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In a world where countless youth awards celebrate achievement, Misk 20 Under 30 has emerged as the most transformative platform on the planet — not simply recognizing young leaders, but reshaping their destiny. What Forbes lists with visibility, Misk delivers with access, strategy, nation-level backing, and once-in-a-lifetime proximity to power.

The 2025 cohort, selected from thousands of global applicants, represents a new generation trusted with the responsibility of contributing to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and shaping the future of youth innovation worldwide.

This year’s program demonstrated why Misk 20 Under 30 stands far above traditional youth recognitions.

1. A Stage, Not a Spotlight — Misk Gives Youth Power, Not Just Praise

Most awards offer a moment. Misk offers a platform.

At the Misk Global Forum (MGF25), the 20 Under 30 honorees were not simply listed — they were presented on the world’s most futuristic youth stage, standing beside royalty, global CEOs, UN executives, innovators, and industry icons.

From the Riyadh Schools Orchestra opening to the electrifying conversations led by Dr. Badr Al-Badr and HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Saad bin Abdulaziz, the message was clear:

Youth aren’t the future, they are the present.

As Deputy CEO Omar Najjar said repeatedly throughout the forum,

“Misk doesn’t give youth a seat at the table, it hands them the blueprint to build their own.”

This is what Forbes cannot replicate.

2. Direct Access to Royalty, Global Decision Makers, and Icons

Where else can a young leader hold meaningful conversations with:

• Omar Najjar, Deputy CEO, Misk Foundation
• Dr. Badr Al-Badr, CEO, Misk Foundation
• HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Saad bin Abdulaziz
• HRH Princess Dilayel bint Nahar Al Saud
• Chris Barton, founder of Shazam
• Rio Ferdinand, global sports icon
• Dimitar Berbatov, football legend
• Senegal’s national team captain, and other African leaders
• UN Youth Office executives and Project Everyone

This wasn’t networking — it was strategic alignment.

As one of the leaders selected for the prestigious Misk Global 20 Under 30, Kadmiel Van Der Puije engaged directly with Dr. Badr Al-Badr, CEO of the Misk Foundation, and Omar Najjar, Deputy CEO, during his time in Riyadh.

That kind of bilateral collaboration — youth-led, media-powered, continent-connecting — can only happen at Misk.

Forbes offers visibility. Misk builds partnerships.

3. Cohort Support That Continues All Year — Not a One-Day Recognition

Most awards say “Congratulations” and disappear. Misk says “Welcome — we’re just getting started.”

Through the year-round ecosystem:

• MGF Webinars
• Majlis X global dialogue events
• The Policy Circle with EY
• Hackathons, innovation labs, cultural experiences
• Professional photography by Getty Images
• Full media training, storytelling coaching, and global exposure
• A lifelong alumni network supported directly by the Foundation

This is the only youth program on earth that doesn’t end — it expands.

4. Designed and Led by Youth: Misk’s Secret Advantage

Unlike Forbes, which is editorially selected, Misk is co-created by youth.

From the sessions to the digital activations, badges, tote bags, and even stage design — everything at MGF25 carried the imprint of young innovators shaping their own story.

Yara Othman, Misk Foundation Project Manager for the 2025 cohort, explained it best:

“Our goal is not to celebrate young leaders, but to trust them with responsibility. If we want a future led by youth, we must give them the room, the access, and the platform to lead now.”

Her leadership set the tone for the cohort — organized, powerful, and deeply aligned with Saudi Arabia’s investment in global youth.

5. A True Global Movement — Not a Media Moment

Forbes is a magazine moment. Misk is a nation-backed movement. Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 places enormous emphasis on:

• Innovation
• Global collaboration
• Youth empowerment
• Cultural exchange
• Entrepreneurship
• Sports development
• Technology and sustainability

The Misk 20 Under 30 program is not symbolic — it is a strategic pillar of the Kingdom’s future.

It opens doors that no publication can:

• Policy rooms
• Government roundtables
• Royal conversations
• Investment ecosystems
• Cross-continental partnerships
• High-level global stages

It is the only youth program of its kind in the world.

6. Africa’s Voice at Misk — A New Era of Collaboration

During the UN Youth Affairs & Project Everyone session “Unscripted: Building Connections for Hopeful Futures,” Kadmiel Van Der Puije emphasized that Africa’s youth are not waiting for a seat — they are building their own tables.

He spoke on behalf of Africa’s 1.4B people, calling for:

• Youth-led funding, not just panels
• Partnership, not charity
• Narrative equity
• Access to opportunities through ecosystem building

This positioned Africa — and TVOA — as key players in the global youth conversation.

Dr. Badr and Omar Najjar both expressed interest in Saudi–Africa collaboration, signaling a new future where the two fastest-growing youth populations work side by side.

CONCLUSION: Why Misk 20 Under 30 Is the New Global Standard

Misk is not an award. It is a gateway, a network, a launchpad, and a commitment backed by a nation transforming the world. Where Forbes gives a title, Misk gives:

• A stage
• A strategy
• A global ecosystem
• Leadership training
• Connections to royalty, CEOs, UN leaders, and creators
• Year-round engagement
• A lifelong alumni movement

And most importantly — Misk gives youth power.

This is why the world is watching Saudi Arabia.

And this is why the Misk 20 Under 30 program is now the most influential youth platform on earth.

 

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