Last updated March 2, 2023
If you’re an experienced professional looking for a new opportunity to expand your field of influence, check out the list of fellowships for leaders in business and entrepreneurship! There are programs all over the world for entrepreneurs and senior business leaders, and each offers networking and hands-on experience. If one of them sounds like a good fit for you, be sure to bookmark it to your ProFellow account!
Acumen East Africa Fellows Program
The Acumen East Africa Fellows Program is a one-year, fully-funded leadership development program that gives 20 individuals from across East Africa the training they need to accelerate their social impact and leadership potential. Fellows participate in five seminars and travel and accommodations are covered. During each seminar, Fellows receive world-class training on topics ranging from design thinking to adaptive leadership. Candidates are entrepreneurs who started their own organizations, or individuals who are influencing change within an existing organization.
AsiaGlobal Fellows Program
The AsiaGlobal Fellows Program at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) is a 13-week interdisciplinary program designed to nurture future leaders. AsiaGlobal Fellows are promising mid-career professionals from around the world and across a spectrum of occupations, including policymakers, policy advisors, business, and civil society. They share a common policy interest in Asia, have demonstrated strong leadership potential, and are committed to making a positive impact on society. The program provides Fellows a monthly stipend to help with living costs, accommodation, round-trip travel, site-visit travel expenses, and insurance.
Draper Hills Summer Fellows Program
Stanford’s Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law is offering a training program for global democratic leaders holding senior roles in their respective fields. The program brings together a group of 25 to 30 mid-career practitioners in law, politics, government, private enterprise, civil society, and international development from transitioning countries. For three weeks during the summer, fellows participate in academic seminars that expose them to the theory and practice of democracy, development, and the rule of law. Delivered by leading Stanford faculty from the Stanford Law School, the Graduate School of Business, and the departments of economics and political science.
Education Pioneers Summer Fellowship
The EP Summer Fellowship is a 10-week summer experience that previews the impact you can make in the education sector and lays the foundation you need to become a lifelong leader. The Summer Fellowship connects Fellows with a high-impact placement opportunity at a leading education organization, where you can drive critical work on a defined project over 10 consecutive weeks. EP focuses on recruiting and placing Fellows in four key priority areas: data and analysis, strategy and planning, operations, and program and project management. Preview what full-time work in the education sector can look like—and see the role you could play throughout your career. The 10-week summer placement offers a stipend of $7,200.
FUSE Executive Fellows
FUSE Executive Fellows are mid-career professionals who are committed to racial equity, have 15+ years of private sector experience, and are looking to transition their careers for greater social impact. Executive Fellows are embedded in a government agency full-time for one year. FUSE works closely with government and community partners to co-create fellowship projects based on their highest priority challenges. Executive Fellows receive a salary of $80,000 and have access to a range of benefit options. The FUSE Executive Fellowship Program launches three cohorts annually in the spring, summer, and fall. Please check the website regularly for updates about projects and timelines.
GLG Social Impact Fellowship
The GLG Social Impact Fellowship leverages GLG’s platform to help social entrepreneurs solve key strategic and operational questions, at no cost. GLG Fellows lead organizations at critical inflection points that are ready to pursue significant growth. During the two-year Fellowship, Fellows use tailored interactions with GLG experts, and with one another, to navigate challenges along the pathway to scale. Applying fellow must be Founder, Executive Director, and/or CEO with a strong track record and clear organizational vision of nonprofit, mission-driven for-profit, or a hybrid structure in operation~3-7 years and a minimum of 5 full-time staff.
Miller Center Accelerator Program
Miller Center provides capacity-strengthening services to leaders of business for good. For social entrepreneurs addressing women’s economic empowerment and climate resilience who want to scale their impact, Miller Center offers pro bono programming with executive mentorship and a structured curriculum to help develop robust business plans for investment and growth. 100% of program participants leave with a more robust, integrated, and credible plan for scaling. Applicants are the senior leaders (e.g., CEO, Executive Director, Managing Director) who have the availability to participate in the program’s 6-month duration, requiring an average of 4-6 hours/week.
Henry Crown Fellowship
The Henry Crown Fellowship Program, established in 1997, seeks to develop the next generation of community-spirited leaders, providing them with the tools necessary to meet the challenges of business and civic leadership in the 21st century. Each class of Fellows is chosen from a wide pool of accomplished entrepreneurial leaders (between the ages of 30 and 45). The two-year program is comprised of a structured series of four seminars (approximately 24 days in total) under the guidance of skilled senior moderators of the Aspen Institute along with a required leadership Venture of each Fellow’s own design and choosing. Individuals cannot apply for the Henry Crown Fellowship Program; they must be nominated by recognized leaders.
Ian Axford (New Zealand) Fellowship in Public Policy
Ian Axford (New Zealand) Fellowships in Public Policy are for outstanding mid-career American professionals to research and gain firsthand experience of public policy in New Zealand. Two to three fellowships valued at up to NZ $58,500 are granted each year, towards three to seven months of research. Fellows will be based at a relevant government agency in Wellington, New Zealand, and carefully paired with a leading policy expert who will serve as their mentor. To be eligible, you must be a US citizen with at least five years of experience in your profession in the public, business, or non-profit sector.
Presidential Leadership Scholars
The Presidential Leadership Scholars program challenges established business leaders to take action through a personal leadership project to solve a problem or pressing issue in their community, country, or the world. The six-month fellowship includes an opening week session in Washington, D.C., and one extended weekend during each of the following five months in various places around the U.S. Fellows hone their leadership abilities through interactions with former presidents, key administration officials, leading academics, and business and civic leaders. Tuition, housing, meals, and travel during the course sessions in the host city are provided.
TechnoServe Fellows Program
The TechnoServe Fellows Program invites business professionals to contribute their skills in helping to change the lives of those living in poverty. Fellows experience the field of international development firsthand while building new skills and challenging themselves in a cross-cultural and entrepreneurial environment. Fellows help with a wide variety of projects and are a crucial part of the businesses they are helping. The fellowship is for 3 months or more and does not offer a salary but covers costs for the fellow including per diem expenses, visas, and other travel costs. Professionals from around the world are invited to apply.
Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program
The Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program is a nationwide competition for women entrepreneurs. Each Fellow will participate in a one-year program that includes: mentoring, networking, and business guidance for one year, a $5,000 grant to further their business education, and a 5-day trip to New York City to the Tory Burch headquarters that will include the opportunity to participate in a pitch competition. The winner of the pitch competition will receive a $100,000 grant investment. Your company must be registered and operated in the United States. Check out more info here
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