Announcing the 2022 Class of Young Leaders

The French-American Foundation is proud to announce its 2022 class of Young Leaders. Created in 1981, the Foundation’s Young Leaders program is a transatlantic leadership program that brings together a vibrant group of rising stars from a vast array of sectors whose common link is their passion for forging bonds in a globalized world and using their influence for the common good.

In October 2022, French & American Young Leaders will gather in Austin, Texas for an intensive four-day program to learn, network and generate dialogue on leadership and advancing towards common goals on both sides of the Atlantic. The annual seminar provides an opportunity for Young Leaders to make meaningful connections (particularly after two years of social distancing), to engage in pertinent discussion, and to grow their understanding of and commitment to strengthening French-American ties.

Alumni of the Young Leaders program include more than 500 inspiring people: entrepreneurs and technology experts; fighter pilots and military commanders; lawyers and diplomats; artists, novelists, filmmakers, and professional athletes; and heads of state. US alumni include President Bill Clinton, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, late journalist Gwen Ifill, financial executive Dina Powell, and former World Bank President Robert Zoellick. French alumni include astronaut Thomas Pesquet, mathematician and politician Cédric Villani, current French President Emmanuel Macron, and current Prime Minister Edouard Philippe.

 See the Announcement in The Hill

US Young Leaders Class of 2022

Lara Aryani, Partner, Shearman & Sterling LLP

Molly Claflin, Former Chief Counsel for Investigations, U.S. House of Representatives Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis

Natacha Crooks, Assistant Professor, University of California, Berkeley

Maher Damak, CEO & Co-Founder, Infinite Cooling

RaShelle Davis, Senior Policy Advisor, Office of Governor Jay Inslee

Camille Francois, Global Directory for Trust and Safety, Niantic

Patrick Graham, Department Chair and Associate Professor, Rochester Institute of Technology

Kathryn Harrison, CEO, MAGPIE

Emily Horne, Former Spokesperson and Senior Director for Press and Communications, National Security Council

Seth Johnston, Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, U.S. Department of Defense

Adam Klein, Director, Robert Strauss Center on International Security and Law, University of Texas at Austin

Emmanuel Straschnov, Co-CEO & Founder, Bubble

Emerita Torres, Vice President of Policy, Research and Advocacy, The Community Service Society of New York

Omar Woodard, Vice President of Solutions, Results for America

French Young Leaders Class of 2022

Richard Adenot, Computer Graphics Supervisor, Illumination Studios Paris

Sebastian Ayton, Managing Director, Head of FICC, Goldman Sachs Paris

Sofiane Bendifallah, Associate Professor of Gynecology & Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine Sorbonne University

Claire Biot, Vice President, Life Sciences & Healthcare Industry, Dassault Systèmes

Vincent Dillies, Lieutenant Colonel, French Army officer

Victor Carreau, Co-founder & CEO, Comet

Raphaëlle d’Ornano, Founder and President, D’Ornano + Co.

Charles Gorintin, Co-founder & CTO, Alan

Batoul Hassoun, CEO, The Salmon Consulting (Havas group), CEO, 21st Century Club

Alexandra Jousset, Filmmaker and producer, CAPA Press

Laura Létourneau, Co-Head, French Digital Health Delegation for the Ministry of Health

Paolin Pascot, Co-founder and CEO, Agriconomie

Séverine Schrameck, Partner, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton

Ambre Soubiran, Founder & CEO, Kaiko

Learn More About the Class of 2022