YPO (Young Presidents’ Organization) connects successful young chief executives in a global network unlike any other. Founded in 1950 in New York City by a young president named Ray Hickok, the organization unites approximately 20,000 business leaders in more than 120 countries around a shared mission: Better Leaders Through Education and Idea Exchange™.

A great deal has changed since YPO’s founding but certain things have remained the same: the value of a peer network and trusted mentors, the importance of ongoing education, and the need for a “safe haven” where issues can be aired in an environment of confidentiality.

Over the past six decades, YPO has maintained its core commitment to these ideals while embracing change with each successive generation of young business leaders.

Members say that YPO has a profound, often life-changing, effect on their lives, reflecting what Ray Hickok noted in 1950:

YPO is a high profile, culturally diverse non-profit organization serving over 20,000 members worldwide.  Our mission statement reads, “Better Leaders Through Education and Idea Exchange” and our goal is to provide a challenging environment that promotes the exchange of ideas and shared experiences for our members. By inspiring the continual improvement of each individual leader, YPO facilitates the acquisition of knowledge and, more importantly, the development of wisdom.