Rising Leaders Fellowship
Aspen Institute UK is calling for applications for its new Rising Leaders Fellowship programme, which brings together young professionals to strengthen their network and leadership skills
STRATEGY
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Aspen Institute UK
Aspen Institute UK has just launched a new Rising Leaders Fellowship, bringing together established and emerging leaders aged 21-35 to tackle the most pressing challenges in today’s society. It will be welcoming 250 Fellows a year, who will benefit from a range of opportunities which strengthen their professional network and skills to lead in a diverse and sometimes polarised environment.
Aspen UK, established in 2019, is part of a global network of Aspen Institutes, which at their heart bring diverse, often conflicting voices together, to grapple with important global issues. This Fellowship is no different, with participants being sought from across the whole of the UK and across all professional sectors to ensure there is a true and valuable diversity of background and viewpoint.
Exchanging views
Participants will start their Fellowship by attending a two-day virtual seminar with 24 other attendees. With expert moderators guiding the discussions in each session, attendees will be challenged with opposing viewpoints on sometimes difficult and challenging subjects.
A carefully selected group of texts and resources will be provided to all participants as the starting point for these discussions. Each of the seminar sessions will have a different focus, including what it means to be a leader, why be a leader at all and leading through subjects including diversity and conflict.
Once participants have completed the two-day seminar, they will join the growing Fellowship alumni and enjoy ongoing development opportunities – including monthly webinars/conversations and an annual in-person conference.
Precious peers
Fellows will also join a peer mentor group with three others, all from different professional environments. This will enable them to continue their learning from professionally and geographically diverse networks – a key ambition for the Rising Leaders Fellowship.
Potential Fellows need be aged between 21 and 35, be based in the UK and be fluent in English. Professionally, they will need to demonstrate at least one of the following:
- they hold a leadership position at work or in their community;
- they are working on/have delivered an innovative or impactful project;
- they lead a team of people;
- they have proof of a dedication or passion for a particular cause.
Call for applications
Since the Fellowship’s launch in early August, Aspen UK has received a huge amount of positive responses from across sectors and the country. There is quite a heavy London focus from the nominations and applications received so far, so Aspen UK is particularly eager to hear from people based in towns and villages from the English regions as well as Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Applications can be made throughout the year as the seminar programme runs monthly. Each applicant can choose the seminar date most convenient for them.
How to apply
There are no fees for participants to pay as the Fellowship has been funded by funding partners, including the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and Reid Hoffman’s Aphorism Foundation.
If you are a leader, aged 21 to 35 or know of someone that could be interested in this opportunity, do consider applying or nominating someone. More information can be found on the Fellowship pages on the Aspen UK website.
Or contact Olly Chapman, Aspen’s director of seminars, at ochapman@aspenuk.org.
