Ella Robertson McKay Shares Why Having a ‘Really Broad Range of Leaders’ Matters

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Leadership excellence demands varied voices and perspectives — a truth Ella Robertson McKay, managing director of One Young World, has championed throughout her career. Through her work bringing together young leaders from over 190 countries, the visionary trailblazer advocates for leadership that transcends traditional boundaries and embraces diversity in its fullest sense.

When it comes to leadership, diversity and inclusion reign supreme for Robertson McKay.

“It really helps with the quality of the audience and making sure that a really broad range of leaders is represented,” Ella Robertson McKay explains, reflecting on One Young World’s mission to create inclusive leadership spaces. Her vision extends beyond conventional corporate structures to encompass artists, activists, entrepreneurs, and Indigenous voices.

How Ella Robertson McKay Is Redefining Modern Leadership

Robertson McKay’s approach to leadership development fills in the gaps between generational divides. “One of the core components of One Young World is intergenerational dialogue,” she shares. “We bring together experienced individuals who have wisdom and lived experience to guide young leaders, who bring energy and new technologies. Our goal is to unite these groups and foster collaboration.”

In keeping with that trajectory, Ella Robertson McKay mentioned on LinkedIn she “had the privilege of co-chairing a meeting of the Intergenerational Global Existential Security Threats Board with former Taoiseach of Ireland, Bertie Ahern, in Beijing for theInterAction Council.”

In the article Robertson McKay wrote for LinkedIn, she stated, “In a room of this caliber, the task isn’t simply to manage a meeting — it’s to balance voices. A quick reflection on the unique experience of chairing a discussion with former heads of state, the role of wisdom in addressing existential threats, and the importance of intergenerational collaboration to find solutions.”

She added that One Young World has worked to “create a council designed to bridge generations, ensuring that younger voices push for bold ideas while elder statespeople offer the steady hand of experience. It’s in the interplay of these perspectives that solutions begin to take shape.”

The Power of Inclusive Spaces

Robertson McKay’s philosophy centers on creating welcoming environments for all voices, which she addressed in a TEDx Talk. “Look around and [ask], ‘Who isn’t here? Where are the people from this ethnic group? Where are the people from this socioeconomic background? Where are the people who might have a disability?’” she advocated. “’Is our movement inclusive? Is our movement welcoming?’ If we’re building movements that don’t include people regardless of race, religion, gender, identity, disability, our movements will be sorely lacking.”

Another crucial aspect of Ella Robertson McKay’s leadership vision involves seeking unexpected allies. “Look for allies in unlikely places,” she advises. “People feel that actually those people, their values don’t align with ours. But often, the people who are in power — they don’t agree with you right now. You might not like them, but it’s the people in power that you need to convince.”

Skills Beyond Passion

Robertson McKay stresses the importance of practical skills alongside passion. “Whether you’re a nurse, an engineer, you’re great at TikTok, you’re a really good listener, all of these things are useful,” she explained. “Find your community, add your skills. Bear in mind that every activist doesn’t have to be that front-line person getting arrested and putting their life on the line.”

Under Ella Robertson McKay’s guidance, One Young World aims to award scholarships to 50% of its summit attendees by 2030. “The Carol Shields Prize for Fiction is a great example of having these brilliant young women writers come to One Young World who wouldn’t typically be sponsored by a corporation but are such important voices to have in the room,” she shared, highlighting the organization’s commitment to diverse representation. “If we took One Young World back a hundred years, imagine having a T. S. Eliot in the room. You would want a young Jane Austen in the room. You would want all of those young voices and influences of the time as well as the industrialists or generals.”

Through her work, Robertson McKay demonstrates how diverse leadership creates stronger, more resilient organizations capable of addressing complex global issues. Her approach proves that when leadership spaces welcome all voices, the resulting dialogue enriches everyone involved and produces more effective solutions to world problems.

Distinguished Voices of One Young World

One Young World’s mission is to “create a world where leaders with integrity are empowered to build a fair, sustainable future for all.”

Scott Wabano, whose Indigenous name is North Star, is an Indigenous fashion designer recently featured on One Young World’s Instagram page.

“People don’t realize that art creates change. Art is really what’s going to save the world,” Wabano said in a One Young World video.

Wabano is an advocate for Indigenous 2SLGBTQ+ youth and is determined to use art as a tool for love and resilience.

“Identity is really important to the work that I do, being a two-spirit person. Within my language, we identify as niishuudehiiyuu, which translates to a person with two hearts. I’ve always had a role, you know, being a two-spirit person, to remind people about the teaching of love and acceptance and respect.”

Wabano added that keeping an open mind is key. “You need to have an open heart in these spaces. Art is a universal language that everyone understands,” Wabano said. “There’s so much hate in the world toward our communities. I think just leading with love is really what’s going to extinguish that hate.”

Valentine Nnamani is another inspiring One Young World ambassador using his position to literally bring light to sub-Saharan Africa. The ambitious entrepreneur is the founder of OneGrid Energies, a Nigeria-based business making a low-cost rechargeable lantern using locally sourced recycled materials.

“In the quiet seasons of life, don’t lose heart. Use those moments to learn, and grow,” Nnamani shared in a LinkedIn post. “Don’t let the whispers of others define your worth. Seek validation from the depths of your own heart, where your truth resides. For in life’s darkest moments, only your inner compass will guide you home.”