Rethinking leadership through nature with Dr. Éliane Ubalijoro

What does leadership look like in a world shaped by climate urgency, rapid technological change, and shifting economic systems? For Dr. Éliane Ubalijoro, it begins with one simple principle: understanding how everything is connected. Born in Rwanda and raised across three continents, Dr. Ubalijoro brings a global, interdisciplinary perspective to her role as CEO of the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) and Director General of World Agroforestry. Trained in agriculture and molecular genetics at McGill University, she has spent more than two decades working at the intersection of science, policy, and partnerships to advance sustainable development. She is also a member of ESCP’s Sustainability Advisory Council. Her approach to leadership reflects this trajectory: one grounded in systems thinking, where environmental, technological, and economic challenges are deeply intertwined.