2026 EU-US Young Leaders Seminar

THE 2026 EU-US YOUNG LEADERS SEMINAR – The Future of Skills and Leadership

BRUSSELS, Belgium – Between March 23-26, the ninth edition of the EU-US Young Leaders Seminar (YLS) brought together 50 beneficiaries of EU and U.S.-funded education exchange programs. Participants learned about and discussed the changing skills landscape and its implications for education systems and labor market demand. The 50 attendees engaged in expert and peer exchange through panels, workshops and a simulated learning exercise.

The Future of Skills and Leadership theme was chosen due to changing skills needs and its implications for young people both in the countries of the EU and in the U.S. With the emergence of new technologies, the skills acquired in the first quarter of a person’s life must be regularly renewed and expanded. Adapting education systems to create more open and flexible learning pathways and credentials and building young people’s capacities to “learn how to learn” are viewed as important policy areas. Monitoring workforce data and connecting education with business are also essential to address skills gaps caused by rapid labour market changes. Underpinning these changes is the growing use of artificial intelligence, both as a technology to support system adaptation and as a driver of new skills demands.

Opening speakers who set the policy context were Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen, Director-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC) and Sara Mathews, Minister Counselor for Public Diplomacy from the U.S. Mission to the European

Union. Discussions began with a scene-setter on the transatlantic partnership, together with Eva Gross (European External Action Service) and Etienne Soula (German Marshall Fund to the U.S). Deep Parekh (Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management) delivered a TEDx talk on leadership in a fast-paced changing environment. The seminar also welcomed MEP Pasquale Tridico, who gave a tribute to “Mama Erasmus” Sofia Corradi.

Francesca Borgonovi (OECD), Caitlin Kirby (Michigan State University), and Jasper van Loo (Cedefop) presented on critical skills young people need to develop their careers. Laura Corrado (DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion at European Commission) was joined by Caroline S. Cullière (Gifftid) and Justin Young (University of Antwerp) to discuss the rapid advances of AI and how businesses balance innovation with social responsibility. The panel on Talent Development brought together John Edwards (EURASHE) and Karen Triquet (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) on creating future-ready systems and empowering people to thrive in the current working environment. A final fireside chat with Malte Lohan (American Chamber of Commerce to the EU) and Luisa Santos (Business Europe) covered the development of the EU-U.S. economic and trade relationship and business leadership in times of economic disruption. The panel discussions were moderated by Erica Lutes (Fulbright Commission), Georgiana Plesu (DG EAC) and Joy Young (EU Delegation to the U.S.).

Multiple training workshops were held throughout the two days covering topics such as negotiation and conflict transformation, communication and storytelling and inclusive leadership facilitated by Michael Koplovsky (College of Europe), Viktorya Muradyan (Ceemet) and Sarah Jones (German Marshall Fund of the United States). Another set of workshops addressed financial literacy, EU funding essentials, and research methods, conducted by Lucy Delgadillo (Utah State University), Kristina Pitalskaya (GMF) and Kristin Lerfald Grostad (VUB).

The seminar concluded with a training simulation exploring strategies to cope with uncertain business environments and high-stakes decision-making with incomplete data. The training simulation was designed and managed by Annika Vollmer (GMF) and Jace Jasper (Fulbright Commission).

The seminar was MC’ed by Sarah Elson-Rogers. Both speakers and participants complimented the usefulness of the seminar content and the EU-US format. As one participant said: “Exchange programs are one of the few real antidotes to echo chambers. Algorithms optimize for sameness. Physical rooms force you to confront difference. There is no substitute for sitting across from someone whose worldview is completely different from yours and choosing to listen and understand it.”

The seminar organisers thanks Norman Thatcher Scharpf, Deputy Chief of the U.S. Mission to the EU, for supporting the event by hosting a reception.