Applications open for Leaders Europe Program 2025-26

The Leaders Europe program identifies emerging leaders working in government, civil society, and the private sector who have demonstrated a commitment to advancing the common good. It aims to build a growing network of innovative and values-based changemakers who seek to drive change in their communities while developing and supporting one another. Program offerings include:

• Timely conversations: Over six months, Leaders come together for virtual meetings to discuss some of the most challenging issues confronting Europe with the community leaders at the forefront of them.
• Skill-building trainings: Tailored workshops support Leaders in identifying and activating personal values; engaging across differences and harnessing inclusive forms of power, and building skills for pragmatic, adaptive leadership over the long haul.
• A community of support: The program includes opportunities for Leaders to meet virtually in small groups and for one-on-one conversations to build deep, lasting relationships that will carry them through their leadership journey.
• Inspirational cultural events: An exciting series of virtual cultural events like live performances and stimulating conversations with artists and creative thinkers fosters a strong spirit of hope and community.

Benefits

• Participants (known as “Obama Leaders” or “Leaders”) will take part in weekly sessions that include:
  • Practical tools and training for deepening values-based leadership
  • Leadership coaching
  • Community groups
  • Conversations with thought leaders
  • Cultural programming that showcases the richness of diversity in the region
  • Curated spaces for deep personal reflection and interpersonal learning with peers

Geographic Focus

• Your work is geographically focused on creating positive change for local communities, an eligible nation, and/or the broader Europe region. You demonstrate a strong commitment to continue to focus your work in the Europe region.

Eligibility Criteria

• You must meet one of the following criteria:
  • Citizen of an eligible country or territory OR
  • Permanent resident of an eligible country or territory OR
  • A refugee or asylum seeker in an eligible European nation or territory OR
  • Have lived in an eligible country or territory for at least the last 5 years, regardless of citizenship or permanent residence status
• Language Proficiency & Age:
  • You are professionally proficient in English and you will be between 24 and 45 years of age on September 1, 2025.
• Leadership Experience:
  • You can demonstrate at least 3 years of relevant experience in your issue area.
• Jurisdiction and Ability to Participate in a U.S.-Based Program:
  • The Obama Foundation is based in the United States. To participate in the program, you must be under no legal or regulatory restrictions that would limit your participation in virtual Foundation programming or travel to the U.S. for in-person programming (if any).
• They seek to assemble cohorts of individuals who can learn from each other based on a range of experiences, approaches, and backgrounds. They work to recruit values-driven changemakers who hold a variety of views and perspectives so that they can create a learning environment that is both supportive and intellectually challenging for Leaders who will need to apply their skills in a diverse set of contexts and with many stakeholders.
• They welcome Leaders from diverse backgrounds, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, spiritual beliefs, socioeconomic status, gender identity, sexual orientation, political affiliation, and ability. They are committed to building inclusive and diverse cohorts with Leaders from different nationalities, issues of focus, sectors of work, personal backgrounds, leadership ranks and titles, and life experiences. They are also committed to making this program accessible to Leaders with disabilities, from the application process through the entire program experience.
• Across the spectrum of diversity, they endeavor to identify applicants and invite Leaders to the program who:
  • Possess a clear issue of focus and can describe or measure their impacts.
  • Hold a leadership position in their change making work, whether full-time or volunteer (there are no leadership rank or title requirements).
  • Demonstrate a deeply ethical, values-based, equitable, and collaborative approach to leadership.
  • Demonstrate a willingness to learn from and share with other Leaders in a group setting.

For more information, visit Barack Obama Foundation.