Davos, Switzerland (January 2026) As the future of work is redesigned in real time, JA Europe brought a clear message to Davos 2026: the defining question is no longer whether technology will transform work, but whether the next generation will be equipped to lead through that transformation.
Across Davos week, JA Europe contributed to high-level dialogues focused on skills, trust, resilience, and the human capabilities that will determine who can turn disruption into opportunity. From targeted roundtables on education redesign and leadership readiness to discussions on societal resilience and women shaping the future of technology, JA Europe reinforced its role as a delivery engine connecting education, business, and policy to scalable pathways for young people.
A focus on human skills as the new leadership advantage
At Wisdom House Davos, JA Europe co-hosted the roundtable “Empowering the Next Generation with Human Skills for Leadership, Work and Impact”, bringing together global leaders to address how young people can lead in an AI-driven economy.
Hosted by NextGen4Impact, JA Europe, and We Share Forward Foundation, the session featured Angelika Hernandez-Dorendorf, Salvatore Nigro, Fleur Hudig, Irene Cervellera, and Tonya Tatro.
The discussion highlighted a clear message: while technical skills remain essential, long-term leadership will be defined by human capabilities such as ethical judgement, critical thinking, collaboration, adaptability, and empathy. These skills are now central to turning disruption into opportunity.
JA Europe also acknowledged Bayer and Wisdom House Davos for enabling this strategic dialogue.
Education and skills as a foundation for societal resilience
At Leaders Forum Davos, JA Europe CEO Salvatore Nigro joined the panel “Society Resilience: How to cooperate to face systemic challenges of the XXI century?”, exploring how governments, businesses, and communities can respond to systemic risks.
Alongside leaders including Agnieszka Pomaska, Aleksander Kutela, and Cristina Caffarra, the discussion focused on the role of education and skills in building long-term societal resilience.
JA Europe highlighted initiatives such as PulseZ, the EMPASS micro-credential, and digital and AI programmes including EU Code Week and AIENTR4YOUTH as practical tools to strengthen youth preparedness.
Women shaping the future of technology: leadership, innovation, and trust
At Davos Innovation Week, Diana Filip, Deputy CEO and Chief Development Officer at JA Europe, joined the panel “Women in Tech Shaping the Future: Leadership, Innovation, and Trust in the Age of AI Transformation.”
She was joined by Julie Linn Teigland (EY and JA Europe Board Member), Manar Al Moneef (NEOM), Florine Moraes (Euroclear Group), and Valerie Beaulieu-James (ManpowerGroup), in a session moderated by Simona Sandru and delivered with the Swiss FinTech Association and Global Women TechLeaders.
Diana Filip called for stronger integration between AI and entrepreneurship across education, stressing that leadership in the age of AI depends as much on trust and human judgement as on technology itself.
Rethinking education for an AI era: the Next Gen Alliance roundtable
At the House of Trust Davos, JA Europe joined a strategic Next Gen Alliance roundtable bringing together foundations, investors, and education innovators to rethink how education must evolve for an AI-driven world.
The dialogue, led by NextGen4Impact, We Share Forward Foundation, JA Europe, and yeswetrust, focused on aligning capital, innovation, and learning systems so young people can effectively understand, apply, and lead with AI.
Voices from Davos
Across Davos 2026, leaders and alumni shared concise reflections on what it takes to prepare the next generation for leadership in an AI-driven world:
- Roxana Minzatu, Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness at the European Commission:
“Davos is where the analysis and the reflections are put on the table. From here (…) we want Erasmus as a right.” - Julie Linn Teigland, Global Vice Chair for Alliances and Ecosystems, EY, and JA Europe Board Member:
“Use your voice. If you do not speak out, you’re never going to be heard. And people are listening. They want to listen.” - Fleur Hudig, Head of Culture and Inclusion, NN Group:
“Dialogue is very important, it is a human skill that focuses on the connection we have with each other, and it is fundamental for the future.” - Tonya Tatro, Global Head of Healthcare and Life Science, ManpowerGroup:
“As you are looking at the future it is vital that you are engaging in learning, stepping forward, leading in and having that growth mindset to be ready for the future.” - Nicole ‘Nikki’ Clifton, President, Social Impact, The UPS Foundation:
“Equal access to skills training, followed by the ability to apply those skills in real world situations, is extremely important.” - Morten Borge, CEO, Ferd:
“Leadership starts with action.” - Love Dager, Co-founder & COO, Hack for Earth and JA Alumnus:
“Just as in Davos, we have the best people in the world coming to one place, and with JA, it’s the same. Everyone is ambitious, they are driven. They want to do something in the world.” - Robin Saluoks, CEO, eAgronom and JA Alumnus:
“JA is like a Spotify free trial for entrepreneurship.” - Diana Filip, Deputy CEO, JA Europe:
“AI and entrepreneurship belong together. Teaching one without the other fails our students. They must be integrated across education, from early learning to doctoral studies, so every graduate is prepared to build, create, and lead in an AI-driven world.” - Salvatore Nigro, CEO, JA Europe:
“JA Europe didn’t just attend Davos. JA Europe brought execution, trust, and the ability to scale solutions across a network that is both local and global. What struck me most this week was the shift in tone: less ‘inspiration’, more ‘architecture’.”
JA Global Network at Davos
JA Europe is part of JA Worldwide, a global network preparing young people for employment and entrepreneurship. At the World Economic Forum in Davos, JA leaders and partners from across the network contributed to discussions on education, skills, and youth opportunity — reaffirming a shared commitment to prepare young people for the future of work by connecting education with business and policy. Read the JA Worldwide Davos Reflections: Youth, Partnership and Shared Responsibility for a snapshot of how the global JA community engaged throughout the week.
About JA Europe
JA Europe is the largest and leading organisation in Europe dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed. For over 100 years, JA Worldwide has delivered hands-on, experiential learning in entrepreneurship, work readiness and financial health. In the last school year, the JA Europe network in over 40 countries provided over 7.5 million learning experiences for youth in online, in person and blended formats, the organisation provided over 95,500 teaching experiences and 86,500 volunteering and mentoring experiences. For more information, visit JA Europe or contact Irina Ilieva at JA Europe (irina@jaeurope.org)
