FutureGEN Girls Leadership Summit 2024: Empowering the Next Generation of Leaders
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The FutureGEN Girls Leadership Summit 2024 brought together over 300 teen girls on November 9 at the Hong Kong Palace Museum for a day filled with inspiration, learning, and empowerment. Now in its third year, the Summit, organized by the JYC Girls Impact Foundation (JYCGIF), became an official member of youthfest@HK 2024, supported by the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB), Hang Seng Bank, CTF Education Group, Music Chaos Foundation, Digital Domain, Cupping Room, Eslite Culture HK Ltd. and 9 other organizations, a dynamic initiative that celebrates youth potential and growth through collaboration. Over the past three years, JYCGIF has organised over 100 events, drawing more than 7,000 participants.
“Find Your Superpower: Aspiring Future Leaders for Action” was the theme of this year’s Summit, encouraging attendees to explore their unique gifts and harness their potential. The event featured an exciting lineup of empowering sessions, from motivational speeches to hands-on workshops, designed to equip teen girls with the confidence and skills to take charge of their futures.The Summit aligned with the HKSAR Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address, which emphasises women’s workplace development, said Miss Alice Mak, SBS, JP, Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs.
“At the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau, we will launch a mentorship program, pairing female university students with senior management mentors,” Miss Mak said in her Opening Address. “We will cultivate more talent that ‘holds up half the sky’, allowing women to shine in the workplace.”
Empowering Speakers and Role Models
The Summit continued with a keynote speech by Ms. Diana Cesar, Executive Director and CEO of Hang Seng Bank, who said that “unlimited potential lies within every individual,” encouraging the young audience to seize every opportunity and live life to the fullest. “When we dare to explore and try new things, we always gain something valuable along the way,” she said.
The Summit’s Main Panel, “Superpower in Action: From Challenges to Leadership,” moderated by Ms. Secy Cheung, Founding Board Director of FutureGen Girls Foundation, featured a powerhouse of women leaders, including Ms. Janice Lee, CEO of Viu & PCCW Media Group and Chairman of HKTVE Ltd (Viu TV), Ms. Donna Tang, Executive Manager, Charities (Talent & Sector Development), The Hong Kong Jockey Club and Deputy Secretary-General (Secretariat and Core Operations), Institute of Philanthropy, Ms. Joanna Kwok, Chief Engineer at Anglo-Eastern Ship Management Ltd, and Ms. Ho Yuen Kei, 2024 Paris Paralympic Games Double Gold Medalist and Boccia Athlete from Team Hong Kong, China, who shared their personal journeys and offered personal insights on leadership and resilience.
Hands-On Learning for Future-Ready Skills
The Summit also offered teens a Future Readiness Lab, featuring interactive sessions on digital and soft skills. Dr. Alfred Tse from Preface led a workshop on the future of AI, while Professor Ava Kwong and Professor Terence Wong guided participants through career adaptability strategies. Gigi Li, founder of Curated Style, taught attendees how color can enhance confidence and self-expression.
In the New Technology Interactive Zone, attendees explored cutting-edge tech like AI, robotics, and biotechnology. Highlights included an AI-powered musical performance and innovative DNA sequencing showcases from Illumina, allowing teen girls to experience firsthand how technology is shaping the world.
The IdeaGO Ideathon Finale: Teen Girls as Innovators
The spotlight of the day was the IdeaGO Ideathon Finale, where five teams of teen girls presented their innovative solutions to pressing societal challenges. Topics ranged from women’s issues and sustainability to health and fitness. The Ideathon is supported by HYAB, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation and 18 organisations with the ion of empowering teen girls to gain a deeper understanding of and appreciation for innovation and technology (I&T) fields. The winning project, Deeply Hidden, was a smart compost bin that uses Arduino programming and 3D printing to process kitchen waste efficiently. Other winners included Eagle Eye, an AI-powered drone to monitor wetlands, and Thyme, a free fitness app aimed at improving physical health.
Mrs. Jennifer Yu Cheng, FGG Summit Organising Committee Chairperson, emphasized that leadership isn’t about having all the answers, but about having the courage to act and keep moving forward. “Today is not the end of your journey; it’s the beginning of a new chapter,” she told a packed audience of teen girls.
Celebrating Young Women Leaders
The day concluded with the unveiling of the FutureGen Young Women Leaders Award, which recognises teen girls who have dedicated themselves to realizing their full potential through the development of future ready skills and leadership experiences culminating in empowering accomplishments. This new award aims to empower young women to drive positive change and inspire others to lead. With nearly 60 supporting organizations and an advisory group of over 30 leaders from diverse industries, the award provides teen girls with recognition and opportunities to further develop their leadership potential.
The FutureGEN Girls Leadership Summit 2024 was not just an event—it was a movement, sparking ideas, building connections, and creating a pathway for teen girls to fulfill their potential and become future ready leaders. As these young women head into the future, they leave with the tools, confidence, and belief in their ability to make a lasting impact on the world.
Stay connected with JYCGIF on Instagram and Facebook for updates on upcoming events!