Talent, Mobility, and Opportunity: Who Gets to Participate in the Global Economy?
Across sectors, talent is one of the most powerful drivers of change, yet access to opportunity remains deeply unequal. Whether in global education, workforce participation, or industries like sport, many individuals from the Global South contribute immense value but capture only a fraction of the benefits.
This discussion explores how talent pathways, mobility, and access to opportunity shape who gets to participate in and lead the global economy. From football systems that export talent without building local ecosystems, to barriers in accessing higher education, fellowships, and global networks, the conversation will examine how structural inequalities limit both individual potential and broader system impact.
We will also look at emerging opportunities, including digital work, cross-border labor mobility, and new models for workforce development that connect education to real economic outcomes. What does it take to move from training to true transformation, especially for young people in underserved communities?
Bringing together perspectives from across regions and sectors, this session invites participants to rethink talent as infrastructure for systems change, and to explore how to build more equitable pathways into opportunity, leadership, and economic participation.
Speakers
Inés Palacios is Co-Founder of Fundamental, expanding access to postgraduate education for students from the Global South.
Jennifer Sikes is Chief Communications Officer at Generation.
Lee-Berkeley Shaw is Chief Engagement and Partnership Officer at CWI Works, advancing intergenerational workplaces.
Lydia Charles Moyo is Founder and Executive Director of Her Initiative, advancing economic empowerment for young women through technology and entrepreneurship.
Sonja Robinson is Country Program Director at International Samaritan Jamaica, leading education and workforce programmes for youth.
Spencer Campbell is Founder of SCTA.
Chad Sterbenz is Chief Investment Officer at Malengo, driving innovative financing models that expand labor and education mobility across continents.
Rebekah Smith is Executive Director at Labor Mobility Partnerships (LaMP), building systems and policies that expand global economic opportunities through labor mobility.
Discussion Questions
Where are the biggest barriers preventing talent from the Global South from accessing opportunity, networks, and leadership pathways?
How can systems, from education to labor markets to industries like sport, be redesigned to capture more value locally?
What models are effectively linking education, training, and real economic opportunity for underserved communities?
How can global mobility, digital work, and new pathways be leveraged to create more equitable participation in the global economy?
Location & access
Accessibility matters deeply to us, and we do our best to choose spaces that reflect that. That said, some of our Oxford venues are in historic buildings without lifts. This room is unfortunately not accessible for wheelchair users, those with mobility challenges, or anyone needing step-free access.