Message from
the Founder
On behalf of the World Youth Forum from Yale University, it is a pleasure to welcome you to this annual event hosted in Shanghai. The forum is the first ever space for university and high school students to congregate and discuss issues of global economic importance: issues that today’s leaders in finance, economics, and commerce strive to find solutions for.
The World Youth Economic Forum is being co-hosted by the Global Undergraduate Economic Forum and ASDAN from the UK. This Forum will culminate in the creation of proposals and task forces addressed to global change makers, of which the best will be implemented.
The World Youth Economic Forum exists as an exordium in your journey towards becoming an aspiring global leader. It is a chance for you to apply the knowledge you gain in your classrooms, the articles that you read in The Economist and the events that unfold in front of you on the news to solving global problems in the same way that global change makers do at the World Economic Forum. The World Youth Economic Forum looks forward to welcoming you and to initiating a new form of student interaction with business and economics.
Sincerely,
Aahan Bhojani
Founder of World Youth Economic Forum
Message from The Secretary General 2019
Dear Delegates,
Welcome to the 2019 World Youth Economic Forum! This conference presents an opportunity like no other, assembling a team of hundreds of young leaders from across the globe to address the most pressing economic issues of the modern day. This will be my fourth year to attend the conference, but each year I continue to be amazed at the level of intellect, passion, and insight shown by all participants. I am beyond excited to see what 2019’s conference will bring and hope that you are looking forward to this coming summer as much as I am.
The theme of this year’s conference is “The Puzzle of Global Economic Transformation: Uncovering the Missing Pieces,” which happens to closely echo the theme of the 2019 World Economic Forum. To me, the fact that the most prominent figures in economics and business chose this particular lens through which to review the current economic landscape confirms just how important and relevant this theme is to the modern economic dialogue. The propagation of globalization, the constant churn of technological innovation, and the rise of new age politics are the epicenters of economic change that has been felt in all corners of the globe. However, such rapid and intense changes have left world leaders, economists, and civilians alike grappling for solutions that are far from self-evident. Problems are now so nuanced that courses of action that seem to be solutions when viewed from one particular perspective can mutate into serious detriments when considered holistically. The struggle to identify solutions that are universally and immutably beneficial, assuming that those even exist, is highly similar to that of attempting a jigsaw puzzle while key pieces are missing. I hope that as you prepare for the conference, you keep this larger context in mind and evaluate how your ideas and proposals will impact the solutions to, not only the problems of today or the problems of a particular country or region but also the problems of tomorrow and the problems of the world as a whole.
It is my hope that during the conference, you will be stretched intellectually to consider perspectives that directly challenge your own and that you will be enriched personally by engaging in lively conversations with peers, whom on a surface level, seem entirely different from you. We have much to learn from and share with each other, I look forward to meeting you all in Shanghai and embarking upon what will surely be an unforgettable experience together!
Warmly,
Elizabeth Liu
Secretary-General, World Youth Economic Forum 2019
“You get to know students from all over the world! ”
Gizem Tan 
WYEF 2017 Participant
Gymnasium Liestal
“All the hard work payed off when I was awarded the Best Delegate!”
Jose Manso
WYEF 2017 Participant
Kantonsschule am Bruehl
VIP Business Keynote Speaker
Business Etiquette
Economic Lecture
Masked Ball
Career Planning
Ivy League Session
Waltz Training
American Campus Life
The world of journalism has changed drastically within the last several decades. With the advent of television, the Internet, and social media, the lens through which all of us view the world has become increasingly reliant upon modern tools and ideas. Journalism has been forced to keep up, and during the conference, we will seek answers to the pressing questions that face the field today. In a world of free information, how does journalism stand its ground as a source of truth? How can journalism filter cultural and societal biases in order to facilitate a more cohesive global community? We will take a hands-on approach to uncover answers to these questions while providing real-time coverage of the conference itself.
Every year more consumer products, machines across supply chains, and even previously inanimate objects gain internet connectivity. This gives them an ability and intelligence to generate massive silos of data. In the nearest term, sensors in highways that measure traffic volume are reducing commute times. In the longer term, intelligent, self-driving buses may ferry us to and from work. This committee will explore the ways in which corporations and the global economy at large are investing in the research and development of smarter computing systems that will change the ways our generation and those thereafter will work, consume, and live.
Elizabeth Liu is a senior at Yale University, majoring in Economics. On campus, she has been heavily involved in the business team of the campus publication The Yale Daily News and is also a group head of the Yale Student Investment Group. Over the summers, she has interned for a law and business consulting firm based in Taipei and for an investment bank in sales and trading, and after graduation, she’s planning to attend culinary school for a year before entering consulting full-time in New York. With her free time, Elizabeth enjoys traveling, playing new board games, and sharing a laugh with family and friends.
Collin is a senior Computer Science major at Yale University who is originally from Nashville, Tennessee. He loves spending time in the Yale Dramatic Association theaters, helping to make fine theater possible and accessible on campus. He is also a leader for the First-Year Outdoor Orientation Trips, where he guides groups of first-year students on week-long hiking trips. When not at Yale, Collin spends most of his time traveling, having most recently spent his summer travelling in Thailand and Cambodia. He absolutely cannot wait to return to WYEF this year and to kick off a fun and enriching conference with all of you! You can reach Collin by email at collin.bentley@yale.edu if you have any questions.
Peter Williamson was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, and is currently a senior at Yale University where he studies Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Peter has had a strong interest in how advancing technology and financial theories interact, and will work as a quantitative trader when he graduates. At Yale, Peter led the electrical engineering team of Yale’s University Rover Association, led financial workshops through the Elmseed Enterprise Fund, and is an assistant for computer science classes. In his free time, Peter enjoys playing sports and games such as chess and poker, and engaging in discussions with friends.
Alec is a sophomore at Yale University pursuing a double major in Economics and Political Science. He was borned and raised in New York City where he likes to visit art galleries and explore niche urban spaces. Alec is currently a consultant for the Open Society Foundations, developing a project regarding electoral integrity around the world. At Yale, Alec is the current secretary of the Sophomore Class Council and was the former Social Chair and Vice President of the First-Year Class Council. In his free time, Alec likes to sculpt, paint, and write.
David is a student at Harvard College studying History and Science, with a minor in Molecular and Cellular Biology. He is originally from St. Louis, Missouri, and hopes to eventually pursue a career in medicine and health policy. At Harvard, David is a research partner at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, writes for The Harvard Crimson, and serves on the poetry board at The Harvard Advocate, among other activities. Over the summers, he has worked in Athens, London, and Washington DC. In his free time, David enjoys exploring the outdoors, trying new foods, and playing soccer and basketball.
Rahul is an undergraduate student at Cornell University studying Economics, Finance and Public Policy. Living in several countries London and India, Rahul has developed a unique multicultural optic for international finance. Throughout his time at Cornell, Rahul has engaged as an undergraduate researcher with the Emerging Markets Institute, analyzing and supporting high growth, emerging market small medium enterprises (SME’s) in their financial obstacles. Rahul is passionate about investing and venture capital; he worked as an analyst at Manhattan Venture Partners and is an investor with Cornell’s Venture Capital fund. In his free time, Rahul enjoys traveling, dance, and playing basketball.
Alex is currently a senior at Yale University studying Economics and Math, though he has an interest in History, East Asian Studies, and International Relations as well. Alex is the co-founder of the Yale International Policy Competition, a college policy-writing competition constructed to teach students how to craft effective policy to combat real world problems. Additionally, Alex is on the Model United Nations Team at Yale and has been on the Secretariat of several Yale Model United Nations conferences including Yale Model United Nations Korea. Outside of academic pursuits, Alex is a co-captain of the Yale Wrestling team, enjoys hanging out with his friends, and watching wuxia films of all eras. This year at WYEF, Alex is looking forward to a fast paced, dynamic committee focused on analyzing and learning from case studies.
Malia Ellington will graduate from Harvard University in May 2019 with a B.A. in Human Evolutionary Biology and a minor in Global Health and Health Policy. Her personal academic interests are in the fields of biomechanics, injury rehabilitation, and nutrition. She spent the summer of 2018 as an intern at the World Health Organization Headquarters in the Department of Nutrition for Health and Development. Her other work experience includes being a research intern at the Spaulding Hospital National Running Center and a seminar leader at the Harvard Summit for Youth Leaders in China.
Sarah is a third year student at Harvard College from Brisbane, Australia. She studies Sociology with a minor in Computer Science, and is passionate about topics including education, poverty, and inequality. On campus, she is a member of the varsity crew team, a leader of House Committee, and is a volunteer at the student-run homeless shelter. She has spent previous Summers backpacking around Europe, competing in an international rowing regatta in Slovenia, and working at a political consulting firm aimed at propelling social movements. She is very excited to discuss pressing issues with some of the brightest students in the world at WYEF.
Arinjay (JJ) is a student at Yale College, studying Computer Science and Economics. Born and raised in Singapore, Arinjay aspires to found and lead a global macro strategy whilst remaining actively engaged in education policy. At Yale, Arinjay is a macro analyst for the Yale Student Investment Group, a delegate and chair on Yale’s competitive Model UN team, and a fiercely loyal patron of Blue State Coffee, among other activities. He has spent recent summers coding for education startups, concert-hopping, playing too much soccer, and binge-watching Gossip Girl.
Meibin Chen grew up in Newark, Delaware, and is currently a senior at Yale University where she studies Biomedical Engineering. At Yale, she volunteers at an HIV/AIDS nursing home called Leeway, researches in a systems biology lab, and is curating a history museum for the Yale-China Association. She is particularly passionate about diseases that disproportionately affect disadvantaged communities and will be taking a year or two to do research in this area before heading to medical school. In her free time, Meibin enjoys hand lettering, playing soccer, and spending time with friends.
William Hodges graduated from New York University’s Leonard N. Stern School of Business in May. He pursued and attained a degree in business with concentrations in finance and operations management, as well as a major in East Asian Studies (Chinese Language and Civilization). At school, William worked part-time as a teacher’s assistant in a corporate communications course, and part-time as a strategist for an upstart political campaign. Over his summers, William has worked in market research for BMW-Brilliance Automotive Ltd. in Beijing, very much enjoying the opportunity to familiarize himself with the corporate culture of a large-scale joint-venture in China. More recently, William worked in risk solutions for Aon, the global insurance brokerage. William is particularly interested in charting a later career in the insurance industry, and hopes to be involved in how insurers may begin to cover global firms’ growing cyber risk exposures. His interest in automation and artificial intelligence is linked to his studies on how growing volumes of data may change the ways risk is priced. For now, however, William is headed to U.S. Naval Officer Candidate School in the autumn, where he will spend half a year training to serve in the United States Navy.
