Young Presidents' Organization is a global network of young chief executives that connects 18,000 peers and their families in more than 100 countries to learn, exchange ideas and address the challenges leaders face today. Guided by the mission of building Better Leaders Through Education and Idea Exchange™, the organization provides members with access to unique experiences, world-class resources, alliances with top learning institutions, and specialized Networks to enhance their business, community and personal leadership.

YPO was founded in 1950 by manufacturer Ray Hickok who, at the age of 27, inherited his family's 300-employee company in New York. He and other young presidents began meeting regularly as a way to become better leaders by learning from each other. This founding principle still guides the organization today.

YPO members are required to "graduate" from the organization at age 50, with many joining World Presidents' Organization, or WPO, a group founded in 1970 by 200 former YPO members to sustain their YPO experience. Originally called World Business Council, the group changed its name to World Presidents' Organization in 1991 to reflect its rapid growth in membership and global reach. In July 2007, YPO and WPO merged to form a single, global network, enhancing the membership experience for both organizations.