January and February Jumpstart: Showcases, Davos, and More
Dear Shapers,
Thank you participating in our hub in so many wonderful ways! From impact projects to community events...your energy has been truly a force to see this new year.
2025 has kicked off at full speed with a series of exciting events! This includes our participation in the Northeastern Region Project Showcase where we presented two of our standout projects, SHAPE MENA and the annual World Economic Forum meeting in Davos.
Read on for updates, events, and Shaper highlights to get us all inspired for the year ahead!
- With Shaper love <3
Visiting SHAPE MENA in Khobar: A Weekend of Impact and Connection
From February 13-15, we had the incredible opportunity to attend SHAPE MENA—a three-day gathering in Khobar, Saudi Arabia, filled with inspiring conversations, cultural exchange, and deep dives into regional development and Shaper-led projects. The hospitality was unmatched, offering a firsthand look into Saudi culture and the impactful work happening across the region.
Our curator Kate, was honored to speak on the panel “Transcending Our Impact Beyond Shapers”, where she shared insights on how the New York Hub ensures the longevity of its legacy projects, such as One Rise, by supporting them every step of the way—from ideation to closure.
The organizers did an amazing job curating an unforgettable experience. Some highlights included visiting the largest oasis in the world, exploring a traditional Saudi market, trying our hand at local crafts, and, of course, enjoying delicious Al Kabsa.
A huge thank you to Christophe, Sophia, Brian, and Kate for representing the New York Hub and fostering meaningful connections with the broader Shaper community. And gratitude to the Khobar Shapers, as well as those from Riyadh, Jeddah, and Bahrain, for hosting incredible pre- and post-SHAPE activities. Looking forward to continuing these conversations and collaborations!
Northeastern Project Showcase
On Thursday, January 16, the Northeastern Project Showcase took place, featuring 16 projects from various fields such as sustainability, education, and mentoring programs. We were proud to be represented by two of our projects: AppleSeed and One Rise.
Richa, one of our dedicated Shapers, shared her thoughts: "It was amazing to see how much impact Global Shapers can make with certified projects and impact metrics. It’s inspiring to see the impact that’s been made but also the openness and willingness to collaborate with other hubs to maximize impact"
More than 60 people attended the showcase and were inspired by the regional projects. After the vote, we're thrilled to announce that Apple Seed won first place! Congratulations also to the Pittsburgh Hub and Washington Hub for securing second and third places, respectively! Claire shared that "presenting something our team poured so much energy into felt truly special, and now other hubs are reaching out to launch similar initiatives in their cities! Shoutout to Team Appleseed — Anabel, Rui, Braham, Chloé, our fearless leader Matt, and our newest addition Camille !"
We're looking forward to potential partnerships to extend some projects, like the Read in Color initiative from the Philadelphia hub to new regions such as New York.
Welcome to our new Shapers!
We have officially wrapped up our winter recruitment! With over 30 applications and many interesting profiles from diverse backgrounds, we are pleased to welcome three amazing new members and one transfer from the Paris hub:
Aveneel, Kristina, Mikaela, and Natalie
You will have the opportunity to meet them at our next event! You can discover their biographies in the bio deck of our community! Please give them a warm welcome
Highlights from the Annual WEF Meeting in Davos
This year’s World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos was utterly inspiring. The Annual Meeting convenes global leaders to address key global and regional challenges under the theme of "Collaboration for the Intelligent Age".
Discussions focused around five key themes that are critical to tackling the various issues facing the global economy: Reimagining growth; Industries in the intelligent age (AI); Investing in people; Safeguarding the planet; Rebuilding trust
Participants included over 1,600 business leaders, including over 900 of the world's top CEOs, and more than 350 governmental leaders, which included over 50 heads of state and government. In addition to these 50 young leaders of Global Shapers Community got invited with the mission to ensure that young voices are represented and integrated into decision-making.
We had two incredible representatives from our region — Christie (DC hub) and Davy (Boston Hub). Learn more about the outcomes of the meetings & watch recorded sessions here.