As 2024 comes to an end, we reflect on a year that challenged leaders to find creative solutions, take bold actions, and address difficult problems head-on. From devastating climate disasters to political shifts and the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI), the pressures have been immense.
“We are in the midst of a ‘polycrisis,’ where multiple global challenges are colliding and magnifying each other,” says Wil Watkins, Panorama Strategy Program Officer. “Leaders need to confront these complexities with openness, foster collaboration, and engage their teams and communities in conversations that lead to meaningful and lasting structural solutions.”
So, what does it take for social impact leaders to build on their progress to drive systems that are fairer, more inclusive, and ready for the future?
Balance Crisis Response with Long-Term Solutions
“Leaders can’t afford to sit on the sidelines,” says Reena Gupta, Panorama Strategy Senior Program Officer. “Balancing immediate crisis response with thoughtful long-term planning helps organizations stay agile and resilient. This dual focus ensures they can tackle urgent challenges like conflicts and climate disruptions while laying the groundwork for sustainable, equitable solutions.”
Aparna Ananthakrishnan, Panorama Strategy Senior Program Officer, emphasizes the urgency of this: “We are witnessing a tectonic shift in geopolitics. Populism is reversing gains in reproductive rights, climate commitments, and support for ongoing crises. Responding means protecting democratic institutions, fighting disinformation, and strengthening grassroots movements.”
This dual focus of addressing urgent needs while driving systemic change is reflected in grassroots movements, which quickly mobilize for fair wages, safe working conditions, and equitable representation—rights still denied in many sectors, particularly for women. These efforts not only tackle immediate challenges but also create lasting social and economic improvements. This approach is illustrated by the Multilateral Partnership for Organizing, Worker Empowerment, and Rights (M-POWER), which operates on Panorama's platform. M-POWER is a partnership of governments, global and national labor organizations, philanthropic institutions, and civil society organizations committed to working together to uphold workers' rights, strengthen the capacity of democratic unions to organize and represent all workers, and facilitate conditions for unions to be active participants in vibrant societies.
Philanthropy and donors are essential in supporting grassroots organizations and marginalized women, as our report, Beyond Gender Parity: An Exploration of Funding for Women's Political Leadership in the Global South, makes clear. By addressing immediate gaps in access and equity, this funding doesn’t just solve short-term problems—it plants the seeds for democracies that are more inclusive and enduring. Both initiatives reveal how reimagining systems and promoting fair practices not only bolster democracies but also amplify voices often ignored or silenced.
Redistribute Power for Systemic Change
Tackling today’s intertwined crises demands leadership that fosters collaboration across sectors and elevates local voices with the deepest understanding of community needs. “Leaders who engage in cross-sector collaboration, such as integrating climate resilience into health initiatives and elevating women’s political leadership, are better equipped to solve complex challenges,” says Reena Gupta.
For example, Panorama’s work with the END Fund underscores how fragmented policies hinder progress on overlapping issues like climate change and health inequities. Breaking down silos through partnerships that enable data sharing and coordination ensures impactful solutions reach those who need them most.
Empowering local leaders is key to systemic change, as demonstrated in the END Fund’s emphasis on country-led solutions. Joy Phumaphi, Executive Secretary of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA), stressed in our recent blog, "We must trust African leaders and communities to understand their unique challenges and solutions best. It’s about enabling their leadership and ensuring they have the resources to respond effectively."
Wil Watkins adds, “To defend and strengthen democracy and tackle inequality, we must practice democracy everywhere—not just at the polls. Leaders must trust these movements, provide resources, and stand up for them when they face threats.”
By pairing trust-based philanthropy with inclusive collaboration, leaders can amplify marginalized voices and foster sustainable change. These efforts create a world where power resides with those most impacted by decisions, building equitable systems designed to last.
Navigate the Promise and Risks of AI
Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a thing of the future. It’s here, reshaping the way societies think, act, and solve. For leaders tackling big challenges, AI offers a powerful tool to create solutions, but it also tests how responsibly we use technology. Countries like Canada and India are already rolling out national AI strategies, signaling a future where technology doesn’t just disrupt but also designs solutions to the world’s most entrenched problems.
“AI presents significant opportunities," says Reena Gupta. “Used responsibly, it can enhance collaboration and drive social change. But irresponsible use or weak oversight can lead to harmful abuse like image-based sexual violence (IBSV). Establishing strong safeguards is critical to ensuring AI is used ethically.”
Panorama Global’s Reclaim Coalition to End Online Image-based Sexual Violence highlights the urgency of accountability, as the coalition pushes for policies that hold companies accountable for harmful AI misuse.
Amidst these risks, there is no shortage of examples showcasing the promise of AI. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and PATH are deploying AI-driven approaches to tackle global health crises, from predictive disease modeling to supply chain optimization. Panorama Strategy, too, has been at the forefront—supporting the advancement of digital infrastructure for clinical research in Africa and equipping community health workers in Kenya with AI-powered tools to engage patients more effectively.
But as Panorama Strategy Program Officer Analise LeJeune-Stodieck points out, the real measure of AI’s transformative power lies not in its capabilities, but in its values. "The power of AI to be a transformative force for good is not guaranteed; it depends entirely on how thoughtfully we design, wield, and regulate it.” For LeJeune-Stodieck, this isn’t just about crafting better algorithms—it’s about crafting better partnerships. “When social impact leaders collaborate with companies to align AI innovations with community needs, we pave the way for a future where business and social impact reinforce one another."
The moment feels both electrifying and precarious: a chance to harness AI as a tool for justice and equity, but only if the global community commits to making it so. It’s both a challenge and an opportunity that will define the years ahead.
Meet the Moment: Bold Leadership for an Uncertain Future
The challenges of our time demand leadership that is bold, ethical, and deeply collaborative. The world’s crises—from climate change to rising inequality—require leaders who act with courage and compassion, steering us toward a just future. “Global actors must come together to challenge what’s possible,” says Aparna Ananthakrishnan. “This is the moment to move the needle with a unified voice.”
Effective leadership doesn’t mean having all the answers. It means listening, learning, and empowering others. Vulnerability, as Reena Gupta reminds us, fosters trust. “Acknowledging challenges creates space for open dialogue and deeper connections,” she says.
Looking ahead, leaders have a choice: to shy away from these challenges or to meet them head-on. Supporting local leaders, coalition-building, workers’ rights, and ethical AI, are just a few ways to shape a better world. As Analise LeJeune-Stodieck puts it, “In a fragmented world, those who can weave disparate efforts into cohesive strategies will drive meaningful, lasting change.”
This moment is not just a test of leadership—it’s an opportunity to turn uncertainty into progress. By embracing bold ideas, fostering collaboration, and standing firm on principles of equity, today’s leaders can inspire change that resonates for generations.
