Final Application Deadline: January 5, 2026
Shark Tank Investor, Entrepreneur, Venture Capitalist, Emmy Award-Winning TV Personality, Best-Selling Author
Knighted by the Royal Order of Constantine the Great and St. Helen, United Nations Speaker and UN Global Peace Ambassador, Multiple International Award-Winning Entrepreneur & Philanthropist, Hollywood Film Producer
Leader on the James Webb Space Telescope, Senior NASA/DoD Engineer, Forbes-Recognized as One of the Youngest and Most Impactful in Science
Stanford Alumnus, Award-Winning & Super Bowl Film Director, 2x Cancer Survivor, State Champion Athlete
NYT Best-Selling Author, Award-Winning Speaker, and Celebrity Life Coach
Nationally Acclaimed Trial Attorney, Media Commentator, and Advocate for Justice
LSE Master's Graduate, United Nations Consultant, Award-Winning Travel Pioneer
Applicants must be 17 years old or younger as of December 31, 2025
(Born on or after January 1, 2008)
Open to students worldwide. Citizenship, residency, or country of origin does not affect eligibility.
We encourage applications from students of all backgrounds — you don’t need to be nationally famous or have perfect grades to be considered. If you’ve shown initiative, creativity, or impact, we want to hear from you. The point is, you made a difference, achieved something, or had an impact.
Applications must be submitted in English.
Applicants will be evaluated on the following core criteria:
Applications are reviewed by a committee of GYEL faculty, university leadership, alumni, and distinguished global advisors.
The Council of Global Change (CGC) is a preeminent international body that serves as the executive board to the Permanent Observer Office of the International Youth Organization (IYO). This prestigious council operates at the highest levels of global diplomacy, policy, and philanthropy, comprising some of the world’s most influential leaders who are shaping the future across industries and governance.
CGC is an invitation-only body, reserved for individuals whose contributions to global affairs, business, and philanthropy have demonstrated a lasting impact on shaping economies, policies, and humanitarian efforts. Its members include high-ranking diplomats, business magnates, and renowned philanthropists, each with a distinguished track record of influencing world affairs.
Ms. Joanne Jones is a highly accomplished nonprofit leader with over two decades of experience driving transformative initiatives and building impactful programs. She serves as the Executive Director of the Global Youth Excellence and Leadership (GYEL) Program, a multilateral and multistakeholder initiative comprising intergovernmental organizations, permanent observers, NGOs, and entities with special consultative status in the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). The program operates within the framework and ecosystem of the United Nations system and under the auspices of its members and organizations.
As a UN Credentialed ECOSOC Delegate, Ms. Jones represents and advocates for youth empowerment and sustainable development at the United Nations headquarters. She actively engages with global leaders to promote initiatives aligned with the UN’s goals, fostering transformative solutions that address critical global challenges.
Prior to her role at GYEL, Ms. Jones served as the Executive Director of The Dream Big Foundation, a nonprofit founded by Rob LoCascio, the CEO of LivePerson—a company recognized as the #1 Most Innovative AI Company in the World by Fast Company. During her tenure, she expanded the Foundation’s flagship program, FeedingNY, which now provides over 10,000 meals annually to families in need, transforming it into a vital resource for underserved communities.
Ms. Jones’s prior roles include serving as Executive Director of the March of Dimes and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, as well as her tenure as Director of Advancement at St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School.
Mr. Keith Agoada is a visionary entrepreneur dedicated to revolutionizing the global agricultural supply chain. As the founder of Producers Trust, he has been instrumental in creating a network that empowers farmers worldwide by providing them with direct access to markets and essential data services. This initiative enhances transparency and ensures fair compensation for producers, thereby fostering sustainable agricultural practices.
His expertise and innovative approaches have garnered recognition from esteemed international organizations. Mr. Agoada has actively collaborated with the United Nations, contributing to high-level discussions on sustainable agriculture and climate action. Notably, he participated in the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration’s learning session on “Artificial Intelligence and Nature Restoration,” where he explored the transformative potential of AI in environmental conservation. He was also a featured speaker at the Women’s Entrepreneurship Day (WED) summit at the UN Headquarters, highlighting the role of sustainable agriculture in economic empowerment.
Under Mr. Agoada’s leadership, Producers Trust has expanded its reach to include over 1,000 producer groups across more than 80 countries, impacting the livelihoods of millions of farmers. The organization’s innovative platform, Landscape Relationship Management (LRM™), exemplifies his commitment to leveraging technology to drive sustainable systems change in food and agriculture.
Mr. Agoada’s vision is further strengthened by an esteemed Board of Advisors, whose collective expertise enhances Producers Trust’s capacity for impact and innovation: Susan Rockefeller, Craig Cogut, Adrian Grenier, Dr. Charles Levy, M.D., MBA, Rosa Sangiorgio, and Terry Tamminen.
Honorees may choose which benefits they wish to be included in. Participation in each is optional — you can take part in all or only the ones you prefer.
For any questions about the application process, eligibility,
or fee waivers, contact the GYEL 18 Under 18 team at:
As a Deputy Convenor and Principal Partner of the UN side event, this collaborative initiative between UNEP, UN-Habitat, and civil society partners brought together youth leaders, data specialists, urban development experts, and community advocates to advance science-driven approaches to SDG localization.
As a Deputy Convenor and Principal Partner of the UN plenary session, global leaders, policymakers, technology pioneers, and civil society representatives convened at UN Headquarters in New York. This high-level gathering served as a collaborative platform for advancing digital innovation, youth empowerment, and multilateral solutions to address the world’s most pressing challenges.
The Global Youth Excellence and Leadership Program (GYEL) is a multilateral and multistakeholder initiative of intergovernmental organizations, permanent observers, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and organizations with official special consultative status in the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). It functions within the framework and ecosystem of the United Nations system and operates under the auspices of members and organizations within the United Nations system.
The primary goal of GYEL is to foster excellence and leadership among global youth through a variety of strategic political and social initiatives. The program has focused on preparing individuals to become future leaders who are equipped to address the complex challenges of an increasingly interconnected world.
Each UN Coalition Partner listed on our About page has signed a formal institutional agreement between their UN-affiliated organization or agency (recognized under the United Nations framework) and GYEL. They are not a coalition partner in a personal or unofficial capacity. They represent their organization and agency in an official role as a designated signatory within the UN system.