Mark Your Calendars: Global Citizen Festival, Upcoming Events & How to Build Resilience in an Age of Apathy
A look at what’s ahead—from the return of the Global Citizen Festival to upcoming events. Plus, reflections on resilience, the fight against apathy, and how to keep moving forward.
Dear Friends and Supporters,
We’re excited to share that the Global Citizen Festival will return to New York’s Central Park on September 27—mark your calendars!
But first, join us in New York on April 30 for Global Citizen NOW, where leaders from business, government, and culture will come together to drive urgent action.
Get your ticket here to hear from voices like André Corrêa do Lago, COP30 President-Designate, Hans Vestberg, CEO of Verizon, Pedro Sánchez, Prime Minister of Spain, Sônia Guajajara, Minister of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil, Hugh Jackman, Global Citizen Ambassador, Rachel Brosnahan, Actor & Advocate, Wyclef Jean, Artist & Activist...and many more.
📚 Upcoming Book Events & Talks
Over the coming month, I’ll be joining events across several cities, including to share insights from From Ideas to Impact and explore bold, practical action for global change. Here’s where you can find me:
🇸🇪 STOCKHOLM – April 23
“Sweden’s Global Role in Times of Great Uncertainty”
🗓 Wednesday, April 23 | 🕓 16:00–18:00
📍 Fotografiska, Stadsgårdshamnen 22, Stockholm
I’ll be in conversation with former Swedish Prime Minister (and Global Citizen European Board member) Stefan Löfven about his recent book and reflections on driving international cooperation in our divided world. The event will include book signings and copies available on-site. We will also have two Swedish youth leaders to reflect on the discussions: Lisa Nåbo, leader of the Swedish Social Democratic Youth League and Sigge Eriksson, President of the National Council of Swedish Youth Organisations. 👉 [Register here]
🌍 SAN FRANCISCO – April 25
Global Climate Solutions Summit – SF Climate Week
🗓 Friday, April 25 | 🕘 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
📍 The Punch Line, San Francisco
I’ll be delivering the keynote at this flagship SF Climate Week event, bringing together climate investors, innovators, policymakers, and corporate leaders to advance bold, scalable solutions. 👉 [Register here]
🗽 NEW YORK – April 29
AESC Global Summit on Leadership
📍 New York City
I’ll be joining Kelly Jones, Chief People Officer at Cisco, for a mainstage conversation on turning big ideas into real-world impact—moderated by Denielle Pemberton-Heard. We’ll explore long-term leadership, building coalitions, and navigating complexity. 👉 [More info here]
🇬🇧 LONDON – May 7
Innovative Franklin: What Does He Still Have to Teach Us About Technology to Benefit Society?
🗓 Tuesday, May 7 | 🕡 6:30 PM
📍 Benjamin Franklin House, London
As a trustee of Benjamin Franklin House, I’ll host a lighthearted and informal panel over a drinks reception exploring how Franklin’s mindset remains relevant today—from climate and digital equity to public health and youth employment.
At the event, I’ll also launch a special bonus chapter, From Ideas to Impact. (P.S. This is a reminder that you can get on the distribution list by forwarding a copy of your book receipt to michael@michaelsheldrick.com.)
Speakers include:
Sam Mukhopadhyay (UK COP Engagement Lead)
Shomy Chowdhury (Bangladeshi Activist, Forbes 30U30)
Luke Howell (Founder, Hope Solutions & Sustainability Lead for Coldplay)
Marcia Balisciano (Director, Benjamin Franklin House)
🍸 Drinks to follow. Email me if you’d like to attend. Space is limited!
🏡 SWINDON, UK – May 9
Book Talk with Heidi Alexander MP
🗓 Thursday, May 9 | 🕖 7:00 PM
📍 Bert’s Books, Old Town, Swindon
Returning to my mother’s hometown, I’ll be joined by Heidi Alexander MP, UK Cabinet Minister, for a local discussion on global change. Here is an article that the Swindon Advertiser recently ran promoting the event. 👉 [Register here]
🇮🇪 DUBLIN – May 14
Official Ireland Launch of From Ideas to Impact
🗓 Tuesday, May 14 | Time & Venue TBC
If you'd like to be added to the invite list for the Dublin event, feel free to email me.
💥 Disability Inclusion Just Took a Leap Forward — Now the World Must Catch Up
Real progress was made at the 2025 Global Disability Summit in Berlin last week, with Global Citizen participating in full force.
🌍 4,500 participants. 100 countries.
📝 800+ new commitments to inclusion — from governments, donors, and frontline organizations.
🎯 A historic benchmark was adopted: “15% for the 15%” — a pledge to ensure that at least 15% of development projects directly benefit persons with disabilities, who comprise 15% of the global population.
This is the first time global development has a concrete, measurable target for disability inclusion.t
At the Summit, Global Citizen convened a fireside discussion on the elephant in the room: How do we defend disability rights when aid budgets are under attack?
The message was clear: accountability, funding, and shared leadership are non-negotiable. Now we must push for binding policies and budget lines, transparent reporting by 2028, and true co-leadership with persons with disabilities — not just for them
🎙️ From Crisis to Opportunity– The International Risk Podcast Episode on Foreign Aid
In this episode of The International Risk Podcast, I chat with host Dominic Bowen about what happens when governments slash foreign aid—and why it matters.
We talk about the real-world impact: life-saving programs potentially being shut down, like those fighting HIV/AIDS or helping vaccinate children through Gavi (more about their work here!). Money is at risk of being pulled from these efforts and redirected to defense budgets—right when vulnerable communities need support the most.
We dig into how this affects people’s health, incomes, and futures—and how others, like philanthropists, diaspora communities sending money home, and grassroots advocates, are stepping up to help fill the gap.
Most importantly, we ask: what comes next? Can we build something stronger and fairer than before? As someone in Brazil told me recently, “We don’t want to go back—we want something better.”
🎧 Listen now to Episode 222: “Rethinking Foreign Aid: Policy, Advocacy and Impact” and read this article setting the stage for the podcast here.
Turn Apathy Into Impact
“This is the big lie that many have swallowed. That we are powerless.”
Someone sent me this after reading my book From Ideas to Impact, and it hit home—because apathy holds back far too many people, organizations, and even governments.
Yes, cuts to anti-poverty programs are happening — but this is also a moment to step up.
Join Global Citizen’s live teach-in to learn how we can turn this setback into action.
🗓 Wednesday, April 16
🕓 4:00 PM ET
📍 Online — [RSVP now »]
You’ll walk away with:
Insights on how real change gets made in Washington
Simple, proven ways to raise your voice and influence decision-makers
A big-picture take on how we can build a more resilient, people-powered future
🎁 Bonus: Earn 60 Global Citizen points just for attending live. Register here.
🎻 Musings on Resilience – What Itzhak Perlman Taught Me About Innovation
This past week, at a partners’ retreat, I heard a story that’s stayed with me. Some of you may know it. I hadn’t—and it hit home.
Years ago, the legendary violinist Itzhak Perlman took the stage at Lincoln Center. For those who don’t know, Perlman had polio as a child and walks with the aid of crutches. Watching him take his place, inch by inch, is an act of quiet courage in itself.
The audience waited in reverent silence as he lifted his violin. The first notes rang out—flawless, soaring.
Then, a loud snap.
A string had broken.
Gasps rippled through the hall. Everyone assumed the performance would stop. You don’t play a violin concerto with just three strings.
But Perlman didn’t leave the stage.
He closed his eyes.
He paused.
And then—he began to play again.
Not the original version. Something new. Something reimagined. He composed in real time, coaxing out beauty from what remained. By all accounts, it shouldn’t have been possible.
But somehow, in that moment, it was.
When the final note faded, the crowd sat stunned—then erupted in applause.
Later, he is said to have reflected:
“Sometimes it is the artist’s task to find out how much music you can still make with what you have left.”
In policy, advocacy, development, and in life—we don’t get to choose the conditions. Budgets are cut. Coalitions fracture. Systems break down. But the work isn’t to wait for better conditions. It’s to make music with what remains.
If you're feeling like you're operating with fewer strings these days—you’re not alone. But maybe the goal isn’t to play the same old song. Maybe the task is to compose something entirely new.
That’s the mindset behind From Ideas to Impact, and behind the movements we’re building—from Global Citizen NOW this April, to our festival in Central Park this September.
Resilience isn’t just enduring. It’s adapting. It’s composing. And above all, it’s continuing to play.
My Weekend Reading List
A few things I wanted to share from the past few weeks — insights, stories, and people doing powerful work around the world:
🔹 Lessons From Collie
If you've read From Ideas to Impact, you’ll know the story of Collie, a coal town in Western Australia that’s become a model for a just energy transition. I recently wrote about what Southeast Asian leaders can learn from Collie for Climate & Capital Media. You can read that piece [here].
SXSW Recap: My Remarks and Indigenous Leadership in Climate Finance
At SXSW this year, Wendy (my wife!) published an important piece highlighting how Indigenous communities manage 25% of the world’s land and 80% of its biodiversity—but receive less than 1% of global climate finance. At First Nations House, leaders laid out why this isn’t just an equity issue—it’s a financial opportunity. Read her piece here. Plus check out this summary that Starting Up For Good Magazine published about my own SXSW remarks.
🔹 Youth Employment in South Africa
I’ve also written about how reforming higher education and scaling skills training can help tackle youth unemployment in South Africa—while unlocking investment in the digital economy and green transition.
Finally, check out this short recap of a fireside conversation I joined at the Global Pioneer Summit, where I reflected on the power of reading and the books that have shaped my life.
Four ways the government can manage the planned UK aid cuts to limit their damage
GC Explains: Setting the Record Straight: How Gutting US Foreign Aid Impacts the World
Four ways the government can manage the planned UK aid cuts to limit their damage
Finally, at the retreat I was at this week they gave us lanyards with ai generated images of ourselves on it. This was mine!
Until next week!
Mick
P.S. Huge thanks to everyone who's been leaving reviews on Goodreads and Amazon—seriously, it means a lot and really helps others find the book. Appreciate you!