The New Asia 21 Class: | Asia Society Skip to main content

Unsupported Browser Detected.
It seems the web browser you're using doesn't support some of the features of this site. For the best experience, we recommend using a modern browser that supports the features of this website. We recommend Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Edge

  • Back to asiasociety.org
  • ABOUT
    • Code of Conduct
    • IMPACT
    • Nomination and Application Process
    • Contact
    • Asia 21 Team
    • Testimonials
  • Summits
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2013
    • 2012
    • 2011
    • 2010
    • 2009
    • 2008
    • 2007
    • 2006
  • Meet Our Young Leaders
    • Class of 2019
    • Class of 2018
    • Class of 2017
    • Class of 2016
    • Class of 2015
    • Class of 2013
    • Class of 2012
  • ASIA 21 COMMENTARY
    • Asia 21 Commentary
    • ASIA 21 IN THE WORLD
  • Global Chapters
    • Asia 21 Global Chapter Guidelines
    • Afghanistan
    • Australia
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • India
    • Japan
    • Korea
    • New Zealand
    • Pakistan
    • Philippines
    • Singapore
    • Thailand
    • U.S.A.
    • Vietnam
  • Action Lab
    • 2018 Action Lab
    • 2017 Action Lab
    • 2016 Action Lab
  • Video Gallery
  • Support
    • Asia 21 Alumni Giving Campaign
    • Asia 21 Supporters
    • Asia 21 Corporate Sponsors
Search
Asia 21 Young Leaders
  • ABOUT
    • Code of Conduct
    • IMPACT
    • Nomination and Application Process
    • Contact
    • Asia 21 Team
    • Testimonials
  • Summits
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2013
    • 2012
    • 2011
    • 2010
    • 2009
    • 2008
    • 2007
    • 2006
  • Meet Our Young Leaders
    • Class of 2019
    • Class of 2018
    • Class of 2017
    • Class of 2016
    • Class of 2015
    • Class of 2013
    • Class of 2012
  • ASIA 21 COMMENTARY
    • Asia 21 Commentary
    • ASIA 21 IN THE WORLD
  • Global Chapters
    • Asia 21 Global Chapter Guidelines
    • Afghanistan
    • Australia
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • India
    • Japan
    • Korea
    • New Zealand
    • Pakistan
    • Philippines
    • Singapore
    • Thailand
    • U.S.A.
    • Vietnam
  • Action Lab
    • 2018 Action Lab
    • 2017 Action Lab
    • 2016 Action Lab
  • Video Gallery
  • Support
    • Asia 21 Alumni Giving Campaign
    • Asia 21 Supporters
    • Asia 21 Corporate Sponsors

The New Asia 21 Class:

In the Presence of ‘Game-Changers’

Asia Society Executive Vice President Tom Nagorski welcomes the crowd at the 2013 Asia 21 Young Leaders Summit in Zhenjiang, China, on December 6, 2013.

By Tom Nagorski

ZHENJIANG, CHINA — Of course the meaning of leadership – and the potential and challenge for true leaders – are the real reasons why we gather the Asia 21 network, and the newly-minted Asia 21 Young Leaders are an impressive and inspiring group.

 

To take just a few snapshots of the 2013 class: Humaira Bachal, whose Dream Foundation Trust fights for the rights of girls in rural Pakistan to a proper education; Ibrahim Bernardo, founder and CEO of Sari Software Solutions, who has brought solar energy to far-flung, off-the-grid areas, and used technology to teach blogging to slum children, and create “virtual visits” between prison inmates and their indigent families; Scot Frank, Co-Founder and CEO of One Earth Designs, which brings clean-energy, problem-solving products to remote Himalayan communities; Akash Goel, who led the launch of a program that brings life-saving medications to HIV/AIDS patients across India; Tania Hyde, a former officer in the Royal Australian Air Force who is director at the consulting firm Taylor Street Advisory (n.b.: Tania has already offered excellent – and pro-bono – consulting for the Asia 21 initiative itself); and Dhruv Kazi, whose “heartMAP” uses IT and behavioral economics to provide personalized support to South Asians with heart disease.

The list goes on, a catalog of global game-changers, and I was going to leave it at that for now – but then I spent some time this afternoon with Deepak Ravindran. All Deepak has done, in his first 25 years of life, is found Innoz, a mobile technology company that created an SMS service which has made it possible for more than 120 million people in the “offline world” to gain access to the internet; and then, for good measure, he co-founded Startup Village in Kerala, an incubator for new small businesses. The goal was to create 1,000 startups in a decade; now, just 18 months in, they have already created 1,100.

“It’s another Silicon Valley,” I said, to which Deepak replied, “actually we call it the ‘Silicon Coast.’ You must come and see us – we are by the sea, and the companies are great.” No doubt they are, Deepak. The new fellows were joined today by roughly 70 Asia 21 veterans; together they are tackling an ambitious agenda here and charting a course for the year ahead.

The 2013 Asia Society Asia 21 Young Leaders Summit continues through Sunday. Expect more coverage, including photos and video, in the coming weeks.

 

Related Links

  • Asia 21 Young Leaders Summit 2013

    Asia Society Gathers Young Leaders in Zhenjiang for 8th Annual Asia 21 Summit
  • Asia Society Announces 2013 Asia 21 Young Leader Awardees

    Asia-Pacific region’s top leadership program identifies and brings together region’s top leaders under 40
  • Class of 2013

    Asia 21 Young Leaders Class of 2013
About
  • Mission & History
  • Our People
  • Become a Member
  • Career Opportunities
  • Corporate Involvement
visit us
  • Hong Kong
  • New York
  • Texas
global network
  • Australia
  • France
  • India
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Northern California
  • Philippines
  • Southern California
  • Switzerland
  • Washington, DC
resources
  • Arts
  • Asia Society Magazine
  • ChinaFile
  • Current Affairs
  • Education
  • For Kids
  • Policy
  • Video
shop
  • AsiaStore
initiatives
  • Arts & Museum Summit
  • Asia 21 Young Leaders
  • Asia Arts Game Changer Awards
  • Asia Game Changer Awards
  • Asia Society Museum: The Asia Arts & Museum Network
  • Asia Society Policy Institute
  • Asian Women Empowered
  • Center for Global Education
  • Center on U.S.-China Relations
  • China Learning Initiatives
  • Coal + Ice
  • Creative Voices of Muslim Asia
  • Global Cities Education Network
  • Global Talent Initiatives
  • U.S.-Asia Entertainment Summit
  • U.S.-China Dialogue
  • U.S.-China Museum Summit
Connect
Email Signup For the media
Asia Society logo
©2022 Asia Society | Privacy Statement | Accessibility | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap | Contact

Asia Society takes no institutional position on policy issues and has no affiliation with any government.
The views expressed by Asia Society staff, fellows, experts, report authors, program speakers, board members, and other affiliates are solely their own. Learn more.

 

 

  • Visit Us
  • Hong Kong
  • New York
  • Texas
  • Global Network
  • Australia
  • France
  • India
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Northern California
  • Philippines
  • Southern California
  • Switzerland
  • Washington, DC