The initiative is known as ‘Ambassador for a Day’. But it might as well be called ‘Leader for a Lifetime’.

Empowering teenage girls (aged 14-17 at the time of application) to fulfil their potential, the British Embassy in June welcomed the 20 finalists of ‘Ambassador for a Day’ to the offices of the law firm Gorrissen Federspiel on Axeltorv.

For the second year running, they were teamed up to receive one-to-one mentorship from the city’s women ambassadors, and other high-ranking diplomats, who no doubt hope they will one day play a role in governing the world.

Focus on equality
The founder and orchestrator of the initiative is the UK ambassador Emma Hopkins.

“Today there are too few women in international diplomacy. Women are far from equal in politics and business. This year there has been much debate in Denmark about what equality means. In every country in the world, we are still working towards equality,” explains Hopkins.

“Ambassador for a Day is a competition that encourages young women to become future leaders and agents of change.”

Experience of bias
The finalists were required to dig deep for inspiration on the big day itself.

They were challenged to give short presentations revolving around three key questions: Have you seen or experienced bias in the world around you? What impact did it have? What would you do to help break biases in your school, society or country?

The sky’s the limit for their bright young prospects. The only thing in life beyond them, as their mentors will agree, is re-entering next year. Applications for the 2023 edition begin in March.

Among the dignitaries offering their mentoring skills were (below) Moroccan ambassador Khadija Rouissi, UK ambassador Emma Hopkins and Indonesian ambassador Dewi Savitri Wahab…

… and (below) Indian ambassador Pooja Kapur, Albanian ambassador Elida Petoshati and Swiss ambassador Florence Mattli