Leaders Program

The Obama Foundation Leaders Program is an eight-month, global virtual leadership development journey. Designed for changemakers aged 24 to 45 across various sectors, the program brings together diverse cohorts to collaborate, share insights, and strengthen their values-based leadership. The program is open across four regions and free to all participants.
How To Become A Leader
The Leaders Program is accepting applications from leaders ages 24 to 45 across Africa, the Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the United States. Submit your application by the priority deadline on November 23, 2026, to be considered for the 2027–2028 cohort.
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What We Do/The Mission 

We bring together cohorts of global leaders with various viewpoints and engage participants in exploring the challenges, opportunities, and skills needed to create positive change. We provide the tools and the community necessary to turn a shared commitment into a lifetime of impactful service. Upon completion of the program, Leaders will become part of the Obama Foundation’s Leadership Network: a growing community of civically active alumni developing tangible solutions to today's greatest challenges.

Explore Values-Based Leadership

How Leaders Works

The Obama Foundation Leaders program supports changemakers from the public, private, and civil society sectors to deepen their impact, explore values-based leadership, and drive lasting systems-level change. For 8–12 hours per month, the program connects cohorts of leaders across regions through virtual group sessions, collaborative peer-led spaces, and individualized coaching to build a values-driven foundation for sustained leadership.

Explore Leaders By Region

  • Africa

    Leaders Africa is a six-month, virtual leadership development program that seeks to build a growing network of innovative and values-based changemakers who will drive positive change in their communities, the continent, and the world.

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  • Asia-Pacific

    Leaders Asia-Pacific is an eight-month hybrid leadership program that helps leaders develop their values-based leadership to advance inclusive and lasting change in their communities, in the Asia-Pacific region, and across the world.

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  • Europe

    Leaders Europe is an eight-month, virtual leadership development program that seeks to inspire, empower, and connect leaders to advance inclusive and lasting change in their communities, throughout Europe, and across the world.

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  • United States

    The Obama Foundation Leaders USA program is an eight-month, virtual leadership development program that seeks to inspire, empower, and connect leaders across the country.

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Obama Foundation Leaders USA program participants, all have a range of ages, backgrounds, and light to dark skin tones, put their hands together for a cheer in front of the Obama Presidential Center campus during a South Side tour of Chicago on April 5, 2025.

Support Our Leaders Program

Your support is an investment in our collective future. By donating today, you help us keep the torch burning for leaders who will shape a more just world for generations to come.

Become a Member

“ I stopped leading from my expertise, and started leading from my humanity. The shift from advocacy to coaching, from telling to asking, from performing competence to practicing presence — that is the real transformation. I now walk into rooms with less certainty and more curiosity.”

–2025–2026 Leader

The Impact Of Our Leaders Program

93% of Leaders agree they are capable of navigating moments of productive intellectual tension at the conclusion of the program. 96% of Leaders agree they can clearly identify the core values that guide their leadership as a result of the program. 90% of Leaders agree they feel confident about their role in the social change system they are a part of.

Stories of Our Leaders

More Stories From Our Leaders
Han Pham

Han Pham

Pham is building connection, visibility, and civic engagement through her community-led work with Badass Asian Women.
Learn more
William Smith-Stubbs Headshot

William Smith-Stubbs

Smith-Stubbs tackles mental health, online hate, and societal division through bold campaigns and inclusive dialogue.
Learn more
José Patiño

José Patiño

Patiño is doing the work to serve immigrants—from helping them afford college to ensuring they get due process
Learn more
More Stories From Our Leaders

Could you be the next Leader?

Find out when applications open by signing up for Obama Foundation emails
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Two Black women with deep skin tones sit next to one another and laugh. One woman is wearing a blue coat and the other is wearing a yellow coat, glasses, and red lipstick.

Obama Leadership Network

Get to know previous Obama program participants and graduates continuing to lead in their communities.

Meet the alumni