40 leaders.
One year.
A journey that transforms how you lead yourself, others, and society.
40 leaders.
One year.
A journey that transforms how you lead yourself, others, and society.
Belgium’s 40 under 40 brings together a new generation of leaders to grow, challenge each other, and act on the issues that shape our society.
Many leaders move fast, perform, and deliver.
Few have the space to step back, reflect, and engage with others on what truly matters.
The challenges we face — human, environmental, societal — require something more: depth, dialogue, and collective action.
This is where 40u40 comes in.
You apply to a one-year program.
You become part of a long-term Community.
It starts with a one-year journey bringing together 40 leaders under 40 from across sectors and walks of life. It becomes a Community of peers committed to transform society.
Not a network.
Not a ranking.
Not a traditional leadership program.
A space to address your questions, learn from others radically different from you, work together on today’s pressing challenges.
Moments of reflection and connection with inspiring peers.
Small groups where trust allows real conversations.
Collective projects to confront change and complexity.
A relationship that challenges and supports you.
Entrepreneurs, civil servants, corporate executives, change-makers, creatives, activists….
What they share is not a profile but a mindset: curiosity, responsibility, and the willingness to question — themselves and society.
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Through an intensive one-year program, we boost the development of young leaders and increase their societal footprint. We offer a unique platform of personal development with a societal dimension at its core. Together they embark on an accelerated journey centered on meaning, social responsibility and impact.
During this journey, the Fellows grow as leaders, widen their perspectives, forge deep relations with peers, and experience the complexity of changing the world. Intertwined with the leadership development, societal impact is an essential part of the journey. Participation in the program is free of charge for the Fellows, but it requires a real time and energy commitment.
Our program is addressed to young leaders in their 20s or 30s, who are animated by a strong desire to make the world better. The 40u40 program is specifically designed to help them become the leaders they aspire to be. Through the people that we touch with this program, we grow our impact on society.
Calling largely for candidates, we assemble cohorts of 40 diverse profiles under 40 years old. We launched our two inaugural Cohorts in 2021, and our ambition is to create one cohort per year going forward. Our next call for applicants will take place in Spring 2025.
Our society is rich and diverse, and 40u40 aims at creating magical encounters that would not have happened elsewhere.
During the program, the Fellows get to discover different ways to look at society and to address its complexity. By exploring what brings them together, the Fellows enrich their views on the world and forge deep connections.
The initiative is backed by an exceptional group of more than 80 leaders committed to supporting the next generation. They have accumulated a wealth of experience and wisdom that they are willing to share with younger leaders to accelerate and deepen their impact on society. The Fellows benefit from the guidance of accomplished leaders through individual mentorship and expertise sharing.
