LETTER FROM THE CEO

Dear colleagues,

Whether you were with us in Rio for the 2025 Global Leadership Conference—or supporting the event from afar—I want to begin this month’s letter with a simple message . . .

Read the rest of Asheesh's letter.

STAFF NEWS

APPLY OR NOMINATE A COLLEAGUE FOR THE JA WORLDWIDE FELLOWS

As announced at GLC, the application period for the seventh cohort of JA Worldwide Fellows is officially open. This year-long leadership journey will begin in February 2026. Fellows strengthen their leadership, mentorship, and strategic skills through monthly virtual sessions, an in-person development opportunity, and transformational coaching. The curriculum evolves each year to reflect the needs of our global network, and you can help shape the next cohort by nominating a peer, employee, local leader, or yourself. Nominations are open until Sunday, December 7, at 11:59pmEST. Apply or nominate a colleague on OneJA.

REVIEW THE GLC SLIDE DECKS AND HANDOUTS

We’re happy to share the slide decks and handouts from GLC Rio. While the in-person experience is never recorded or livestreamed—its purpose is connection, collaboration, and the kind of networking that can only happen face-to-face—you can still revisit the learning via the speakers' slides and handouts. View the GLC Rio decks. And remember that you can also re-experience all sessions from GLC Virtual on OneJA.

FIND TWO NEW TOOLKITS RELEASED AT GLC

At GLC Rio, we introduced two new resources designed to help every JA location turn strategy into impact. The fully released Strategic Planning Toolkit provides everything you need to localize the JA Worldwide Strategic Plan, helping your team fully understand the plan, clarify priorities and enablers, and message your strategy to stakeholders. Alongside it, we unveiled a full draft of the Impact Intelligence Toolkit, a new resource that brings together all impact-related information and tools. This draft is open for feedback until January 23, 2026, giving every region and member a voice in shaping the final version. Together, these two toolkits are designed to strengthen alignment, deepen impact, and support your JA office in delivering meaningful, measurable results for young people worldwide.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT GLC RIO

If you joined us in Rio, we’d love to hear what stood out for you. Tell us what you loved, what we can strengthen next time, and the moments or insights you’re taking back to your teams. Your reflections help shape future GLC programming and ensure we continue to create meaningful, relevant experiences for our global community. Share your thoughts on OneJA.

CHECK OUT A NEW COY BRANDING OPTION

At this year’s GLC, we partnered with JA Americas to host their regional Company of the Year competition alongside GLC—an exciting first that brought student innovators and global staff together under one roof. For the event, our design team created a fresh, GLC-aligned visual identity for Company of the Year, complementing the COY branding many JA locations already use.

We’re now making this second design available to the entire JA network. As always, you are welcome to adopt it, adapt it, or simply draw inspiration from it—whatever best serves your local context. Both branding options are now posted on OneJA for your use whenever you run your next COY competition.

GLOBAL NEWS

JA STAFF THRIVE AT GLC RIO

Every two years, JA leaders from around the world come together for the Global Leadership Conference (GLC) for a week of learning, connection, and shared purpose.

This year's theme—Thrive—reflects the future we're working toward. It represents our vision of young people everywhere equipped with the skillset and mindset to help their communities flourish. It’s also the title of our new strategic plan for 2026–2028, which outlines how we’ll accelerate impact across the JA network. (Check it out at jaworldwide.org/strategicplan.)

Find out more about GLC Rio and previous GLCs at jaworldwide.org/news/glc-rio-2025.

2025 GLOBAL BUSINESS HALL OF FAME LAUREATES ANNOUNCED

Meet the five new Laureates inducted to the Global Business Hall of Fame, presented by JA Worldwide:

Maria Eugenia (Mayu) Brizuela de Avila (Leader)
Dr. Fatima Albalooshi (Leader)
Dr. Samantha Nutt (Leader)
Atef Shkokani (Innovator)
Kathryn Minshew (Innovator)

Mayu and 2024 Laureate Jorge Gerdau Johannpeter were honored at the JA Americas Company of the Year celebration, which ran alongside GLC, and shared insights and offered encouragement to JA students as well as JA staff who attended as part of GLC.

Global Business Hall of Fame Laureates serve as an inspiration for budding entrepreneurs and leaders across the JA network. Some are founders of successful companies. Others are CEOs, industry pioneers, or publishers. Each one has demonstrated a strong commitment to their communities, both locally and globally.

Learn more about the 2025 Laureates at businesshalloffame.org/2025-laureates.

PARTNERS HELP POWER GLC

Our biennial Global Leadership Conference (GLC) is made possible in part thanks to the partners that believe in JA’s mission. Their support has helped us create a week of learning, connection, and innovation for staff and leaders across our global network.

Special thanks to our partners Delta Air Lines, Adobe, SAP, EY, The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, Gerdau, Ancar Ivanhoe Shopping Centers, and Hotel Nacional | Rio de Janeiro. Explore how each partner is helping create meaningful learning experiences for our network in this year’s spotlight at jaworldwide.org/news/partners-help-power-glc.

JA FELLOWS, LEAD, ROC STARS GRADUATE AT GLC RIO

On the final day of the Global Leadership Conference (GLC) in Rio, three signature JA University programs—JA Worldwide Fellows, JA LEAD, and JA ROC Stars—came together for a joint graduation ceremony. Participants from around the world were recognized for their commitment to learning, leadership, and the future of the JA network. Read more.

GLC AWARDS 2025

We're thrilled to announce the winners of the 2025 GLC Awards, the most prestigious awards in the global network.

Every two years, JA Worldwide honors the best of the global network with the GLC Awards. Celebrating innovation, growth, impact, creativity, and leadership, these awards recognize outstanding individuals and JA locations whose work exemplifies the JA mission. From bold tech solutions to youth advocacy, alumni engagement, and creative brand amplification, the finalists represent the best of OneJA.

The 2025 Winners

JA Access Award: JA Africa
JA Africa’s Social Equity Program, supported by the Z Zurich Foundation, empowers marginalized youth across Africa through a hybrid model of in-person boot camps, mentorship, and digital access via the JA Digital Entrepreneurship Education Program platform. Since launching in 2023, SEP has reached more than 70,000 young people and helped incubate over 4,700 social impact projects—equipping learners with entrepreneurship, employability, and financial skills. By ensuring inclusion for youth in hard-to-reach communities, SEP demonstrates how equitable access to education can unlock potential and drive community transformation. Learn more: SEP Impact

JA Bold Tech Award: INJAZ Bahrain
The INJAZ Bahrain Mentorship Platform extends learning beyond the classroom by connecting ESP Company Program alumni and aspiring entrepreneurs with experienced mentors. Through personalized guidance on market knowledge, investment, and career growth, the platform bridges the gap between education and real-world application. By leveraging technology to foster mentorship at scale, it empowers youth to navigate the complexities of entrepreneurship and innovation with confidence.

JA Brand Amplification Award: JA Arizona (USA)
JA Arizona has amplified the JA brand through innovative storytelling, impactful campaigns, and community recognition initiatives such as 18 Under 18. This signature program honors young changemakers and highlights JA’s role in developing future leaders, gaining extensive media attention and public engagement. Through creative marketing, local partnerships, and digital storytelling, JA Arizona continues to expand awareness of its mission while inspiring youth empowerment across the state. Website: jaaz.org

JA Growth and Impact Award: INJAZ Oman
INJAZ Oman’s Beyond Boundaries: The JA Oman Revolution transformed the annual Student Companies Exhibition into a nationwide celebration of youth entrepreneurship. Built around the creative concept The Ripple Effect, the campaign visualizes expanding layers of impact—digital engagement, global recognition, and sustainable growth. The initiative reflects a bold approach to marketing and community engagement that has amplified JA’s visibility and strengthened its reputation for innovation.

JA Youth Advocacy and Alumni Impact Award: JA Americas Alumni
The JA Americas Alumni network has grown rapidly across the region, expanding from 6 to 13 national alumni organizations in just two years. Through initiatives such as the Capital Seed Competition, Alumni Leaders Academy, and the Americas Youth Voices campaign, the network empowers young leaders to co-create, mentor, and advocate for JA’s mission. This sustainable, youth-led model not only amplifies regional collaboration but also strengthens the role of alumni as agents of social and economic impact. Follow JA Americas Alumni on Gather.

JA Activator Award: JA Spain
JA Spain’s Good Practice Connection initiative demonstrates a structured and strategic approach to program adoption, collaboration, and replication across schools and regions. By fostering synergies among educators, companies, and JA partners, the organization strengthens program delivery and promotes sustainable impact. The initiative highlights JA Spain’s leadership in creating scalable frameworks that enhance network-wide innovation and activation.

AI in the JA Workplace Award: JA Rio de Janeiro
JA Rio de Janeiro, a member of JA Brazil, successfully executed the complete rebranding of Trilha Empreendedora using artificial intelligence under severe time and budget constraints. The AI-driven process produced a comprehensive Brand Guidelines Manual within six weeks—an achievement that would have been impossible through traditional methods. This project proved that AI can deliver high-quality creative outcomes, optimize costs, and strengthen engagement, positioning JA Rio de Janeiro as a leader in technological innovation and operational resilience. Explore Trilha Empreendedora.

Soraya Salti Award: Leen Abdel Jaber, CEO, INJAZ El Djazair (INJAZ Algeria)
Leen Abdel Jaber is a region‑shaping JA/INJAZ pioneer and one of the core architects of INJAZ Al‑Arab. Working closely with Soraya Salti in the movement’s formative years, and alongside Akef Aqrabawi, Leen helped define and establish how INJAZ should look, operate, and feel in Jordan and across MENA. Personally entrusted by Soraya to establish INJAZ El Djazair, Leen launched Algeria’s operation from scratch at a time when the country had only one incubator for startups. Under her leadership, INJAZ El Djazair mobilized private‑sector CEOs, forged multi‑ministry partnerships, and scaled experiential programs in entrepreneurship, employability, and financial literacy, laying the groundwork that aligned with and helped accelerate Algeria’s national focus on startups (including the subsequent creation of a Ministry of Startups). Her cross‑country impact also includes supporting the expansion of INJAZ Egypt and serving as a go‑to consultant for member nations across the MENA region, an innovative systems‑builder who lives the six JA values every day.

Jonas Prising Lifetime Achievement Award: Krishna Alejandrino, Executive Director, JA Philippines
Krishna Alejandrino’s journey with JA Philippines reflects the transformation he works to inspire in young people, evolving from student participant to award-winning mentor and ultimately to Executive Director. His ground-up experience shaped a leadership style centered on empathy, innovation, and impact, guiding JA Philippines through extraordinary growth—from 20 schools to more than 16,000 nationwide and from a team of three to over 30 professionals serving more than 500,000 students each year. Beyond expanding the organization’s reach, he has built a more inclusive and innovative JA Philippines that supports students, out-of-school youth, teachers, and persons with disabilities through strategic partnerships and diverse programming that ensures no learner is left behind.

Learn more about all the inspiring 2025 GLC Awards finalists and winners and see photos of the ceremony at jaworldwide.org/news/glc-awards-2025.

JA AMERICAS HOLDS 2025 COY IN RIO

Over three energizing days, the top JA student companies from across the Americas came together in Rio de Janeiro for the 2025 Junior Achievement Americas Company of the Year (COY) Competition, hosted by JA Brasil. Students heard from inspiring speakers, networked, and presented their JA companies to judges, peers, and JA staff from around the world.

The winning JA student company will represent the region at the 2026 De La Vega Global Entrepreneurship Awards. Find out who at jaworldwide.org/news/ja-americas-coy-2025.

JA AMERICAS ALUMNI IGNITE THE MOMENT

Last weekend, JA alumni leaders from across the Americas gathered in Rio de Janeiro for Ignite, the JA Americas Alumni Regional Summit. Designed as a transformative three-day experience, Ignite brought together more than 50 young leaders for a powerful mix of connection, inspiration, and community impact. The event aimed to strengthen leadership skills, build meaningful regional ties, and empower JA alumni to make a difference in their home communities. Read more.

In the spirit of continuous learning, JA Worldwide CEO Asheesh Advani—who opened Ignite with a keynote—learned how JA Americas alumni ensure JA events are inclusive for neurodiverse and learning disabled youth from JA Americas President and JA Uruguay alumna Federica Pereira.

GLC PHOTOS AVAILABLE ON JAWORLDWIDE

Relive the energy of GLC Rio by exploring our full photo collection, now available on jaworldwide.org. From leadership sessions and AI literacy workshops to the JA Americas COY celebration and informal moments with colleagues from around the world, these images capture the spirit, connection, and inspiration that defined our week in Rio. Take a look, download your favorites, and share them with your teams and JA communities.

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November/December 2025 OneJA Newsletter