The Barack Obama Foundation's Leaders programmes aim to inspire, empower and connect regional groups of change agents to accelerate positive and lasting change in their communities and across the region.
Deadline: Friday 21 October 2022 at 12 noon US Eastern Time (GMT-5)
The 2023 Obama Foundation Leaders programmes will take place between 1 February and 15 July 2023.
PROGRAMME OVERVIEW
Launched in 2018, the Obama Foundation Leaders programme is a six-month virtual leadership development journey that seeks to inspire, empower and connect emerging leaders to accelerate positive and lasting change in their communities, regions and around the world. The Foundation operates Leaders programmes in three regions internationally: Africa, Asia-Pacific and Europe.
To date, the programme has built a network of more than 700 leaders from more than 100 nations and territories around the world. These leaders work across sectors and issue areas and are brought together by a commitment to values-based leadership rooted in the legacy of President and Mrs Obama.
The programme will bring together 35 emerging leaders from each region. The participants (known as "Obama Leaders" or "Leaders") will take part in weekly sessions that include:
*Practical tools and training to deepen values-based leadership
*Individualised coaching or in small groups
*Community groups
*Talks with thought leaders
*Cultural programme showcasing the rich diversity of the region
*Curated spaces for deep personal reflection and interpersonal learning with colleagues
Each regional programme will meet virtually over Zoom an average of four times a month, involving coaches, subject matter experts and their colleagues to deepen their leadership practice. Each session will last approximately two hours. In addition, each regional programme will aim to host a face-to-face meeting - public health, safety and security conditions permitting - as a forum for deeper community building, learning and celebration.
Upon completion of the programme, Obama Leaders will become part of the Obama Foundation's global leadership network - a growing community of change agents who are promoting tangible solutions to the greatest challenges of our time.
2023 COHORT SELECTION
We plan to invite the next group of 35 participants per region to the Leaders programmes. We're excited that you're planning to sign up! Before you begin, please review the guidelines below. If you have additional questions, please consult our frequently asked questions page.
We anticipate that this app will take at least an hour to complete, depending on your pace. Please plan accordingly and allow yourself plenty of time.
Timely submissions: We recommend that you submit your application as early as possible. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. The Obama Foundation is not responsible for applications that are not properly submitted by the deadline. All applicants will be informed of their status by email by 20 January 2023.
Selection process: The 2023 Leaders selection process will take place from October to December 2022. Finalists may be invited for virtual interviews in late November or early December 2022. Those who are not selected for interviews will be notified and will remain eligible for future Obama Foundation opportunities.
CV and References: Before you start, make sure you have an up-to-date CV in English ready to send. We recommend that your CV follows these guidelines:
*No images
*No information on family/civil status
*Maximum 2 pages
*Font colour black and background white
You will also be asked to send the name and contact details of two personal or professional references. We may contact your references if you advance in the selection process. Please do not ask your references to write letters of recommendation or to contact the Obama Foundation. We do not require or accept letters of recommendation.
Technical Requirements and Accessibility: The Leaders 2023 programme will be virtual. You will need access to a computer with a camera and a reliable internet connection to participate fully in the programme. We are able to accommodate certain technical accessibility needs throughout the duration of the programme. More information will be provided to the finalists once they have been invited to become Leaders.
Commitment to Diversity: At the Obama Foundation, we value each other's contributions and are convinced that diverse backgrounds and divergent points of view will lead us to the best solutions. We welcome Leaders across lines of race, ethnicity, spiritual beliefs, socioeconomic status, gender identity, sexual orientation, political affiliation and ability.
We are committed to recruiting an inclusive and diverse cohort with Leaders from different nationalities, focus issues, work sectors, personal backgrounds and life experiences. We especially hope to identify emerging leaders who have not had the opportunity to take part in similar leadership programmes in the past or who come from historically marginalised groups. Our aim is to build a mixed-experience cohort in which around half of the participants have not yet benefited from other major leadership programmes, while others bring leadership development experience and connections that they can share with the cohort.
We are also committed to making this programme accessible to leaders with disabilities, from the application process to the programme experience. We are able to accommodate certain technical accessibility needs throughout the duration of the programme. More information will be provided to finalists once they have been invited to become Leaders; in the meantime, please contact us by email at globalleaders@obama.org with any questions about accommodation that might help you determine whether or not to apply.
HOW TO APPLY
After reading the criteria below, create an account and log in. At the end of the enrolment process, make sure you click on EACH submit button on the successive screens!
A PDF of the application guidelines and questions is available for download at the bottom of this page.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Make sure you meet ALL of the following eligibility criteria:
Based in the region: you currently reside in one of the following qualifying nations or territories in the region in which you are applying:
*Africa All the nations, countries and territories of the African continent.
*Asia-Pacific: American Samoa; Australia; Brunei; Cambodia; China; Cook Islands; Federated States of Micronesia; Fiji; French Polynesia; Guam; Hawaii; Hong Kong; Indonesia; Japan; Kiribati; North Korea (DPRK); South Korea (ROK); Laos; Malaysia; Marshall Islands; Mongolia; Myanmar; Nauru; New Caledonia; Macau; New Zealand; Niue; Northern Mariana Islands; Palau; Papua New Guinea; Philippines; Pitcairn Islands; Samoa; Singapore; Solomon Islands; Taiwan; Thailand; East Timor; Tonga; Tuvalu; Vanuatu; Vietnam; Wallis and Futuna.
Please note that residents of South Asian countries are not eligible for this specific programme. The Obama Foundation hopes to offer leadership programmes for South Asian countries in the future.
*Europe: Any of the 46 member states of the Council of Europe and Kosovo.
Citizenship/Residence: You must fulfil one of the criteria below for the region in which you are applying:
*You are a citizen of an eligible nation or territory OR
*You are a permanent resident of an eligible nation or territory OR
*You are a refugee or asylum seeker in an eligible nation or territory OR
*You have lived in an eligible nation or territory for at least 5 years, regardless of documentation status.
Geographical focus: your current and future work is geographically focussed on creating positive change for your local community, an eligible nation or territory and/or the wider region in which you are applying.
Leadership experience: You can demonstrate at least three years of relevant experience in your field.
Age: You'll be between 24 and 45 on 15 July 2023.
Language proficiency: You are professionally proficient in English (spoken and written).
Political campaigns: You will not take part in an election campaign for political office between 1 February and 15 July 2023.
Programme commitment: You can commit to participating fully for the entire duration of the programme between 1 February and 15 July 2023, which will include a three-day face-to-face meeting (public health, safety and security conditions permitting) in late June or early July and up to 12 hours of live virtual programming per month. Participants must have a maximum of three absences to attend the call and complete the programme.
SELECTION CRITERIA
As described above, our aim is to assemble a cohort of Leaders from a pool of candidates with a variety of backgrounds, identities and levels of experience. We take all of this into account when deciding who is invited to become a Leader.
Our ideal candidates have these characteristics:
*Has a clear focus issue and can describe or measure its impact to date
*Holds a leadership position in their change work, whether full-time or voluntary
*Demonstrates a deeply ethical, values-based, equitable and collaborative leadership approach
*Demonstrates a willingness to learn and share with other leaders in a group environment
We've learned over the years that while many candidates possess most or all of these attributes, due to capacity constraints, we can't sign up all applicants to this highly competitive programme. Therefore, we try to select a deliberate mix of participants whose perspectives and experiences complement each other.
QUESTIONS
Please consult our Frequently Asked Questions for Leaders. For any other questions about programme eligibility or special accommodations, please contact us by email at globalleaders@obama.org. For technical support, visit reviewr.com/help.
APPLY
To submit an entry, create an account and log in. At the end of the application, make sure you click on EACH submit button on the successive screens!
SIGN UP VIA: https://my.reviewr.com/s2/site/obama-leaders
A PDF of the application guidelines and questions is available for download at the bottom of this page.
LIMIT DATE
The deadline for Leader 2023 applications is Friday 21 October 2022 at 12 noon US Eastern Time (GMT-5).
