We reflect on the Youth 20 (Y20) summits, a platform that enables dialogue between young people from G20 member countries to influence global debates and contribute to the development of public policies. As the world looks ahead to the G20 Summit in November, to be held in South Africa, Jon Gericke and Thabiso Lehoko spoke to Tinashe Mpasiri, member of the 1873 Network, director of corporate literacy under the Banking on Africa’s Future initiative, and composer of the official G20 song under South Africa's G20 Presidency, about how young leaders can shape policy conversations in the lead-up to the global gathering.