Application Deadline: June 30th 2017
The American Express Leadership Academy Emerging Innovators Bootcamps gather 100 changemakers around the globe who are positively transforming communities and revolutionizing healthcare, education, food security and more.
Apply for one of 100 spots at our leadership Bootcamps, which will be held in five locations around the world this fall. As an Emerging Innovator, you’ll receive industry insights, personalized feedback, direct connections to sector leaders and ongoing support from a network of peers who are rising stars in the social enterprise world.
The American Express Leadership Academy Emerging Innovators Bootcamps are 2-3 day intensive trainings for social entrepreneurs and changemakers who can benefit from expert guidance, peer support and a safe space to reflect on inner growth and wellbeing.
Ashoka find incredible leaders and then we train and support them powerfully through the 3,000+ member strong American Express Leadership Academy. As a result, the graduates go on to win some of the most prestigious awards around, including the Ashoka Fellowship, and honors from organizations like Echoing Green, Skoll, StartingBloc and Unreasonable Institute. Graduates even make the Forbes “30 Under 30” list.
Eligibility
- Bootcamp applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 35. The entrepreneurial (or intrapreneurial) project for which they are applying should have launched within the last 5 years and demonstrate potential for significant impact in their communities.
- Applications to the 2017 Bootcamps are open to all individuals (not-for-profit founders, social entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs, etc.) in the North American, European, Francophone West African, and East African regions. Eligible countries include Belgium, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Chad, Cyprus, Denmark, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Kenya, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Ivory Coast, Luxembourg, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Netherlands, Niger, Norway Portugal, Rwanda, Senegal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom and the United States.
- Entries must be written in English, French or Spanish.
Participants must be available and able to travel to these events in October 2017, which may require having a valid passport.
Benefits:
The top 100 applicants will receive:
- An invitation to an American Express Leadership Academy Emerging Innovator Bootcamp happening in a location near you—New York City, Mexico City, Berlin, Dakar or Nairobi.
- There will be 20 participants per location for a combined total of five cohorts.
- Each cohort of innovators will be supported by thought leaders, Ashoka Fellows and alumni who can help increase the impact of their work.
- The cost of meals, lodging and activities during the Bootcamp will be covered by us, and a partial travel award will be issued to participants who live outside city limits.
- Selected Emerging Innovators will also be featured in social media campaigns on Ashoka and American Express’ social media platforms.
Criteria
Successful applicants will score top marks in each of the following areas:
- Innovation. Applicants should describe how their solutions are driven by original, ground-breaking ideas or approaches. The strongest applicants will apply out-of-the-box thinking to critical social problems in their region.
- Social Impact. Applicants should have launched their initiative already and achieved some level of impact or uptake in their communities—no untested ideas will be considered. Top applicants will also be able to explain how they can grow their impact on a national or international scale.
- Sustainability. Applicants should have a clear and feasible plan for their projects to become sustainable. They should describe not only how they currently fund their work, but also how they plan to maintain financial support for the work in the future.
- Ethical Fiber. Applicants should demonstrate courage, ethical fiber, resilience and empathy towards others.
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