The BRICS+ International Youth Mentoring Program, organized by the World Youth Festival Directorate and the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance, will bring together 16 mentors from 8 countries to work with participants. They will support young entrepreneurs, innovators, and highly skilled professionals in developing their initiatives, sharing practical experience, and building professional networks.
The program mentors include heads of major companies, industry experts, investors, and representatives of business associations and international organizations from Russia, Brazil, Egypt, South Africa, Iran, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, and India.
The mentors on the Creative Industries, Media and Information Technology track include Anna Nesterova, Chairperson of the Russian Chapter of the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance, Daria Kasyanova, Head of the Comfortable City Phygital Project, Iravati Hermawan, CEO of Hermawan Juniarto & Partners (Indonesia), Lebogang Zulu, Chairperson of the South African Chapter of the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance, Marianne Ghali, Chairperson of the Egyptian Chapter of the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance, and Alua Rudar, Founder of the Win-Win Montessori Children’s Center (Kazakhstan).
“For many years, I have worked with young entrepreneurs, leaders, and creators of social initiatives. From this experience, I have learned that mentorship is an important part of success. The transfer of knowledge, experience, and practical skills from established professionals to the next generation enables young people to unlock their potential more quickly, avoid mistakes, and implement their projects with greater confidence. The BRICS+ International Youth Mentoring Program creates a unique environment where such exchange takes place across countries, cultures, and professional communities. It not only helps participants develop their initiatives but also shapes a new generation of leaders capable of building international cooperation, creating innovative solutions, and contributing to the sustainable development of their countries. It is a great honor for me to serve as a mentor in this program and support young people who are already shaping the future of the BRICS+ countries,” said Lebogang Zulu, Chairperson of the South African Chapter of the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance and Mentor in the Program.
The High-Tech Manufacturing track is represented by Azam Karami, Founder of Vira Kavir (Iran), Glaucia Vieira, Low-Carbon Technology Specialist and Founder of Startup GreenEnergy Sustainable Solutions (Brazil), Zahra Rahai, Chair of the Iranian Chapter of the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance and CEO of Navak Chemipakhsh (Iran), Rinawati Prihatiningsih, Co-Founder of PT Infinitie Berkah Energi (Indonesia), Elena Chashchina, Managing Partner of EPOTOS (Russia), and Daria Chudnaya, Deputy Director of SR Space (Russia).
“The BRICS+ International Mentoring Program is a strategic platform for developing a new generation of professionals capable of effective engagement in a global context. It promotes intercultural competence, exchange of best practices, and strengthening of international cooperation. As a mentor, I share expertise in creative industries, including project and strategic thinking, management of interdisciplinary teams, and the development of initiatives at the intersection of culture and technology. Particular attention is given to building sustainable and scalable projects. The program plays a key role in developing a sustainable international professional community based on partnership and trust. It creates conditions for intercultural dialogue and the implementation of joint projects with long-term social and economic impact,” said Daria Kasyanova, Head of the Comfortable City Phygital Project, Public Figure, and Science and Creative Industry Advocate.
On the Medicine track, participants will work with Anastasia Stolkova, First Deputy Director for Development of the Roscongress Foundation and Director of the RK-MEDICINE Foundation, Iuliia Ruzankina, Founder and CEO of Laser Insight, Lyudmila Shcherbakova, President of Velpharm Group, and Upasana Arora, Managing Director of Yashoda Super Specialty Hospitals and Expert in Women’s Health (India).
The BRICS+ International Youth Mentoring Program serves as a practical tool for shaping a new generation of leaders and developing long-term international cooperation. In 2026, the program received 550 applications from more than 30 countries. Following a selection process, 30 of the most active and motivated young entrepreneurs, innovators, and highly qualified professionals from 12 countries became participants.
They represent innovative projects in high-tech manufacturing, IT, space technology, medicine, creative industries, media and marketing, social entrepreneurship, aviation technology, energy, and financial technology. They will be guided by mentors as they develop their projects, receive expert support, complete internships, and build international professional connections. These connections will serve as a foundation for future cooperation across the BRICS+ countries.
Overview:
The World Youth Festival took place in Sirius on March 1-7, 2024, according to the Decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the development of international youth cooperation. The WYF-2024 brought together 20,000 young leaders from 190 countries.
In line with the Russian President’s instructions to preserve and further develop the legacy of the World Youth Festival, festival events are now held annually across the Russian Federation. In 2025, the World Youth Festival Assembly was held in Nizhny Novgorod, bringing together 2,000 young people from 120 countries. In 2026, the International Festival of Youth will welcome 10,000 participants. The next World Youth Festival for 20,000 participants will take place in 2030.
The World Youth Festival Directorate continues its work to strengthen international youth cooperation and develop a global community of young people committed to shaping a better future.
The BRICS Women’s Business Alliance (the Alliance) was officially established by a resolution of the BRICS leaders at the 12th BRICS Summit during Russia’s chairmanship in 2020.
The Alliance’s key priorities include promoting and advancing women’s entrepreneurship across the BRICS countries, increasing the involvement of women-led businesses in the international agenda, and, as a result, expanding areas of cooperation among the business communities of the member states.
The Alliance is currently focused on developing practical initiatives to create new opportunities for cooperation among women entrepreneurs from BRICS countries in such areas as innovation, healthcare, food and environmental security, inclusive economy, ESG, creative industries, and tourism.