Saturday evening. She had just landed in Washington D.C., a few days before the 2026 World Bank Group Youth summit, and was barely settled into her hotel room when she received a notification on her phone:
“Over 160 delegates have registered for the pre-summit networking session”.
She panicked.
A few weeks earlier, she and Soore, a close friend and Co-founder of Energyz Black, had come up with what seemed like a great idea: to host a networking session in the days before the summit.
Everyone who has attended any major conference or summit will tell you that the conversations that actually move the needle rarely happen on stage. They happen at the side events, over coffee, or during informal exchanges in the hallways. In the international development world, this is popularly called corridor diplomacy.
At the World Bank Group’s largest annual gathering of young people, it was a no-brainer that a curated space for that kind of connection needed to exist.
More than 300 in-person and 10,000 online youth delegates from around the world gathered at the 2026 World Bank Group Youth Summit, its largest annual youth event
Partnering with the World Economic Forum Global Shapers DC, Energyz Black, The World Bank Youth-to-Youth (Y2Y) community and the Youth Summit, Career Culture HQ delivered the first ever pre-summit networking session in the event’s history. By the day it took place, registrations had climbed past 200 – clear evidence of the demand for connection and the desire to break the ice ahead of the summit.
Delegates attending the First-Ever Pre-Summit Networking Session at the World Bank Youth Summit, organised by Career Culture HQ
The main Youth Summit event, saw fireside chats with the World Bank Group President, Ajay Banga and IFC Managing Director, Makhtar Diop. Both leaders shared resounding career advice, emphasizing that creating jobs and meaningful opportunities for young people is one of the most powerful investments in a prosperous and sustainable future.
Notable global leaders at the 2026 World Bank Group Youth Summit – World Bank Group President Ajay Banga (top) and IFC Managing Director Makhtar Diop (below)
Career Culture HQ Founder, Tolu Olusina, also joined panels with emerging global leaders, addressing the future of work, positioning for global opportunities, and finding your voice in a world where attention, trust, and connection have become the new currency.
The Voice of Africa Feature Story – Tolu Olusina: The Data Professional Connecting Africa’s Climate Frontlines to Global Institutions
Career Culture HQ was also represented by a remarkable cohort of in-person and online delegates, including:
- Chidinma Nnamuka – VP Strategic Growth, Nigeria, World Bank Innovation Lab finalist
- Karen Namonje – Policy Analyst, Zambia, World Bank Youth Summit delegate
- Oyindamola Adefehinti – Project Manager, UK, Awarded ‘TVOA’s Best dressed delegate’
- Blessing Michael – Public Health Professional, US, World Bank Youth Summit delegate
- Eniola Adebayo – Business Development Executive, Nigeria, World Bank Youth Summit delegate
- Giselle Kaligirwa – Teacher, Rwanda, World Bank Youth Summit delegate
- Amina Kwiya – Research Scholar, US, World Bank Youth Summit delegate
Career Culture HQ Delegation at the 2026 World Bank Group Youth Summit
Overall, the youth summit was a great opportunity, bringing together the next generation of leaders to engage and design solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
Career Culture HQ was proud to be in the room, and even prouder to help shape the conversations that will define the future of global leadership.
In case you missed it, here is a summary of the key messages
Watch the full replay of the two-day event here
Hope to see you at the next one.
