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 companies and communities worldwide. The program, now in its 30th year, 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 up to 45 leaders in corporate, government, nonprofit, academic, and entrepreneurial and social impact organizations.
“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 companies, 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
Leadership Fellows Program Applications
The 2024-2025 applications were due by June 1, 2024.
Applications for the 2025-2026 Leadership Fellows Program will be accepted beginning January 1, 2025.
Program Details
October 16 – 19 2024 – IWF Leadership Fellows Program Immersion and 30th Anniversary Celebration in Washington, DC.
January 27 – 30, 2025 – IWF-INSEAD Women’s Global Leadership Program in Fontainebleau, France
May 21 – 23, 2025 – IWF World Leadership Conference in Seattle, Washington (attendance optional)
June 1 – 6, 2025 – IWF Transformative Leadership Program at Harvard Business School, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Program tuition is US $32,750, which includes:
- Immersive 3-day orientation and training
- IWF World Leadership Conference and Gala
- Customized training at INSEAD in Fontainebleau, France
- Customized training at Harvard Business School in Cambridge, MA, USA
- 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.
The Global Selection Committee makes scholarship decisions in parallel with overall Fellows program selection. Successful scholarship applicants will be notified upon acceptance to the 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.
- candidates from
- 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 [email protected].
