Today, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, was in Las Vegas with The Diana Award for ‘The Knowledge’ event, championing the crucial need for business investment and youth development to work hand in hand. The Exec Circle Mainstage discussion brought together The Diana Award CEO, Dr. Tessy Ojo CBE, ServiceNow’s Paul Fipps, and The Diana Award recipients Christina Williams and Sonny Khan to discuss how businesses can invest in strengthening the next generation of leaders to build a more robust and stronger workforce for the future.
The Duke posed questions to the young leaders about their experiences and insights into values-driven workplaces, helping uncover the deeper layers of the issue. The panel emphasized a powerful message: supporting underserved young people isn’t just an act of goodwill—it’s a smart, strategic investment in the talent of tomorrow.
“Through The Diana Award, I’ve had the privilege of meeting young people who have turned adversity into action. That’s not just inspiring—it’s the kind of untapped potential we can’t afford to overlook,” said The Duke. “Far too many young people are locked out of leadership pipelines because we’ve failed to build truly inclusive and accessible pathways.”
The Duke listened as Christina Williams and Sonny Khan – recipients of The Diana Award – spoke candidly about navigating today’s workforce, sharing both the barriers they’ve faced and the resilience they’ve cultivated along the way. They highlighted how skills gained through community and social action work—like problem-solving, empathy and leadership—are not just relevant but essential in today’s evolving workplaces.
The discussion offered business leaders valuable perspective on how the next generation approaches purpose and impact in professional settings. ServiceNow is one of over 20 companies taking meaningful action to address what The Duke described as “a broken talent system.” ServiceNow’s close to half a million-dollar investment in The Diana Award over the next three years exemplifies how businesses can drive lasting change by equipping young people with the skills, confidence and opportunities to lead and thrive. The Duke met with ServiceNow CEO Bill McDermott along with over 20 senior business leaders, changemakers and donors at a private roundtable prior to taking the stage for a discussion highlighting how companies benefit from young people’s fresh perspectives, digital fluency, and sense of purpose, qualities critical for navigating a rapidly changing business landscape.
“This generation isn’t waiting for permission to lead—they are already doing it,” the Duke continued. “They bring emotional intelligence, social awareness, and an honesty about mental health that previous generations struggled to express. What sets them apart isn’t just their boldness, but their refusal to settle for the status quo…If we’re serious about a better future, we need to stop underestimating them and start listening.”
Speaking directly to fellow panelists Sikander ‘Sonny’ Khan and Christina Williams, the Duke added: “We’re in an era now where we are looking for more companies to be serving the greater good – the majority, not the minority. Every single young person has potential. It’s just about unlocking that in those individuals. And through The Diana Award, we can join those dots and make that connection. From a younger generation standpoint, in an apathetic world, there’s more empathy in this generation than I’ve ever seen before. And I’ve spent most of my years spending as much time as I can with young people. It’s the empathy, the authenticity, the truth, the honesty and the fearlessness as well. When they stand up for themselves, and stand up in their communities. And that is what we need. We need fearless leadership. So I tip my hat to both of you and what you represent.”
Dr. Ojo closed the panel with a powerful call to action, inviting organizations to pledge to join the movement, offer mentoring, or become “boardroom believers” in young people’s potential. “The workforce of the future is not a buzzword – it’s Christina. It’s Sonny. It’s thousands more who just need someone to say, ‘you matter’.”
The Duke’s participation in ‘The Knowledge’ event underscores his continued commitment to redefining how we invest in the future. In partnership with The Diana Award, he is helping bridge business investment and youth development, championing a vision where innovation, equity and service unite—not only to address today’s workforce challenges, but to unlock the full potential of the next generation of leaders. In doing so, he continues the legacy of his mother, Princess Diana, whose unwavering belief in the power of young people remains at the heart of this mission.