses your user’s needs, and share this with your peers and teachers.

Think big.
Like, Nobel-prize level big.

Fueled by a common belief that in order to change the world you need to experience it, EF partners with the Nobel Prize Museum to inspire students to pursue bold goals and think differently about the world around them. So after three days of developing a project through design thinking exercises, you’ll get to pitch your prototypes to a panel of judges for the chance to be featured in the Nobel Prize Museum in Stockholm, Sweden.


nobel prize museum logo

Want to know what actually happens at Summit?

Your speakers are excited to see you this summer. But don’t just take our word for it—they’re here to tell you themselves.

Meet your 2024 speakers

Ignite speakers will host multiple sessions during Summit so you can hear from them in smaller groups and attend interactive Q&As. Then, your weekend wraps up with a feature presentation by your Keynote speaker.


Gunter Pauli

Ignite speaker


Trained as an economist, entrepreneur, and author, Gunter has advised everyone from the United Nations to NGOs. He’s best known as the creator of the Blue Economy model, a concept that’s all about the sustainable use of ocean resources to grow the economy and improve people’s lives.

Tiffany Duong

Ignite speaker


After embarking on an epic dive trip, Tiffany left her corporate law job to campaign for our planet. Now, this writer and explorer heads everywhere from dense jungles to the North and South Poles to voice what’s happening in the natural world. In the process, she inspires meaningful action and lasting change.

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Molly Kawahata

Keynote speaker


From advising the Obama White House to founding her own consultancy, Molly crafts climate communications that motivate change through rigorous scientific knowledge and astute psychological insights. She shares her life story in Patagonia’s film, The Scale of Hope, which explores her pursuit of ice climbing, her personal journey with mental health, and her work to transform societal narratives by infusing them with hope and empowerment.

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Your speakers are excited to see you this summer. But don’t just take our word for it—they’re here to tell you themselves.
Flowers

Young voices that are shaping the future

You’ll also hear from a panel of peers who have made water a huge focus of their work. Meet this year’s Student Empowerment Panelists, who will give you an inside look at how they’re making an impact.

Constança Santos Silva

Access

Constança is the founder of Thirst Project Portugal, an organization dedicated to creating a new generation of socially conscious Portuguese people who will help end the global water crisis. By leading over 1,000 young adults in this endeavor, her organization has provided water for 10 different communities in the Kingdom of Eswatini. As if that’s not impressive enough, this young leader is also a martial arts world champion.

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Stella Bowles

Economy

For Stella’s sixth-grade science project, she tested the fecal bacteria present in a nearby river. Her curiosity eventually drew national attention and led to the Canadian government pledging $15.7 million to clean it up. Stella has won many awards including the Meritorious Service Medal from the Governor General, the Canada Walk of Fame Community Hero Award, and the Order of Nova Scotia (for which she was the youngest recipient ever!).

Bodhi Patil

Environment

Bodhi, a UN-recognized ocean-climate activist and the founder and CEO of InnerLight, is devoted to enhancing the connection between ocean health and human health. He has been recognized by prominent institutions ranging from Forbes to Oceanic Global, and is currently a third-year student leader in the BA + Masters of Management program at the University of British Columbia.

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Workshops that make waves

We’re collaborating with organizations that cover diverse areas of expertise on water and leadership to run hands-on workshops and unique programming for attendees.

global leadership summit ef hashtag

Can’t wait for Summit? Neither can we! In the meantime, stay inspired by following us @eftours on Instagram and TikTok. Then, visit our blog to watch highlights from a past Summit to get a feel for the type of energy you’ll soon be soaking up.