GW Students Gain Global Perspective at World Bank Youth Summit

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George Washington University students joined hundreds of emerging young leaders from around the globe at the World Bank Group's (WBG) annual Youth Summit to explore solutions to some of the most pressing challenges facing their generation.

This year's summit, held in mid-June, focused on equipping young people with the skills, training and job opportunities needed to thrive in an increasingly digital and rapidly changing global economy.

Joselle Mensah, who recently graduated from GW's Master of Science in International Business program, said having the opportunity to attend events at institutions shaping global policy and lend her voice to critical issues is why she chose to attend the university.

"At GW, you're steps away from the World Bank, the IMF, and many other leading institutions and organizations. I wanted to make full use of that proximity," Mensah said.

She's felt passionate about international development since high school.

Born in Germany to a Ghanaian and German family, Mensah grew up immersed in both cultures, which gave her insight into the different and shared challenges people face around the world.

"Seeing those different realities up close made me want to understand, and eventually work on, the systems that shape life for underserved communities," Mensah said.

The youth summit marked her third time at the World Bank. Last fall and spring, she attended the annual meetings of the WBG and International Monetary Fund with support from GW International Institute for Economic Policy.

At these events, she's had the chance to network with and hear from leaders driving innovation. During the WBG Youth Summit, she worked with an international team on hands-on projects that simulated real-world policy challenges. She also had the chance to connect with other emerging leaders from around the world who are just starting out in the field. The experience gave her a better sense of what a career in international development looks like and helped her realize that it's a path she wants to pursue.

She said students who know what they're interested in but aren't sure what path to pursue stand to gain the most from experiences like this. She's left these events feeling inspired and excited to pursue a career in this field.

Mensah also credits these opportunities for giving her confidence as she enters the next chapter of her life postgraduation.

There's a culture at GW, she said, that encourages you to be ambitious and provides you with support as you work towards achieving your big goals.

"There's a type of hunger to go above and beyond," Mensah said. "That's professors looking out for students, that's coaches looking out for their athletes, friends looking out for friends. The motto is 'raise high' and I do believe that GW pushes everyone to make the most of their own learning journey."

GW senior Sarah Vibbert, who also attended this year's youth summit, said she also left the experience feeling inspired, more confident in her career goals and energized by the chance to connect with leaders from around the world.

The international affairs and economics major has known, even before she stepped foot on GW's campus, that she wants to work in international policy.

And that goal has guided much of the choices she's made since she entered high school.

She was very involved with the Model United Nations chapter at her school, joking, "that was my sport."

Vibbert enjoyed doing research, debating policy and always sought out opportunities to continue learning more about the field.

When it came time to choose a university, she picked GW knowing the kinds of doors it opens to students as they search for internships, fellowships and networking chances.

"The kind of opportunities that you get being at the school and being on the campus are unbeatable if you're interested in an international career," Vibbert said. "You have at your fingertips all these different opportunities to get involved in the international community, in government or any sort of policy work. You're right down the street from the State Department, the Word Bank. All these organizations are basically on our campus."

Vibbert has long been interested in the WBG's work to end extreme poverty and improve lives around the world. It's what made her excited to attend the Youth Summit.

"Attending an event like that was kind of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me," Vibbert said. "It was an opportunity to interact with people from the bank, tell them about myself, hear about the work that they do and see if it actually does interest me, which it does."

Beyond hearing from experts, Vibbert said simply being in the room and introducing herself to professionals helped build her confidence. She found herself approaching panelists, introducing herself to new people and left the summit with a sense of personal and professional growth.

One of the highlights for Vibbert was hearing directly from World Bank President Ajay Banga, whose remarks about creating jobs as a pathway to reducing poverty resonated with her. She was also inspired by a discussion with Nicole Mao, an entrepreneur from Bangladesh who shared how she built a successful electric vehicle startup, Tiger New Energy.

She said experiences like the youth summit are invaluable for students as they prepare to enter the workforce and hopes more students take advantage of opportunities like this, especially as GW has expanded its partnership with WBG.

She said that beyond the opportunities that come with GW's location, there's a community of faculty, staff and fellow students who are willing to offer advice and support along the way.

"I think the people make GW special," Vibbert said. "The friends that I've made at the school over the three years that I have been there are genuinely some of my favorite people in the world. And both professionally and personally, I've met people, students and professors who have really invested in me and put time and effort into helping me grow and helping me succeed."

She added that obviously GW's location, being just steps from the White House and other iconic D.C. landmarks and museums, is also special.

"But at the end of the day," Vibbert said, "the people make the place."