2026 Young Diplomats Winter Summit: Local to Global — How Arizona Cultivates Worldwide Connections
Join Global Ties Arizona for the 2026 Young Diplomats Winter Summit, a dynamic half-day leadership experience designed to connect students to Arizona’s growing role in global engagement.
Taking place at the Thunderbird School of Global Management, this summit brings together students, city and state leaders, and international professionals to explore how local communities shape global impact.
Through interactive sessions, featured speakers, and guided discussions, participants will:
Learn how Arizona cultivates international partnerships
Discover pathways to diplomacy, public service, and global leadership
Engage directly with leaders shaping Arizona’s international presence
Event Details:
Date: Saturday, February 14, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM
Location: Thunderbird School of Global Management
Program Fee: $25 per student (includes lunch)
Special Guests
Keynote Speaker
Honorable Elaissia Sears
Judge, Maricopa County
Elaissia Sears took office in January 2019 as Justice of the Peace for the West Mesa Justice Court. At 24 years old, she became one of just three African American women in Arizona's history to hold the position.
As a judge, she focuses on implementing restorative justice techniques to reduce youth incarceration rates. Outside of her elected role, Judge Sears engages with schools and organizations to bring awareness about the court system and social issues to the community. Passionate about racial equity and access to education, Judge Sears has a multidisciplinary professional background. She has worked for the Obama Foundation, Phoenix Sister Cities, Teach For America, and the Arizona House of Representatives.
Judge Sears earned a bachelor's degree in global studies from Arizona State University with a minor in German in addition to certificates in women and gender studies, international relations, and political entrepreneurship.
Fireside Chat: “From the World to Phoenix City Hall”
Derrik C. Rochwalik
Chief of Staff, City of Phoenix
Derrik Rochwalik is a public policy professional and civic leader based in Phoenix, Arizona, currently serving as Chief of Staff to Phoenix City Councilwoman Ann O’Brien. In this role, he helps shape policy, manage complex zoning and development cases, and build coalitions across government, business, and community stakeholders, with a focus on housing, land use, and sustainable growth. He also serves on Maricopa County’s Planning Commission, contributing to long-range planning and regional development decisions. His leadership has been recognized through multiple honors, including being named to the Phoenix Business Journal’s 40 Under 40, selection as a Flinn-Brown Fellow with the Arizona Center for Civic Leadership, and being named a 2025 Titan100 Titan, recognizing the top 100 C-level executives in the market. He brings a practical, collaborative approach to governance grounded in firsthand experience navigating growth, infrastructure, and community priorities.
Guest Speaker
Dr. Anastasia Psomiadi
Founder, APSON & Sisters of the Leaf Global Movement
Dr. Anastasia Psomiadi specializes in the practical application of social psychology in complex systems, helping governments, institutions, and businesses align culture, stakeholders, and decision-making to achieve measurable outcomes.
A #1 bestselling author with 30 years of global experience, she has advised organizations worldwide on public-private partnerships and sustainability, and works at the intersection of social systems and human-centered AI governance. She has delivered 400+ talks across 15+ countries and is the founder of APSON and the Sisters of the Leaf Global Movement. Her work focuses on translating intention into execution through structured frameworks that connect people, institutions, and markets.
International Guests Speakers
Albanian Participants of the International Visitor Leadership Program
This visiting delegation from Albania brings together emerging leaders engaged in public service and civic life, representing a new generation shaping their country’s democratic future. The group is in the United States as part of a professional exchange focused on leadership, governance, and strengthening relationships between communities and institutions. Their visit offers a unique opportunity to hear directly from Albanian changemakers about how democracy functions in practice, what civic engagement looks like in their communities, and how young leaders are influencing the future of their country.
As part of the Young Diplomats Winter Summit, students will engage with the delegation in a dialogue about civic participation in Albania, followed by a cultural exchange that highlights contemporary Albanian youth culture, daily life, and perspectives that shape how Albania is represented globally.