Global Shapers Ljubljana (Inštitut Global Shapers) is the Ljubljana hub
of the Global Shapers Community, a World Economic Forum initiative with
hundreds of city hubs in more than 150 countries. Locally we’re a group
of volunteers aged 18 to 30, based at Impact Hub Ljubljana. We connect
young people in Ljubljana and across Slovenia to knowledge, mentors and
a network of partners, and push them to turn ideas into projects with a
real effect.
01 — The bridge
The bridge we build
Two sides, one problem. Companies need people who will actually own
something; ambitious young people need someone to open the door. We
sit in the middle: we find them, we check them, and we only place
them where the work is real.
We create space where young people develop their potential and turn
ideas into action. Our programmes sit in the gap between formal
education and the practical skills you need to get somewhere: how to
pitch, sell, lead a team, argue a point, build a thing.
03 — How we work
Run by the people in it
01
Volunteers, not staff
Everyone here does this alongside a job or a degree. Nobody is
paid, including the people who teach at our programmes.
02
Decisions where the work happens
Whoever runs a project decides how it runs. We ask for advice,
not for permission.
03
Young people lead
Members run real projects with real budgets and real
consequences, not token roles.
04 — Community
Three groups, one institute
We are a team of volunteers with mixed backgrounds, from founders and
specialists to artists and researchers, held together by the wish to
change something in our own community. Shapers Core runs the institute
day to day. Shapers Impact runs the projects. Shapers GO is where new
members start. Everyone here began by showing up at an event.
Shapers Core
The people who run the institute: strategy, partners, money, and
making sure every project has what it needs.
Marko Grad
Director
“If they’re not laughing at your dream then you’ve got to dream bigger.”
Nik Slobodjanac
Org lead
“Think smart not hard”
Taj Lavrič
Org co-lead
“Play by the rules, but be ferocious.”
Timotej Lemut
Founding member
“Quotes are overrated”
Domen Bergant
Founding member
“The crowd will call it crazy right up until it works.”
Shapers Impact
Full members who lead and run the programmes: the summer school,
Shape Talks, events, and whatever gets started next.
Olga Sazdoska
“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.”
Teodor Kirar
“Freedom is nothing more than the opportunity to become better”
Ivona Perković
“Yes girl you can. Period.”
Gaber Sečnik
“Less is more”
Monika Minjovič
“I explore my place in the world through conversations, curiosity, and plenty of laughter. I don’t judge; I listen first :)”
Where new members start
Shapers GO
Shapers GO is the way into the institute: a six-month trial period
for new members. From week one you’re part of a project team with
real tasks and a mentor from Shapers Core. Weekly team meetings, a
monthly get-together with the whole institute, regular one-to-ones
with your mentor. You can leave at any point, no hard feelings.
After six months, if it’s working for both sides, you join Shapers
Impact as a full member.
Ages 18 to 30, in or around Ljubljana, willing to show up. No
particular background needed.
