Apply To Be a Leadership Fellow
Take Your Career To The Next Level
Apply to become a Fellow
IWF’s Leadership Fellows Program accelerates the career path of high-performing women and elevates their impact within organizations and communities worldwide. The Program, which marked its 30th year in 2024, is highly successful:
- Corporate sponsors consistently report that the Program accelerates the career trajectories of high-potential women leaders
- 93% of Alumnae report a lasting impact on their professional lives
We seek high-potential women executives who are looking to break through to top leadership roles. Each year, we select a geographically, culturally, ethnically, and professionally diverse group of leaders in corporate, government, nonprofit, academic, and entrepreneurial and social impact organizations. Learn more in our brochure.
“Life-changing”
“A transformative opportunity”
“The best leadership training I’ve ever had”
IWF Seeks Candidates With:
Achievement
- Track records of significant direct accomplishments within their organizations
- Positions of substantial professional responsibility, scope, and decision-making authority
- Expanding influence in their organizations, fields, or industries
Recognition
- Recognition within their organizations as valued leaders, as evidenced by awards, promotions, and inclusion in corporate succession plans
- External recognition of achievements by industry, community, or other relevant organizations
Leadership
- Exemplary integrity, strength of character, and interpersonal skills
- Records of bringing about positive change and taking action for women in their organizations or communities
- Ambition and ability to lead at the highest professional levels and to support colleagues’ growth and advancement
Commitment
- Capacity to both contribute to and gain from the Leadership Fellows Program
- Willingness to share knowledge and lessons from the program through completion of a Legacy Project during the fellowship
- Ability to participate fully in all program activities, including three 5-day in-person training sessions and approximately 50 hours of independent work with an IWF mentor, on a Legacy Project, preparing for in-person sessions, and participating in virtual meetings
Hear compelling alumnae testimonials
Program Details
February 1, 2026 – Leadership Fellows Program Application Portal Opens
May 15, 2026 – Submission Deadline for 2026-2027 Leadership Fellows Program Applications
Late May 2026 – Candidates moving forward to interview stage are notified
June 2026 – Candidates are contacted and virtually interviewed by two IWF Members (separately)
Early July 2026 – Candidates moving to selection committee stage are notified
July 2026 – IWF Selection Committee evaluates candidates, selects class members, and awards scholarships
Early August 2026 –Candidates are notified about selection decisions (and, if applicable, scholarship awards)
Mid-August 2026 – Accepted Candidates must confirm their participation in the program
September 25, 2026 – Deadline for payment of tuition
October 2026 (4 days) – 2026-2027 Leadership Fellows Program Orientation, Mexico City, México
February 22-25, 2027 – IWF Women’s Global Leadership Program at INSEAD, Fontainebleau, France
Early or Mid-June 2027 (5 days) – IWF Leading in a Changing World Program at University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England
November 2-5, 2027 – 2026-2027 Graduation and IWF World Leadership Conference and Gala, Miami, Florida
Program tuition is US $39,500, which includes:
- Immersive 3-day orientation and training
- IWF World Leadership Conference and Gala
- Customized training at INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France
- Customized training at the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England
- Mentoring focused on individual needs
- Meals and accommodations
- All course materials
Transportation (ground and/or air travel) is not included.
IWF offers a limited number of highly competitive scholarships for the Leadership Fellows Program. Due to funding limitations,, approximately 1 in 10 scholarship requests are fulfilled. Historically, scholarships have been awarded to applicants from nonprofit organizations, government, civic and educational institutions, and small companies.
Full or partial scholarships may be requested. Full scholarships cover program tuition and air travel to in-person sessions. The IWF Global Selection Committee awards scholarships in parallel with selection decisions. Applicants who are awarded scholarship funding are notified upon acceptance to the Leadership Fellows Program.
The scholarships include:
- Global Scholarships (2-4 awards per year) for candidates from:
- nonprofits
- civic and educational institutions
- entrepreneurial and social impact organizations
- other entities where resources for professional development are scarce.
- Life sciences, technology, and communications scholarships (funds vary annually, from partial scholarship to 1 full award, and may not be available every year) for candidates who:
- are scientists, healthcare, medical, biotechnology or technology experts, and who work in entrepreneurial companies with less than 2,000 employees
- work in communications
- Federal Agency Scholarships (1-2 awards per year)
- For employees of U.S. federal government agencies
To apply:
- In the online Fellows Program application, mark, “I would like to apply for a scholarship.”
- Indicate a request for a full or partial scholarship. (A full scholarship covers tuition and air travel to in-person events.)
To learn more, please contact Lynne Manrique, Vice President of Leadership and Educational Programs at lmanrique@iwforum.org.