From Learners to Leaders: Building Sustainable Learning & Work Ecosystems with Youth and Tech

The future belongs to youth—but only if we equip them with the right tools to lead.
As AI and automation reshape global economies, the need for sustainable, inclusive, and human-centred learning
ecosystems has never been more urgent. Youth—representing over 1.2 billion people aged 15–24 globally—stand
at the forefront of this transformation. Yet nearly one in five young people worldwide are not in education,
employment, or training (NEET), and many of those who are employed remain underpaid or under-skilled for
the demands of the intelligent age.
Meanwhile, demand for roles in AI, green energy, and advanced manufacturing is surging. Yet millions of young
people lack access to the training, networks, and ecosystems that would allow them to thrive. If the future belongs to
the youth of today, they must be involved in building it. That means co-creating inclusive digital innovation hubs
and sustainable work ecosystems, not just participating in outdated education-to-employment pipelines.
This session explores how to design sustainable, tech-enabled systems that empower youth not only to adapt—but
to lead—in a world where human and machine intelligence must co-exist.
Participants will explore the future of work and learning through the lens of sustainability, youth agency, and
systems thinking. What does it mean to build ecosystems where digital innovation empowers rather than excludes?

Where learning is continuous, meaningful, and deeply human? Where young people aren't just recipients, but co-
creators of a just and regenerative future?

Ali Alam

Venture Partner, EarlyBird

Ali Alam — a founder-turned-venture-builder and investor on a mission to make innovation human-centric, impact-driven, and radically inclusive. With experience building award-winning university-based incubators, designing startup acceleration programs with 21st-century skills needed to thrive in volatility and advising venture funds deploying capital in human growth. Ali has worked across Africa, Europe, and emerging markets to create sustainable learning & innovation ecosystems.