The ‘Decent Work, Brighter Futures’ Talk Series is a 4-part global discussion aimed at exploring youth employment trends, aspirations, and challenges across different regions. Hosted by YouthForesight in collaboration with the TASC Platform of the Graduate Institute, the series features intergenerational dialogues that aim to shed light on how youth employment challenges have evolved over the two decades since the ILO put out its first Global Employment Trends for Youth (GET for Youth) report.

The series will consist of three virtual and one hybrid episode that will bring together voices from today's generation of young adults (Gen Z) and those who were young adults 20 years ago (Gen X), and will explore intergenerational commonalities or differences in the youth-to-adulthood journeys linked to the world of work.

---> Registration for Episode 4 will open in January!

OBJECTIVES

• Share key findings from the GET for Youth report and highlight youth employment trends across regions.
• Explore sources of youth anxiety and whether commonalities exist across generations.
• Uncover the evolving aspirations of young people regarding labor market transitions, support measures, and career opportunities over the past 20 years.
• Generate ideas for multilateral action and regional cooperation to address youth employment challenges.

 

WHO CAN ATTEND

The event is open to anyone interested in global and regional employment trends and intergenerational dynamics. Attendees will have the opportunity to share their own experiences and insights through polls and moderated questions to the panellists. This is also an excellent opportunity for those wishing to dive deeper into the findings of the Global Employment Trends for Youth (GET for Youth) 2024 report and its regional briefs.

 

CALENDAR OF EPISODES

• Episode 1 -- 31 October: Asia & the Pacific (Virtual, 1 hour)
• Episode 2 -- 21 November: Africa (Virtual, 1 hour) 
• Episode 3 -- 10 December: Europe (Hybrid, 1.5 hours)
• Episode 4 -- 14 January: Americas (Virtual, 1 hour) --- Registration will open in January

 

EPISODE 1: ASIA & THE PACIFIC

• Date: 31 October
• Time: 9 AM CET | 9 AM Geneva | 3 PM Jakarta | 4 PM Bali
• Duration: 1 hour
• In collaboration with: Plan International Indonesia

Our Speakers:

Mi Zhou --- Chief Technical Advisor, ILO (Gen X)

Mi currently heads the EU-funded Ship to Shore Rights SEA programme, which is led by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and jointly implemented with IOM and UNDP.
Before joining the ILO in 2017, she lectured in law in Hong Kong; worked with refugees and on forced migration issues in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Egypt; was involved in constitutional drafting in Kosovo; litigated human rights cases in South Africa, and did a PhD at Cambridge on the intermediality of music and literature in E.M. Foster’s novels. 
She is also qualified to teach yoga but has yet to do so. Her team at the ILO are passionate karaoke enthusiasts, and she encourages this.

Ni Putu Ari Sintya Dewi --- Founder of Rasa Bali, and Activities Manager of Kaura Bali (Gen Z)

Sintya is an Alumna of the Ready to Work Programme by Plan Indonesia and a dynamic leader committed to advancing education, sustainability, and innovation in rural communities.
As the Founder of Rasa Bali and Activities Manager at Kaura Bali, she creates opportunities by linking local expertise with community needs through impactful learning programs that foster alternative livelihoods.
With a focus on sustainable tourism, entrepreneurship, and community development, Sintya empowers individuals through capacity building and education, equipping them with the skills to thrive in a rapidly evolving job market. Her dedication to community empowerment drives her mission to create lasting, sustainable change.

Watch the recording here:

💬 Missed the live session? Didn’t have the chance to raise your questions? Join the ongoing conversation on this topic at the YouthForesight Forum. Connect with peers, share your thoughts, and continue the dialogue! Join the discussion here.

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EPISODE 2: AFRICA 

• Date: 21 November
• Time: 11 AM CET | 11 AM Geneva | 11 AM Nigeria | 12 PM South Africa | 1 PM Kenya
• Duration: 1 hour
• In collaboration with: SOS Children's Villages International

Our Speakers:

 Oyindamola Egbeyemi --- Programmes & Coordination Director, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (Gen X/Y)

Oyindamola is the Director of Programmes and Coordination at the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), overseeing financial and non-financial initiatives.
She holds a Master’s in Chemical Engineering from Imperial College, London, and completed the Owner-Manager Programme at Lagos Business School.
Her career includes roles in education administration and consulting at The Foreshore School and PwC. An active volunteer, she earned the Distinguished Toastmaster award and has contributed to the Lagos State Teachers’ Merit Award Committee since 2020.

 Hack Yacoubou --- Founder of YK-SOFTWARE (Gen Z)

As a Graphic and Web Designer, Hack lives and breathes innovation. When he dives into a project, his goal is simple: to create a visual and technical masterpiece that merges creativity and excellence. Beyond technical skills, his journey has been deeply shaped by a passion for mentorship and social impact.
As a Learnio Academy mentor and digital entrepreneurship trainer at SOS Children's Villages in Benin, he guides and supports young people, whom he inspires as a leader.
Through his business, YK-SOFTWARES, he delivers innovative digital solutions that align with clients' ambitions, marked by a commitment to excellence and empathy in every project.

Watch the recording here:

💬 Missed the live session? Didn’t have the chance to raise your questions? Join the ongoing conversation on this topic at the YouthForesight Forum. Connect with peers, share your thoughts, and continue the dialogue! Join the discussion here.

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EPISODE 3: EUROPE

• Date: 10 December
• Time: 2 PM CET | 2 PM Geneva
• Duration: 1.5 hours
• Location: Geneva Graduate Institute (at The Fab, the Institute's new innovation lab) + Online

Details:
This episode will be a hybrid event, offering both physical attendance at the Geneva Graduate Institute and online participation for those who are unable to attend in person.

Our Speakers

 Mia Seppo --- Assistant Director-General Jobs & Social Protection, ILO (Gen X)

Mia assumed the role of Assistant Director-General for the Jobs and Social Protection Cluster at the International Labour Organization on 1 February 2023. She manages three departments: Employment Policy, Job Creation, and Livelihoods; Social Protection; and Sustainable Enterprises, Productivity, and Just Transition.
With over two decades at the United Nations, Mia has worked in post-conflict and peacekeeping contexts, managed UN support to complex elections and coordinated multiagency responses to crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Her fieldwork covers Africa, Central Asia, and Asia, with notable tenures as UN Resident Coordinator in Malawi and Bangladesh.
Throughout her career, she has been engaged in the UNs advocacy for the Sustainable Development Goals and rights-based approaches.

 Davide Fanciulli ---Assistant Program Management Officer, Beyond Lab (Gen Z)

Davide is part of The Beyond Lab, UN Geneva's design space leading on social innovation for long-term sustainability.
Davide is the focal point for the Lab’s work on Future Generations and Intergenerational Impact, ensuring the voices of youth around the world are included meaningfully in policymaking, within UN processes and beyond.
In his capacity, he also supports the overall strategic positioning and partnership building functions of the Lab.

 Michelle Olguin --- Project Coordinator, Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy (Gen Z)

Michelle is the Project Coordinator at the Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy, passionate about making research accessible through creative multimedia formats.
As a Communication Specialist for the Geneva Graduate Institute, she creates engaging short-form social media videos tailored for students and global audiences.
With a Swiss/Mexican background, Michelle brings a fresh perspective to content creation, blending storytelling, video production, and podcasting. She also has experience in traditional media, video production for various NGOs in Geneva, and teaching multimedia skills.

Watch the recording here:

💬 Missed the live session? Didn’t have the chance to raise your questions? Join the ongoing conversation on this topic at the YouthForesight Forum. Connect with peers, share your thoughts, and continue the dialogue! Join the discussion here.

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EPISODE 4: AMERICAS
More information will be shared in due time.

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Are you between 18 and 34 years old?
We want to hear from you!

• What are your career aspirations and challenges?
• Share your experience of accessing employment as a young person in the labour market.
• Take the survey and make your voice heard!