Who Will Lead the World Next?
- Date
- Tuesday, September 8, 2026
- Time
- 7:00 p.m.
- Venue
- Ralph Bunche Institute for International Studies, New York
Envoy Magazine announces the first in a series of events launching its special issue, Who Will Lead the World Next?, beginning September 8 — co-organized with the United Nations Association of New York, the Ralph Bunche Institute for International Studies, the Campaign for a Woman Secretary-General, and the Permanent Mission of Estonia to the United Nations.
Speakers will include Rein Tammsaar, Permanent Representative of Estonia to the United Nations; Jean Krasno, chair of the Campaign for a Woman Secretary-General; and Jesselina Rana, a lawyer and UN advisor at the CIVICUS Alliance in New York. Stéphanie Fillion, editor-in-chief of Envoy Magazine, will moderate. Eli Karetny, deputy director of the Ralph Bunche Institute, will deliver opening remarks.
As the United Nations approaches one of the most consequential leadership transitions in its history, a global conversation is underway: who should lead the UN into its next era, and what kind of leadership is needed to confront the complex challenges of the twenty-first century?
Join us to get your copy of the special issue and a timely discussion with our co-organizers on the future of UN leadership, the evolving process for selecting the next Secretary-General, and the growing international movement advocating for the election of the first woman to hold the Organization's highest office. The discussion comes at a pivotal moment, as many observers argue that the UN's current challenges — from armed conflict and geopolitical fragmentation to climate change and sustainable development — require fresh perspectives and renewed public confidence in multilateral institutions.
"Convening a discussion like this is exactly what we had in mind when we put together this special issue. It's a call for open discussion, accountability, and transparency in how the UN chooses its next leader. We're glad to partner with organizations that share that goal."
Since the founding of the United Nations in 1945, all nine Secretaries-General have been men. Yet growing numbers of diplomats, scholars, civil society leaders, and former UN officials have argued that the time has come for the Organization to demonstrate its commitment to equality and representative leadership by electing its first woman Secretary-General. Advocates contend that such a choice would not simply be symbolic, but could help bring renewed energy, innovative thinking, and broader perspectives to the challenges facing the international community.
This event offers participants a unique opportunity to engage directly with leading voices on one of the defining questions of global governance: what qualities will be required of the next UN Secretary-General, and what vision of leadership does our changing world now demand?
