Application Deadline: January 15, 2023.
The McCain Global Leaders Program supports character-driven leaders from around the world who embody Senator John McCain’s legacy of serving a cause greater than oneself. Structured as a 10-month fellowship and experiential learning experience, each cohort will include 25 diverse leaders from around the world who are working “in the arena” to advance democracy, human rights and freedom. The program is designed to advance each Leader’s personal and professional leadership journey and impact by providing training, resources, and access to highly relevant regional and global networks with goal of preparing today’s leaders to meet tomorrow’s challenges.
To adapt to and meet the needs of an ever changing and complex global environment, the McCain Institute will determine a thematic focus area and recruit participants who work on relevant issues related to each theme. Throughout the 10-month program, the Leaders will participate in programming that is both regional and global with the goal of connecting them to a highly relevant and targeted professional peer group in their home region, as well as a broader and diverse network of global peers.
2023 Global Theme: Defending Democracy
In response to the growing threat that democracy, human rights, and freedom are under around the world, the 2023 McCain Global Leaders Cohort will focus on defending democracy. There are few greater challenges to the global community than the threats posed to democracy through the rise of authoritarianism, disinformation, polarization, violent extremism, and conflict. Throughout 2023, Leaders will explore the primary challenges to democracy, as well as analyze and learn about solutions related to ensuring the future stability of democracy around the world.
Following in the footsteps of Senator John McCain’s legacy of being on the front lines of defending and advocating for democracy, freedom and human rights, Leaders will embark on a journey that will help provide them the tools needed to be champions of democracy in their home country and region.
Requirements
- Leaders are selected through a competitive, open recruitment process. There are 25 Leaders per annual cohort broken into 4 regional groupings.
- Though there is no age requirement, Leaders are typically between the ages of 25 and 40.
- Leaders should possess a strong track record of serving a cause greater than oneself as well as experience working directly on the global theme of defending democracy.
- The McCain Institute emphasizes diversity in the form of gender, ethnicity, persons with disabilities, political viewpoint, economic background and education.
The McCain Leadership Curriculum:
- Throughout the program, Leaders participate in a curriculum that is administered both online and in person. The curriculum is designed to incorporate lessons and experiences from Senator McCain’s life, to reinforce and augment in-person engagements and to focus on community building and group problem-solving.
- A central tenet of the curriculum is a dynamic peer-mentorship model, through which the Leaders support each other’s journeys directly. The curriculum will help each leader chart their own journey as a changemaker while also imparting real world skills that will assist leaders as they take on some of the most difficult challenges facing their home country and region.
For More Information:
Visit the Official Webpage of the McCain Institute Global Leaders Program 2023