BMW Group fosters young thought leaders

2025 sees the Bavarian capital host the annual One Young World Summit, a top conference of young leaders from across the globe. With delegates from 196 countries, the Summit is one of the few global events to bring young people from all continents together and offer them a platform. It is now being hosted by the City of Munich – for a second time. With its special mix of tradition, innovation and quality of life, Munich is the ideal place to pursue the shared goal of developing innovative and visionary solutions to social challenges.

Ilka Horstmeier, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for HR and Real Estate, said: “The One Young World Summit 2025 in Munich brings together young leaders from across the globe to inspire and connect. For us at the BMW Group, social responsibility extends far beyond our products and organisation: by supporting One Young World, we foster responsible leadership and encourage young people to take a stand and remain committed to resolving the challenges of the future.”

BMW Group fosters young leaders

A premium partner of One Young World, the BMW Group plays an active role in the event series. It sees itself as an integral part of society and supports the development of solutions to meet global challenges. One aspect of this consists of fostering a generation of future leaders dedicated to achieving a responsible, just and forward-looking society. Since 2016 the BMW Group has had its own delegation of committed young leaders aged between 18 and 30 at the four-day forum, which it sees as an opportunity to contribute to a better future. This year it will once again be staging the closing ceremony at BMW Welt – a symbol of technology, design and emotional experiences.

Driving change together

The One Young World Summit is an invitation to debate social, business and environmental issues, share knowledge and experience, ask critical questions and make lasting connections. The aim is to enable talented and ambitious young people to actively drive change. Delegates come from a variety of backgrounds, from business and science to NGOs. It’s in this diversity and passionate commitment that the BMW Group sees the potential of the international conference.

With a BMW Group delegation of more than 50 people, this year’s event will focus on education, the circular economy, responsible tech, combating hatred, and on peace and security. For even more impetus and different perspectives, a range of influential figures from business, politics, sport and culture will make guest appearances. One of them will be Philipp Lahm, former captain of the German national football team and 2014 football World Champion. He will be talking to Ilka Horstmeier at the opening ceremony of the Summit on 3 November in Munich’s Olympic Hall.

Education is key

In a podium discussion during the four-day conference, Ilka Horstmeier will explore how effective leadership can help restore trust in institutions, science and democracy, and the key role of education in this. Her panellists will be His Excellency Miguel Ángel Moratinos, Under-General-Secretary of the United Nations and High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilisations (UNAOC), and Gabriela de la Torre, responsible for gifted and talented education at the Mexican Ministry of Education and General Director of the Programa Adopted un Talento (Adopt a Talent Programme, PAUTA), which is dedicated to providing extra-curricular activities to support children and young people across Mexico looking to pursue a career in the sciences.

The BMW Group has long been committed to educational initiatives at its various sites, and a million children and young people have already benefited. Its longstanding collaboration with the UNAOC primarily fosters grass-roots initiatives to develop their knowledge of STEM subjects (sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics), which are important foundations to careers in exactly the areas that enable participation in global growth.

In addition, the BMW Group will invite delegates at the conference to join an interactive workshop on the circular economy. Participants will learn more about how the principles of circularity can be integrated into business ideas to help save resources and CO₂ emissions.

The BMW Group

With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial services. The BMW Group production network comprises over 30 production sites worldwide; the company has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2024, the BMW Group sold over 2.45 million passenger vehicles and more than 210,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the financial year 2024 was € 11.0 billion on revenues amounting to € 142.4 billion. As of 31 December 2024, the BMW Group had a workforce of 159,104 employees.

The economic success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. Sustainability is a key element of the BMW Group’s corporate strategy and covers all products from the supply chain and production to the end of their useful life.

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