ALSA UK Empowerment Summit
ALSA UK 2026 EMPOWERMENT SUMMIT:
From Potential to Progress
When and where?
Our flagship annual event returns on 26th September 2026, bringing together ambitious and curious young people for an afternoon of inspiration, empowerment and connection. Welcoming a diverse community of professionals, students, creatives and young people, the ALSA UK Summit is a space to share experiences, explore opportunities and build meaningful connections.
Each year, we create a space where our community can come together to learn from one another and take something valuable away from the experience. This year’s theme, From Potential to Progress, is about turning ambition into action. We want to encourage young people to recognise their strengths, explore what drives them and develop the confidence and skills to move forward in their education, careers and wider lives.
Throughout the afternoon, attendees will hear from inspiring speakers with a range of personal and professional experiences, with opportunities to engage through an interactive Q&A. The second session will bring together career stalls, networking opportunities and interactive workshops, giving attendees the chance to develop practical skills, speak directly with professionals and explore different pathways.
From Potential to Progress is about more than recognising what you are capable of. It is about taking the next step, making connections and turning ideas and aspirations into meaningful progress.
What's on at the Summit?
This year’s ALSA UK Summit, From Potential to Progress, will bring together an inspiring mix of speakers, professionals and young people for an afternoon centred around learning, connection and personal development.
Expect to hear from speakers with diverse journeys and experiences, sharing the lessons, challenges and opportunities that have shaped their paths. You’ll also have the opportunity to get involved through an interactive Q&A and hear perspectives that can help you think differently about your own next steps.
The second half of the event is all about getting involved. Our career stalls and networking opportunities will give you the chance to speak directly with professionals from a range of fields, ask questions and explore different career pathways. Running alongside these will be three interactive workshops focused on developing practical skills that you can take beyond the event.
Whether you’re looking for inspiration, exploring your options or simply want to meet new people, the Summit is designed to help you turn your potential into progress. Come ready to ask questions, get involved and leave with new ideas, connections and greater confidence in where you could go next.
A Look Back at ALSA UK 2025 Summit!
Not sure what to expect from this year’s Summit? Take a look back at our 2025 Summit below to get a feel for the day, the atmosphere and what you can look forward to!
Our flagship annual event took place on 8th June 2025, and it was our best one yet. We brought together ambitious and curious young people for a day of inspiration, empowerment and connection. With a diverse audience of professionals, creatives, students, children and parents, the day captured everything ALSA UK stands for: bringing our community together to learn, connect and grow.
The day was jam-packed with our keynote speaker, panel discussion, rapid-fire session with young people and breakout masterclasses with experts. Each session focused on giving attendees new perspectives, practical skills and the confidence to take their next step, whether in education, their career, their community or something entirely different. Take a look below at some of the highlights from 2025 and get a glimpse of what to expect this year.
In conversation with Rita Kastrati: a journey of impact, identity and empowerment
“Community success to me means you can learn from everyone”
From early experiences growing up in the UK, Rita shared the pivotal moments in her life that shaped her path in leadership and community activism. Touching on education, volunteering at charity shops to building her start-ups. Rita reflected on the challenges she faced and how she used the values that guided her to overcome such challenges. This wasn’t just a story of success – it’s a celebration of what’s possible when you bring your full self to the table.
Panel Discussion: Thrived Abroad, Powered by Home
A moving discussion on the balance of success abroad and contributing to your roots, featuring:
Klaudio Sula – Accountant Executive in the software industry and active contributor to the diaspora through Illyrian Brains, ThriD and Network Albania
Bora Mazreku - founder of Kosovo’s first women-owned social enterprise, Bardha’s cake
Fatos Ismali – Lead AI Cloud Solutions Architect, leading AI communities including the Data Science Initiative
From stories of starting from scratch, moving to a new country with a foreign system to building a career and something meaningful, our panellists reflected on the challenges they overcame, the limitations they pushed past to thrive abroad whilst giving back to home.
Fire Round: Young Leaders, Real Stories
Giving the mic to incredible young people who share their stories of creating change in powerful and unconventional ways. We heard short snap shots about young people reconnecting with their roots, navigating identity, using their voice to raise awareness, building community, or sparking impact. These were stories of resilience, creativity, leadership, and purpose.
Breakout Sessions
For the first time, we created a series of interactive breakout sessions designed to equip you with the tools and skills to apply in the real world. In small group sessions, attendees were provided with real insights, practical skills, and direct access to professionals whilst getting involved with hands-on tasks for personal and professional development.
"I really want to get more involved now and I have met the right people to allow me to start this journey."
Attendee #1
With a thank you to our sponsors
