17TH SEPTEMBER 2022, MALAYSIA – What is it like to step into the future? Dive into the world led by Gen Zs and experience it for yourself!
Nine to 22-year-old students from Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor, Selangor and Sarawak came together to organise one of the world’s largest online youth conferences. The international youth organisation, Ascendance, welcomed approximately 22,000 registered participants from 16 countries at their annual Global Young Changemakers Conference & Competition 2022 earlier today.
With the support of the Malaysian Ministry of Education, this two-day virtual conference features 21 young speakers across the world who will be sharing their journeys of discovering their passion and building their careers while still in school.
The Founders of Ascendance
(from left to right: Heerraa Ravindran, 23 (Advisor), Sanadtkumar Ganesan, 22 (Chief Operations Officer),
Harsha Ravindran, 20 (Chief Executive Officer) and Mathura Kannan, 25 (Advisor).
Harsha Ravindran, CEO of Ascendance and the 2019 Diana Award recipient, addressed her peers during the welcoming speech of the conference. “You are the future changemakers. You are the ones who are going to build this future. Every single one of you has the power to create massive change,” said Harsha, who recently made it on Prestige Malaysia’s 40 Under 40, 2022.
Commencing the conference was Professor Tyler Wry, Associate Professor of Management from the Wharton School of Business in the United States of America. “Look at the problems in your communities, nations and the world. We need the energy of young people pursuing business-like solutions to social problems.” He then encouraged the enthusiastic participants to imagine innovative, new and sustainable solutions to solve the problems around them.
Opening Speech of the Global Young Changemakers Conference & Competition 2022
Professor Tyler Wry, Associate Professor of Management from the Wharton School of Business
The conference was free and accessible for students, thanks to Ascendance’s corporate partners and individual sponsors. One of Ascendance’s main corporate sponsors is Avery Dennison, a Fortune 500 Company.
“It is not about competition. It is to collaborate and create new solutions for the future. This is where Gen Z and Gen Alpha are really coming together,” said Shruti George, Vice President of Strategic Innovation Platforms at Avery Dennison, during the opening ceremony.
Special Message from
Ms Shruti George, Vice President of Strategic Innovation Platforms at Avery Dennison
After the two-day conference, participants will submit their ideas about solving world problems through a video competition. The champion will walk away with an RM1,000 cash prize and Ascendance merchandise. Learn more about their futuristic ideas at the Finale of Global Young Changemakers Conference & Competition on 8th October 2022.
