July 19, 2024 —In a world fraught with challenges, youth stand as beacons of hope, wielding the power to shape tomorrow’s landscape. In this landscape, skills are key and collaboration is a must. 

Recognizing the value of collaboration, Catalyst 2030 and its members are changing systems at all levels through collective action and bold new strategies. 

Catalyst 2030 is a fast-growing global movement of people and organizations committed to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS) by 2030.  At the heart of this movement was a profound understanding that the actions we take today reverberate far into the future, and it is through empowering the next generation that we pave the path to a brighter tomorrow.

A must-attend event in the global landscape of conveyings of social innovators, Catalyzing Change Week Catalysing Change Week (CCW), an annual flagship program of Catalyst 2030 serves as a testament to this potential, rallying thousands of system catalysts from diverse backgrounds to converge on a singular mission fostering transformative change globally through  collaborative action. 

From May 6th to 10th, Catalysing Change Week (CCW) 2024, was dedicated to Building the Social Innovation Sector through action-oriented and interactive sessions designed to stimulate systems change and foster collaboration among participants

As a very active and committed member of Catalyst 2030,  DOT has engaged in Catalysing Change Week since its inception. Year after year, championing youth voices and youth leadership in achieving the SDGs and community resilience efforts to create impact that ripples across the planet through social entrepreneurship, DOT led a session on the future of Youth Leadership organized and conducted by DOT’s Global Youth Leadership Advisory Board members on May 9th, 2024.

Youth Leadership: Building Future, Creating Impact Today:

The session, titled “Youth Leadership: Building Future, Creating Impact Today,” attracted over 50+ young participants online. The panel discussion, facilitated by DOT’s Global Youth Leadership Advisory Board members , explored various aspects of youth engagement in shaping the future of leadership and creating impact.

The session featured a panel of remarkable individuals, each offering a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing youth leaders today:

Angelika Sharygina, brought  digital transformation and a safe and inclusive digital economy into the cross-cutting topic of youth leadership. She illuminated the hurdles posed by rapid digital transformation, urging youth to champion digital literacy, critical thinking, and responsible online behavior. Her call for collaboration and proactive measures resonated deeply in a world increasingly besieged by misinformation and cyber threats. “Young people are in a prime position to leverage digital technologies for good. we need to empower them so that they can bring change to their communities”. 

Jean-Désiré Kouassi, emphasized 5 pillars that ecosystem actors should put into practice to uphold supportive environments for youth engagement and leadership; Simply listening to young voices is not enough; we must listen and empower. Beyond soliciting their input, we must provide young people with the platform and resources to implement their ideas. Integrating youth perspectives into policy-making processes is paramount for inclusive governance.Young people deserve environments where they can freely express themselves without fear of judgment. We must Create Safe Spaces for Sharing Ideas. Recognizing and Celebrating the achievements of young leaders not only acknowledges their contributions but also inspires others to follow suit. Building sustainable structures that go beyond just one generation for long-term engagement is essential for fostering continuity and progress. By mentoring and passing on leadership roles, we make sure that young leaders can keep making a difference. In following these five pillars, we can create a welcoming environment where young leaders can truly make a difference in changing the world. When we view young people as valuable partners in decision-making, we lay the foundation for a future where their ideas shape policies and drive positive changes globally. Let’s all commit to harnessing the immense potential of young people and working together to create a more sustainable world for the future.

Caroline Mohoni, drew attention to two major challenges that youth face when interacting with the digital space. The first challenge is digital distraction. Citing an article published by “Common Sense Media”, young people spend an average of 9 hours per day on social media and entertainment platforms. Without proper awareness of how to use the digital space and social media, they may be harmed if they are not properly informed about using it for positive and beneficial activities. To address this challenge, provide youth with awareness on how to use the digital space properly. Give them tools and resources for staying safe online.aware of everything that happens there. A second challenge is the limited availability of resources for youth. These resources encompass financial resources, knowledge, networking, and technology. Referencing an article published by the World Bank, which states that 22% of the global youth population live on less than 1.2 US dollars and supported by an article from the International Labour Organization (ILO), youth constitute the largest population of unemployed individuals. The  scarcity of available resources for youth to secure employment or create their own opportunities are significant challenges being faced by young people. To tackle this issue, advocacy for youth empowerment should be prioritized. Additionally, engaging in activities such as volunteering and participating in the gig economy can provide the youth with valuable experiences and opportunities for growth.

Mable Chileshe shared her story of r co-founding “Amplifying Her in STEM,” in 2021, an initiative focused on promoting girls in STEM education, positioned her to respond to the question: What role does technology play in education and empowering young people? There are two key factors to consider: education and youth empowerment. When it comes to education, there are two categories: formal and informal. Formal education encompasses what we learn during high school and tertiary education. Technology can be effectively utilized for research, discovering opportunities, and expanding our knowledge beyond the classroom. Informal education, on the other hand, refers to youth development and empowerment. Mable emphasized that although African youth are passionate and prepared, limited access to resources and global opportunities continues to be a hindrance, but technology can be s a tool and a game-changer in achieving our goals and shaping our future, regardless of our chosen careers.

Feedback and Reflections:

The session’s impact extended beyond the confines of its duration, resonating deeply with participants who lauded its interactive nature and inspirational content. Event attendees found the event inspiring and appreciated the opportunity to connect with other young people. Through Mentimeter polls, attendees voiced their intentions, shared challenges, and reflected on their learnings, underscoring the session’s role as a catalyst for meaningful connections and personal growth.

World Youth Skills Day:

In 2014, the United Nations General Assembly declared 15 July as World Youth Skills Day, to celebrate the strategic importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship. 

This year, alongside World Youth Skills Day, DOT’s Global Youth Leadership Advisory Board, an innovative team of 10 young leaders, who provide strategic advice to shape DOT’s direction and ensure youth voices are represented, reflects on the power of youth leadership, and the creativity, boldness and energy of their peers. 

“Empowering youth with critical thinking and effective communication skills is essential for nurturing the leaders of tomorrow. These skills enable young leaders to navigate complex challenges and inspire positive change in their communities.” 

– Jean-Désiré Kouassi

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“Digital literacy and technological proficiency equip youth leaders to leverage innovation and drive positive change in the digital era.” 

Caroline Mohoni

Conclusion:

As we celebrate World Youth Skills Day, DOT recognizes the importance of addressing the key challenges faced by youth in the future of leadership: job unemployment, lack of access to finance, lack of access to experience, lack of access to digital literacy skills, lack of access to infrastructure, and lack of access to digital gadgets. We are excited to tackle these key challenges alongside our Global Youth Leadership Advisory Board (GYLAB), giving them a seat at our table for their leadership and guidance and emphasizing the realities, needs, and opportunities for young people to acquire digital literacy, job opportunities, work experience, and financial resources.

Together, we are committed to empowering a generation of bold, compassionate, and visionary leaders. By doing so, we ensure a world where every voice is heard, every challenge is met with courage, and every dream is within reach.

Read more about the GYLAB members: GYLAB Team 

For more information about the Global Youth Leadership Advisory Board, please contact:

Ann Nderitu, Youth Engagement Manager

[email protected] or [email protected]

About Digital Opportunity Trust

DOT is a Canadian-based not-for-profit organization headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, with locally managed offices in the UK and across 6 countries in Africa and the Middle East: Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Kenya, Lebanon and Jordan. DOT extends its reach to Ghana, Uganda, Côte D’Ivoire, Malawi, and Zambia through local partnerships with youth-led and youth-serving organizations. DOT’s unique youth-led model has created an impact in over 25 countries, mobilizing and inspiring all underserved and disadvantaged young people with digital literacy, 21st-century skills, and the self-confidence that will enable them to thrive in an inclusive digital economy.

For more information, please visit www.dotrust.org

Numerous strategies exist that can help poker players refine their key cognitive choices, and with any slight edge in the game being huge in 2024, we’ve taken a look at some of the ways you can take your decision-making in poker to the next level.

KEY MOMENTS WHERE THE PRESSURE IS ON

Every poker player worth their salt sits down at the table prepared to bring their A-Game, and in the key moments, make the right decisions. Not everyone can do that, of course, but the first thing to establish is what those key moments actually are. It is impossible to remain focused for a 12-hour day at the poker felt, so ascertaining what makes an important decision is vital.

Chess players often speak about focus being a movable scale rather than a binary ability that, like a switch, is either ‘on’ or ‘off’. Focus can be soft or hard in poker too. An example of soft focus might be the sort of spot where you’re not involved in a poker hand, but when the players who are reach showdown and have to display their hole cards, you make sure to look up from your phone and take note of these shown cards. Hard focus might be an all-in hand you’re involved in where either your stack or your opponent’s ends up being totally at risk.

Determining what should demand your total focus is a personal opinion, but it can often be summarized as a decision that has a big effect on your own place at the table or someone else’s. The biggest moments in your favorite poker shows are likely to tell you what those are. We’ll all remember where we were when Vanessa Selbst couldn’t quite find the fold with a full house in the first level of the WSOP Main Event against Gaëlle Baumann. We can probably all recall the first time we saw Erik Seidel’s call after Johnny Chan’s infamous ‘Look to the Sky’ in the 1988 WSOP Main Event.

The big moments require total focus. Would Selbst or Seidel have acted differently with a better ability to focus? Those hands are tough to formulate a cohesive plan of attack in and marginal when it comes to the final decisions, so it is unlikely. But unless you find yourself deep in an event you could win millions in, your own ‘hard focus’ moments are likely to be simpler – if you put yourself in the position to make optimal strategic decisions.

Emotional Control: Pre-Match Preparation

Every poker player must prepare for a poker tournament or cash game in the right way. For some, this will be a large bank of sleep to preserve their mental energy for the big moments. For others, such as Tight Poker columnist and former champion ultra-runner Dara O’Kearney, it could be invigorating the mind and body with a long run in the days before a major event.

Whatever your method, pre-match preparation to put your mind, body, and soul in the right place is vitally important. Poker decisions made by a tired mind will be lacking. Physical stamina is important late in days when events are won and lost or when the biggest cash game pots are scooped. Feeling comfortable and in the right mental state to execute decisions effectively is pivotal to making a profit in poker.

There are any number of ways of preparing yourself, but few are better than the old adage that you are the sum of two vital human basics – what you eat and how you sleep. Mastering a good routine in both respects is crucial. With nutrition and rest, the twin pillars upon which to base your preparation, how you plan for a cash game session, multi-table tournament (MTT), or live event is almost a case of trial and error. You can read about what others do, but your own gauge of how each process refinement affects your performance (short-term) and results (long-term) will be key.

I once asked an elite player who won a lot of money playing online poker how he prepared for a final day in a big SCOOP, WCOOP, or other such MTTs. He replied with one of the most unique answers I ever heard to such a simplistic kind of question. He said that around an hour before the final day – or any poker session! – kicked off, he would go out into his garden armed with a blindfold. He would scatter a selection of items in his garden and take a mental picture with his mind.

Then he would put the blindfold on and attempt to walk to the end of the garden, touch the fence, turn around, and come back to his back door. If he struck an object in his path, he would have to start again. When he made it all the way to the fence and back without striking any objects, he would remove the blindfold and be ready to play.

The Power of Mathematics

The 17-time WSOP bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth once responded to questions about his mathematical capabilities by confidently declaring that he knew the odds of any poker hand to within two decimal places. The answer may have owed a little bravado to the formative era of The Poker Brat, but there was an element of truth to it too. Hellmuth’s math knowledge was so good that his victory in the WSOP Main Event of 1989 changed the game and allowed those who focused on numbers to take incrementally large steps forward in the game of poker.

In this fresh era of GTO (Game Theory Optimal) play, mathematical ability is infinitely more important to this day. Poker, by its very definition, is a sum game that relies on incomplete information being interpreted by the players involved, and only by understanding the odds and probabilities of certain cards coming can you make correct mathematical decisions.

From push-fold charts to post-flop strategy, studying the numbers is often time-consuming and a difficult theory to immerse yourself in. Breaking it down into bite-sized pieces of advice to digest is important, as is taking in the information in a format that your brain responds to positively. From video training to strategy books, via tactics discussed on podcasts to online articles such as these, doing the work is vital, so make sure you do it well.

Adapting to Opponents: Examples of Key Decisions

Poker is full of tough decisions, but if you build up a list of questions in your mind ahead of those decisions approaching then you’ll be best prepared to deal with them when they come along. The first consideration you should make is towards your opponent, with the player more important than the cards you’re taking on at all times. Ask yourself how they are playing, whether they have been aggressive or passive and whether they are stepping out of character with their behavior in the current hand.

Once you have a handle on your opponent(s) emotionally, consider your own perceived image to them. Are they displaying any tells or behaving in a way that is dramatically different from their previously demonstrated patterns? Also consider your table position in relation to your enemy – then you’ll be able to appraise the situation in a more strategic manner and take advantage of any weakness.

Poker is all about gathering relevant information and making the best decision based on that data. Using logic, you’ll then be able to make that key decision with as much confidence as you can possibly have. From there, the cards will decide.

Being a Hero

Key decisions are often those moments where outside observers will look back on and say either ‘How did they make that call?’ or “What a great fold – how could they lay that down?’ Making the Hero Call or the Hero Fold is tough and will often be decisive in how your major result came around. Look at the past WSOP Main Events and you can probably remember an amazing fold or hero call that the champion made.

Making a big lay down is essentially laying down a really good hand when you have worked out that your hand is still beat by one that is even better. While it is hard to have any kind of strategy that declares ‘I’m going to make a hero fold/call today’ at the beginning of the action, you should certainly be confident that should it come down to it, you can make that tough decision. These often come from the gut, that part of you that just knows you’re losing or winning in a certain spot.

I once spoke to the great Sam Razavi, a British poker professional who has made a career making huge plays. In one particular tournament, he won solely the title and around $50,000 in prize money purely because he made one great bluff at a key moment. He’d worked out his opponent’s hand down to almost the exact cards and followed through on his gut feeling with total conviction.

Sam told me that gut feeling was really the accumulation of knowledge over time and your brain then telling you that for reasons based on cognitive ‘muscle memory’, you can make the right call. Should you be wrong, that supposedly impulsive instinct is then refined over time, and your gut feelings then become more informed, often without you being fully conscious of the thought process.

We’d all like to do such things but jumping across that ‘Execution Gap’ between believing we are doing the right thing then actually pulling the trigger is much harder than it sounds.

Taking on Tilt

Let’s talk about tilt. Not just in your own game, but in that of others too. Tilt in poker is reacting emotionally to a poker hand and letting that emotion affect the next hand or even several after. This is often associated with taking a bad beat. Let’s say you are all-in with pocket queens against the pocket sevens of a player with three-quarters of your stack in a big live event. As all the chips are committed pre-flop, another player tells the at-risk player with sevens that they folded a seven too. Then, a seven lands on the river, and you’ve lost a huge chunk of your stack to a one-outer.

That kind of bad beat could easily affect you thereafter. Down from possibly 200 big blinds to under 30, you’ll have to adjust your play accordingly and have fallen a long way back down the ladder despite playing the hand perfectly. Overriding the sense of justice is difficult, and you will need to strategize completely differently, possibly for hours or days of the event. Getting over this ‘tilt’ feeling is hard, but it can be just as hard if you go on a series of hands when you’re winning. Can you still play your A-Game and not dust off chips needlessly through a sense of overconfidence? It’s crucial that you do, but ‘Winner’s Tilt’ is a thing, having recently been referenced in Daniel Negreanu’s look back at why he had a losing 2023.

Getting a handle on your emotions is crucial to success at the poker table. One thing that many players don’t consider, however, is how to exploit this tilt in others’ behavior. If you notice someone tilting, either from winning a pot or losing one, make sure that you take advantage. Charge them more with your bet-sizing if they’re splashing around with newly won chips. Punish their loss-chasing mentality if they’ve been on the wrong end of a bad beat, particularly if it was to you.

It is pivotal in poker that if you are to have any success, then the greatest strategy is to separate the decision you’re making from the outcome of that action. Being as objective as you can while retaining an emotional balance is going to help you stay on the right side of tilt in your own mind and crucially, take the maximum in chips from those who are unable to do so.

In Conclusion

Understanding negative triggers to your own A-Game and exploiting those weaknesses in others’ games is the optimal strategy when making key decisions. Being comfortable in those marginal moments can often come down to a ‘gut feeling’ that is refined over time by your own experiences at the felt.

Executing key decisions at the poker felt comes down to a focus – both hard and soft – on making positive decisions and not focusing on the consequences but refining the process of your decision-making skills. The 10-time WSOP bracelet holder Erik Seidel was coaching the comparatively inexperienced poker player and author Maria Konnikova.

When she told him about the decisions she was making and the result of the hands, he asked her to leave out the part where chips were won or lost. All that mattered was the decision, the process, the execution, the work. The chips will fall where they may, but if you keep improving your strategy in making key decisions, over time you’ll always win more than you lose.