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Why the UN needs women in leadership
Former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet says global leadership needs a different kind of leader.
“Sometimes when I see wars, I feel there’s too much testosterone over there,” she said. “Leaders put in front issues that are not the most important thing… it’s more about who wins.”
Bachelet called for “empathetic leadership,” which she described as the ability to put yourself in the shoes of the other to solve problems through dialogue and negotiation.
When asked if she would consider leading the UN herself, she confirmed: “I will run for Secretary-General.”
Bachelet spoke with GZERO Media’s Tony Maciulis at the 2025 Paris Peace Forum panel "Updating the UN at 80: From Mandates to Impact," part of GZERO Media’s Global Stage series with Microsoft.
Updating the UN at 80: A panel conversation from the 2025 Paris Peace Forum
As the UN reaches its 80th anniversary, pivotal questions arise: How can it evolve to address contemporary global challenges? What reforms are essential for maintaining its relevance?
At the 2025 Paris Peace Forum, GZERO Media's Tony Maciulis led a lively panel discussion on the urgent need for organizational reform. The conversation featured top UN officials and global partners reflecting on both the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Michelle Bachelet, former President of Chile and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, emphasizes the need for efficiency and transparency to rebuild trust in the UN, stating, "UN needs to be relevant so people can trust them."
Maria Fernanda Espinosa, Executive Director of GWL Voices and former UN General Assembly President, calls for action on a "new financial compact," urging collaboration between public, private, and civil sectors to govern global commons effectively.
Marjeta Jager from the European Commission called for bold reforms: "We need to merge, sometimes cut, we need to do the system consolidation."
Dr. Henry Huiyao Wang, Founder and President of the Center for China and Globalization, highlights China’s commitment to supporting multilateralism and stressed the role of peacekeeping.
With discussions of reform, the panel echoes the need for collective action to address global complexities, envisioning a future with a possible female Secretary-General for effective empathetic leadership.
Putting "power back into people" with AI
Her foundation aims to help nations in the Global South build sovereign AI systems to bridge the gap in AI advancements and promote equitable access to cutting-edge technology.
Shields also warns of AI’s darker side, noting its role in amplifying online harms for children and calling for a universal “age signal” to make digital spaces safer. Still, she remains optimistic: “We can do things so much more efficiently, so much more humanely, and in ways that put power back into people.”
This conversation is presented by GZERO in partnership with Microsoft.
Fighting food waste and empowering women farmers
80% of the world’s food is grown on small farms. By 2050, global demand is expected to rise by 30%.
As the world faces rising food demand, social entrepreneur Nidhi Pant is tackling the challenge of food waste while empowering women farmers. Speaking with GZERO Media’s Tony Maciulis on the sidelines of the 2025 World Bank–IMF Annual Meetings, Pant explains how her organization, Science for Society Technologies (S4S), is helping smallholder farmers process and preserve their produce reducing massive post-harvest losses.
Pant’s journey began in India’s Himalayas, where her family lost 50% of their orange harvest due to poor infrastructure. “I asked myself, how can I use my engineering knowledge to solve this $14 billion problem of food loss in India?” she recalls.
By introducing low-cost dehydrators and women-centered financing models, S4S is turning surplus produce into stable income. “We want to empower women with assets, create positive impact on their bodies, and help them build a voice in their communities,” Pant says.
This conversation is presented by GZERO in partnership with Microsoft. The Global Stage series convenes global leaders for critical discussions on the geopolitical and technological trends shaping our world."
Every job will be reshaped by AI, says World Bank’s Christine Qiang
Artificial intelligence is transforming the global workforce, but its impact looks different across economies.
Christine Qiang, Global Director in the World Bank’s Digital Vice Presidency, tells GZERO Media’s Tony Maciulis that while “every single job will be reshaped,” developing countries are seeing faster growth in demand for AI skills than high-income nations.
Connectivity remains a critical foundation. “So many people still don't have energy, and many have digital access, but they are not using it,” Qiang notes, stressing the importance of affordable, reliable infrastructure.
She highlights data as “the new electricity” for developing economies to leapfrog into the AI era, provided global governance keeps large language models open and inclusive.
This conversation is presented by GZERO in partnership with Microsoft. The Global Stage series convenes global leaders for critical discussions on the geopolitical and technological trends shaping our world.
Egypt's path to economic stability with Rania Al-Mashat
As a landmark Gaza ceasefire reshapes Middle East stability, what does it mean for Egypt’s growth outlook?
Egypt’s Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, Rania Al-Mashat tells GZERO’s Tony Maciulis the deal is “a monumental moment” and durable. “There’s no development without stability and peace,” she says, citing urgent Gaza reconstruction.
Despite recent changes, Egypt achieved a 5% economic growth, fueled by strategic reforms and a robust tourism sector. Highlighting progress, Al-Mashat shared Egypt's success in attracting over $17 billion in private sector investment, focusing on key industries like ICT and manufacturing. She notes, “Our economy has been rebounding, recovering very steadily.”
This conversation is presented by GZERO in partnership with Microsoft.. The Global Stage series convenes global leaders for critical discussions on the geopolitical and technological trends shaping our world.
Axel van Trotsenburg reflects on his 37-year career at the World Bank
As the global economy faces uncertainty, Axel van Trotsenburg, Senior Managing Director of the World Bank, warns that “a wait-and-see attitude” is holding back investment and growth, especially in developing countries. Speaking with GZERO Media’s Tony Maciulis on the sidelines of the 2025 World Bank-IMF Annual Meetings, van Trotsenburg highlights human capital and infrastructure as key priorities, with a growing urgency to bridge both the digital and AI divides.
On the role of technology, he stresses the promise of “small AI,” which can empower farmers and small businesses, while cautioning that large-scale AI depends on reliable energy access, a gap Africa must close to unlock opportunity. Reflecting on his 37-year career, he cites the World Bank’s evolution into a truly global institution and the mobilization of resources for the poorest countries as major achievements.
This conversation is presented by GZERO Media in partnership with Microsoft. The Global Stage series convenes global leaders for critical discussions on the geopolitical and technological trends shaping our world.
How can data and AI transform humanitarian action?
As the United Nations turns 80, the urgency to rethink global cooperation has never been greater. In a live broadcast from the UN headquarters and moderated by GZERO Media’s Global Chief Content Officer, Tony Maciulis, an expert panel gathered to discuss if AI and data can reshape a strained multilateral system to meet today’s crises.
The conversation featured top UN officials and global partners reflecting on both the challenges and opportunities ahead. Guy Ryder, Under-Secretary-General for Policy, UN, emphasized that multilateralism remains essential but requires sharper results. Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, noted cautious progress in peace diplomacy while warning of extreme strain on humanitarian workers. Ugo Daniels, Deputy Director, International Organization for Migration, highlighted how data can shift focus from temporary relief to durable migration solutions.
The second panel expanded the lens: Dr. Comfort Ero, President & CEO, International Crisis Group, warned that with 62 conflicts worldwide, the UN remains indispensable but must evolve; Dr. Ahmed Ogwell, CEO & President, VillageReach; former head of Africa CDC, urged better crisis preparedness and stronger community engagement with their own data; and Gunn Jorid Roset, Director General, Norad, reaffirmed Norway’s support for reform and evidence-based aid.
Across both panels, one theme resonated: technology alone cannot end wars, heal trauma, or feed the hungry. But combined with reform, political will, and smarter partnerships, better use of data and AI can help the UN deliver solutions.
This livestream, “Rethink, Reset, Deliver Better with Data and AI,” was an event produced in partnership between the Complex Risk Analytics Fund, or CRAF’d, and GZERO Media’s Global Stage series, sponsored by Microsoft.