On January 30,Beijing’s Lenovo Future Center hosted a high-level roundtable, “Industry for Good –MNC Empowerment for Global Youth Sustainable Development.” Co-convened by United Nations Global Leadership & ESG Programme (UNGLEP) and Lenovo Group, the event brought together participants from the United Nations ecosystem, multilateral financial institutions, multinational companies and academic institutions to discuss how global industry can better prepare the next generation for sustainable development.

From Fragmented Efforts to Systemic Design: Building the “AGE Talent” Framework

In his opening address, Dr. Xiang Luo, Chairman of the Steering Committee of UNGLEP, introduced the “AGE Talent” framework – an integrated model designed to prepare the next generation of leaders for the convergence of Artificial intelligence, Globalization, and ESG imperatives. He stressed that the core challenge is not a shortage of resources, but fragmented actions and dispersed accountability. “Sustainable development is reshaping the fundamental logic of long‑term corporate existence. We firmly believe that young people equipped with a global mindset and cultivated with ESG principles will form the core leadership force guiding multinational corporations toward sustained and far-reaching growth in the AI era.,” he said.

Representatives from Airbus, Panasonic, Lenovo Group, BMW China, Towngas, Holcim, Walmart China, Accenture China, Maersk, CMA CGM China, Ant Group, Shein, Haier Smart Home, Haier Biomedical, Goldwind Science & Technology, Goertek, Xiaomi Group, BrainCo, Eswin Materials, Eswin Computing, the World Bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), China International Capital Corporation (CICC), World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), multilateral financial institutions, and other leading think tanks engaged in in-depth discussions on “AI + ESG Strategy,” human resources innovation, and mechanisms for cultivating sustainable youth talent.

Insights from Industry and Institutional Leaders

Ms. Lan Gao, Senior Vice President of Human Resources (HR) of Lenovo Group, drew on Lenovo’s global operations to explain how companies can deeply integrate youth development with corporate ESG strategy through international rotations, project‑based training, and innovative organizational capacity‑building.

Dr. Ke Fang, Director General of the Portfolio Management Department at AIIB, said green finance and innovative investment can support youth participation in sustainable development projects.

Mr. Bingdi Zhao, President of Panasonic Corporation of China, explored pathways for integrating digital technology with ESG, detailing how young people can leverage AI to engage in green‑transition practices.

Professor Yu Zhou, Director of the Organization and Human Resources Department at Renmin University of China, said the co-evolution of HR systems and artificial intelligence is reshaping sustainable career development for young people.

Mr. Huiwen Wang, Vice President and Chief Quality Officer of Lenovo Group, introduced Lenovo’s ESG Navigator (“Le Xun”) platform, which uses digital tools to address ESG management challenges such as data silos and low collaboration efficiency, enabling data-driven decision-making and closed-loop management across the value chain.

High‑Level Dialogue on Systemic Empowerment in the Digital Era

A high‑level roundtable, moderated by Dr. Zhonghua Xu, Vice President of TotalEnergies Asia, focused on how industries can systematically empower youth talent for sustainable development in the digital economy. Panelists included Dr. Min Tang, former Counselor of the State Council; Ms. Fei Ning, Vice President of Human Resources at Airbus China; Ms. Cheng Zeng, Rotating CEO of Career International; Mr. Dewen Wang, Senior Economist at the World Bank; Ms. Ke Zhao, Managing Director at CICC; and Ms. Jinli Yao, Chairman of Meijin Energy (Hydrogen). The dialogue examined youth’s role in supporting long‑term corporate ESG transformation from multiple angles: industrial collaboration, financial support, organizational innovation, and talent‑development models.

Launch of the GYSCA Program

Ms. Chunxing Wang, Director of Strategic Development at UNGLEP, officially unveiled the “Multinational Corporation ESG Global Youth Sustainable Career Advancement Program (GYSCA).” The program was presented as a practical implementation pathway for the “AGE Talent” framework, integrating AI-oriented capabilities, global exposure and ESG-driven practice into a single, structured talent development system. Structured around a “UN knowledge platform + corporate senior mentor-ship + practical‑training ecosystem” model, GYSCA comprises four pillars: specialized industry certification, internships and hands‑on training at leading enterprises, a global mentor network, and cross‑cultural global‑perspective development. The program aims to build a systematic pathway for young people entering the workforce while bridging the gap between education, industry practice, and international platforms and embedding ESG thinking into professional development.

Activating a Cross‑Sector Ecosystem

During the conference, UNGLEP presented certificates designating Lenovo Group, Airbus, Panasonic, Goldwind Science & Technology, BrainCo, Haier Biomedical, Haier Smart Home, Eswin Materials, Eswin Computing, Towngas and Career International as “Strategic Partners for Multinational Corporation ESG Global Youth Career Sustainable Development.” This marks the official launch of a global internship and practical‑training system open to youth worldwide.

The event also included a certification ceremony for UNGLEP Senior Mentors. Leaders and experts from finance, manufacturing, technology, energy, healthcare, consulting, and other fields joined the GYSCA mentor ecosystem. This network fosters cross‑industry, cross‑cultural, and cross‑generational knowledge exchange and practical collaboration, offering sustained, systematic support for youth development through career planning, project co‑creation, and international exchange.

Power for Good, Action for Impact

Participants agreed that cultivating “AGE Talent” — talent equipped to navigate AI transformation, embrace Global integration, and lead ESG-driven sustainability — is essential to building long-term competitiveness, fostering resilient growth, and delivering on the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

UNGLEP will continue to deepen industrial collaboration, resource‑sharing, and joint action with global partners to shape a more inclusive, resilient, and forward‑looking youth‑talent ecosystem — delivering actionable, systemic solutions for achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

About UNGLEP
UNGLEP was jointly established by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the Social Impact Investment Foundation (SIIF). Its mission is to leverage the resources and networks of the United Nations system and global partners to advance the Sustainable Development Goals and address the world’s most pressing and critical challenges—including the global climate crisis. It provides systemic and constructive institutional capacity-building and innovative practical solutions, serving as a funding partner, implementation partner, and program advisory partner to the United Nations and other international organizations.

About GYSCA
The Multinational Corporation ESG Global Youth Sustainable Career Advancement Program (GYSCA) is a flagship initiative of UNGLEP. GYSCA leverages the resources and global networks of the United Nations system and multinational corporations to jointly build the world’s most influential AGE career development system. This system nurtures globally-minded young talent equipped with ESG principles for the AI era and connects them with internship and employment opportunities at multinational corporations, leading listed companies, unicorn enterprises, and international organizations.

Institution: UNGLEP

Contact Person: Hellina Cong

Email: yuwei.cong@unglep.org

Telephone: (86) 010-69098888

City: Beijing, China

Website：https://unglep.org/cn/index.aspx