In April, Rise Up leadership and more than 1,000 social entrepreneurs and innovators from across the world gathered at the 2024 Skoll World Forum to find solutions for the world’s most pressing problems. Skoll provided an invaluable opportunity for Rise Up to amplify the voices of the women, girls, and gender-nonconforming leaders we partner with to advance gender equity and justice.

Rise Up Leader Shubham Choudhary attended Skoll and shared this about his experience: “The Skoll World Forum was a transformative experience, allowing me to engage with global leaders and innovators committed to social change. The knowledge and partnerships I formed there will significantly strengthen our mission to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights and protect LGBTQIA+ rights in India.”

Skoll was also a chance for Rise Up to share our deeply-held belief – and evidence – that investing in local leaders’ solutions to strengthen gender equity in education, health care, and economic opportunity is the key to creating a better future for everyone.

For Rise Up Executive Director and Founder Dr. Denise R. Dunning, Skoll was about forging lasting connections: “At Skoll, I reconnected with old friends and partners and made new connections, learned from social entrepreneurs who are taking bold action to solve pressing problems, and was inspired by powerhouse leaders about their work to protect our democracies, human rights, and planet.”