The best Russian and international practices and projects for the development of social entrepreneurship, education, technology, modern urban environment, and the promotion of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals will be presented at a working session of the permanent international Friends for Leadership group of young leaders created under the auspices of the Roscongress Foundation, which is involved in promoting multilateral projects for economic and humanitarian cooperation.

Young entrepreneurs face a large number of challenges when creating their own businesses: from difficulties in attracting investment to the ineffective use of marketing and managing technologies. Many of these entrepreneurs turn to various educational publications and courses in the search for solutions.
However, in the majority of cases, simply gaining new knowledge is insufficient. In order to effectively implement their knowledge in practice, they need a fresh look from the outside and the advice of experienced experts.
At the Mentors’ Lounge, young entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to engage in direct dialogues with experts, get their questions answered, and immerse themselves in the company of like-minded peers, cooperation with whom could lead to more success.

Moderators:
Dina Gaizatullina — Chairman, Association of Youth Governments of the Russian Federation
Sayan Galsandorzhiyev — Founder, Generation of Leaders International Business School for Children
Aleksey Ezhov — Chairman of the Youth Council, Russian-Chinese Committee for Friendship, Peace and Development
Pavel Lenets — Director, Sapphire
Aleksey Poroshin — General Director, FIRST Investment Consulting Group

Young entrepreneurs face a large number of challenges when creating their own businesses: from difficulties in attracting investment to the ineffective use of marketing and managing technologies. Many of these entrepreneurs turn to various educational publications and courses in the search for solutions.
However, in the majority of cases, simply gaining new knowledge is insufficient. In order to effectively implement their knowledge in practice, they need a fresh look from the outside and the advice of experienced experts.
At the Mentors’ Lounge, young entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to engage in direct dialogues with experts, get their questions answered, and immerse themselves in the company of like-minded peers, cooperation with whom could lead to more success.

Panellists:
Mikhail Krivopal — Deputy Chairman, Association of Youth Governments of the Russian Federation
Vitaly Mankevich — President, Russian-Asian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs
Oleg Mansurov — General Director, ACTUM
Ildar Neverov — Chairman, Committee for Ecology, Delovaya Rossiya (Business Russia)
Tatyana Seliverstova — Vice-Chairman, Russian Youth Association

Buyer preferences and regulatory actions encourage companies to produce sustainable products.
However, even today most companies have chosen the easy way – to seem sustainable while not actually being so. One reason is the complicated process involved, because in order to become a sustainable producer, companies need to make many changes, from the thinking of top management and managerial models, rebuilding production cycles, logistics, sales and marketing, to investing significant amounts in bringing these changes about. In order to reduce environmental impact, companies need to put a lot of effort into transforming their processes.

• How does a green brand differ from a non-sustainable one?
• What are the principles of 360 brand sustainability? How can one distinguish a green brand from one that has been greenwashed?
• Why create the League of Green Brands movement and promote a sustainable agenda?
• How is true sustainability built for green brands?

Moderator:
Vadim Kovalev — First Deputy Executive Director, Russian Managers Association

Panellists:
Irina Agarkova — Head of Strategic Communications Direction, Mobile TeleSystems
Irina Bakhtina — Vice President for Sustainable Business Development and Corporate Affairs, Unilever Rus
Dmitriy Bobkov — Director of Information Policy and Public Relations Department, Rosseti
Anastasiya Popova — Director and founder, Project Plus One
Nikita Soshnikov — Head of Branch in Vladivostok, Deloitte, Russia