Celebrating Global Impact Day 2026
Leeds University Business School hosted its first Global Impact Day, bringing together students, alumni, staff, and industry to explore global perspectives in an interconnected world.
The event celebrated the international community at the University of Leeds and created space for discussion, reflection, and inspiration on what internationalisation means.
The day opened with a welcome panel led by Ellen Wang, the Faculty International Manager at Leeds University Business School, who emphasised that the university is more than a place of study; it is a place students can call home, where they can learn from one another, share ideas and challenge perspectives.
Global Impact Day focused on three key areas: celebration, reflection and inspiration, and making a difference, which align closely with the Business School’s strategy across people, business and society.
Ellen said:
Global Impact Day celebrates the diversity, collaboration, and shared purpose that define our international community. Developing a global mindset at Leeds University Business School is not just about understanding the world; it’s about actively shaping it through inclusive thinking and responsible leadership.
Professor Niall Hayes, Deputy Dean of Leeds University Business School, delivered the opening address, thanking the team behind the event and recognising the work involved in bringing the vision for Global Impact Day to life. He also introduced the agenda for the day, which included talks, panel discussions and cultural performances, encouraging participants to reflect on their own journey and consider their place in the wider global community.
Throughout the day, students, staff and partners were invited to engage with a wide range of sessions exploring leadership, global collaboration and social impact. A unique performance of Indian Dance, accompanied by music from a Chinese Guzheng and guitar, celebrated the diversity of the Business School's International Community. This performance highlighted how culture and storytelling can bring people together and deepen understanding between communities.
One of the panel discussions, ‘From Local Action to Global Impact’, included speakers James Mason, Chief Executive Officer at the West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, and Tina Leslie MBE, Founder of Freedom4Girls, a charity fighting against period poverty in the UK and East Africa. The panel explored how individual and local actions can contribute to wider global change and emphasised the importance of values-driven leadership. The speakers reflected on their own professional journeys and discussed the importance of understanding inequality, asking questions to better understand others, and leading with strong personal values.
Later in the day, Alan Elston, founder of Pitch Hero, delivered a session for staff focusing on decision-making and the importance of global awareness. He encouraged participants to begin with a clear vision of the outcomes they want to achieve and to focus on what is truly important rather than simply what feels urgent.
Alan highlighted that effective collaboration in a global environment requires trust, empathy, and strong relationships. He emphasised that meaningful partnerships often require international effort and that events such as Global Impact Day encourage participants to think beyond their immediate environments and consider broader global perspectives.
He added:
The more people we can speak to and the more knowledge and excellence we can create, the more we can advance and progress. Great relationships require international efforts.
Alumni also played an important role in the event, returning to the Business School to share their experiences and insights with current students. Speakers reflected on their professional journeys since graduating from Leeds and discussed the value of adapting to different cultures, building international experience and remaining connected to the Business School community.
Alumni speaker Jitender Surah, who graduated with an MBA in Business Administration from Leeds University Business School in 2013, said:
Global exposure early in your career can change how you see the world. It certainly did for me, so it's a real pleasure to come back and share some of those experiences with students thinking about their own international paths.
Global Impact Day highlighted the strength and diversity of the Leeds University Business School community, reinforcing the importance of global perspectives and internationalisation in preparing students for their future careers. Through its themes of ‘For Business, For People and For Society,’ the event encouraged reflection, collaboration and a shared sense of purpose in an interconnected world.
A global mindset is everything
