Building leaders, changing lives
A decade of youth development in ASEAN
Southeast Asia is an economic powerhouse, with the fastest growing consumer markets in the world and a young, digital-savvy population. The region’s youth are a source of creativity, dynamism and high economic potential. But there are education and skills gaps that inhibit this potential.
McKinsey is committed to youth development through a variety of programs that provide skills, offer mentorship, and build leadership capability. We play a part in enabling Southeast Asian youth to flourish in life, in business, and in their communities—helping to fulfil their potential in the region’s growth agenda.
Open your eyes to the problems in your communities. If you can see what people are struggling with then you can find a solution—big or small—just take that first step, and don’t give up.
The youth define the future of the country. Be proactive—learn, explore, experiment, and take risks.
Developing tomorrow’s leaders
Our programs are designed to develop life skills that can empower young people to change their lives and uplift their communities. In contrast to traditional classroom learning, we focus on experiential programs that provide concrete skills to tackle real-world problems. Participants are given mentorship and support throughout their learning journeys, and some programs lead directly to employment. For instance, In Singapore, Generation is collaborating with SkillsFuture Singapore and educational institutions to develop demand-driven ‘train and place’ programs.
Reflecting on impact
For more than a decade, McKinsey has launched programs and partnered with organizations in the region to build tomorrow’s leaders.
Our efforts focus on targeted interventions that develop local talent, prepare individuals for the workforce, and support young entrepreneurs who go on to build businesses that have a positive impact within their communities.
- 2006
Mekong Business Challenge
VietnamSupports young entrepreneurs through an annual business-venture competiton
- 2008
Young Leaders for Indonesia
Develops the next generation of Indonesian leaders
- 2009
Youth Leadership Academy
MalaysiaEquips young Malaysians with skills to enable them to become successful leaders of change
- 2010
Singapore International Foundation’s Young Social Entrepreneurs
Inspires, equips and enables youth to start or scale-up social enterprises in Singapore
- 2015
McKinsey Give & Share
IndonesiaHelps children in Jakarta who have limited access to education
- 2017
Consulting Fellowship Program
ThailandPrepares young professionals for consulting careers
- 2018
DeBoer Fellowship Program
Offers leadership training for mid-career professionals
- 2019
Generation Singapore
Designs and delivers ‘train and place’ programs to help job seekers find employment
- 2021
McKinsey for Children Philippines
Supports NGOs with long-term strategies so they can continue to make a difference through the work that they do
- 2021
SEO-Vietnam
Provides educational and fellowship programs to young people from underserved communities
- 2021
Saigon Children’s Charity
Offers leadership training for university students
Flagship programs
Young Leaders for Indonesia
YLI is an intensive six-month program for final-year university students that has helped to develop the pipeline of Indonesia’s future leaders. Over the past 12 years, YLI’s graduates have become leading figures in global public-sector initiatives, and have built businesses and social entrepreneurship ventures that benefit their communities. YLI’s annual conferences connect participants with top Indonesian leaders to facilitate conversations for the betterment of the country.
Alumni impact
Ruangguru, founded by two YLI alumni, is the largest online education platform in Indonesia—reaching more than 22 million students and 300,000 teachers.
Mekong Business Challenge
MBC is an annual competition that supports young entrepreneurs in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, and Bhutan to launch their social and business ventures. MBC connects entrepreneurs with international and local businesses, angel investors, and key academics. Every year since 2006, McKinsey & Company has coached 10 venture teams, and helped them to refine their business models for the competition.
Alumni impact
Edemy, founded by an MBC graduate, developed Cambodia’s first competency-based learning platform for learning STEM and English, reaching more than 100,000 high school students.
Youth Leadership Academy
YLA was established in 2009 to help Malaysia’s most talented young leaders achieve their full potential. Through workshops, mentorship, and hands-on projects, the 12-week program helps top university students develop the skills, knowledge, and experience to become leaders of change.
Alumni impact
Ibupreneur, founded by YLA graduate Aida Zunaidi, is an online market place selling premium baked goods produced by Malaysian women.
Looking ahead
We’re committed to building on our past strengths to increase our impact in the years to come.
Our involvement in ASEAN youth development programs is essentially people-driven and entrepreneurial, based on our wish to further the potential, create opportunities, and foster capabilities of youth throughout the region. In fact, several McKinsey partner alumni remain involved in initiatives and programs to this day.
McKinsey colleagues, program leaders, and alumni share a common aspiration for the future—that the region’s youth will channel their energy, intellect, and creativity toward what they are passionate about, while creating positive change in society.
Our hope is that these programs continue to provide young leaders with the personal and professional skills to do so. “We should all continue to learn and to improve ourselves. Only by putting our best into what we do can we maximize our impact in our work and ultimately in our country,” noted Edemy CEO and founder Sovan Srun.
Young Leaders for Indonesia is the most prestigious leadership program of its kind in the country. I continually benefit from its growing network of accomplished Indonesian leaders from all sectors.
Young Leaders for Indonesia has been a life-changing experience for me that shaped me to become a more structured and organized individual, especially in solving problems, and turned my dreams into reality.
MBC gave us a starting ground to move from ideation to prototyping to full product. To aspiring leaders I say: Know your ‘why’, have a clear goal, and don’t be afraid to experiment.
Dive deeper
Our purpose as a firm is to help create positive, enduring change in the world. Learn more about our work in Southeast Asia.
