GFC White Paper on New Leadership Models for Future Generations 2026

Executive summary Leadership today is not future-proof and, in many cases, not even present-proof. The systems and institutions, assumptions and traits that have long shaped how leadership is defined and exerted are under unprecedented pressure. Technological disruption, geopolitical fragmentation, ecological stress, and widening societal divides are reshaping the conditions under which leaders make and implement decisions. Leadership models that were once built on stability and hierarchy can no longer sustain themselves in a world marked by constant transformation, increasing acceleration, and complex interdependencies. The widespread erosion of trust in leaders and institutions worldwide is not the cause, it is a symptom of a more profound crisis. Leadership has failed to evolve at the pace of reality, at the pace of crises that unfold. Rethinking leadership thus holds immense opportunity. Youth and the next generation of leaders can play an important role in injecting fresh thinking and an intergenerational perspective. This is essential to ensuring that emerging leadership models reflect the aspirations and realities of those who will inherit and reshape tomorrow’s systems, and key for reimagining trust, legitimacy, and agency in the 21st century. This report draws on insights, literature and experiences from the Global Future Council on Leadership (GFC) and the Young Global Leaders (YGL) community at large. Asking what must change in how we define, develop and deploy leadership to not only stay abreast with today’s challenges, but to shape the future we want for ourselves and for future generations, the direction becomes clear: We must innovate at the core of leadership, its practice, and approaches. This is precisely what this report aims to explore, paving a pathway for action. First, it proposes four systemic leverage points that appear particularly promising for making leadership both present- and future-proof: Four systemic leverage points to make leadership present- and future-proofHow are leaders cultivated and chosen? How might leaders leave a lasting legacy?01 The leadership pipeline and the selection of leaders02 The training and development of leaders 04 Leadership legacy03 Decision-making and action of leadersWhat and how do leaders learn? How do leaders make decisions and take action? 4 Next Generation Leadership for a World in Transformation: Driving Dialogue and Action