Leaders Asia-Pacific

Leaders Asia-Pacific is an eight-month, non-residential 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.
Meet the 2026-2027 Cohort
Get to know our newest group of Asia-Pacific Leaders!
How To Become A Leader
The application for the 2026-2027 Leaders program is now closed. Please check back here for updates on our 2027-2028 Obama Leaders application.
Learn More
How to Apply
An Asian man with a medium skin tone holds a microphone as he speaks to an unseen audience. He has short black hair and is wearing a black button up. In the background is the Obama Foundation rising sun logo.

Meet the 2026-2027 Asia-Pacific Leaders

About

The Leaders Asia-Pacific program equips leaders with a values-based framework to advance inclusive and sustainable change in their communities. Leaders Asia-Pacific brings together a small cohort of 35 leaders from across sectors and issue areas to gain key tools to advance their impact, such as storytelling, understanding power dynamics, polarity management, and communicating across differences.

  • Weekly Group Learning Sessions

    Held weekly, typically on Saturday mornings Singapore Time , these live virtual sessions  offer a dynamic blend of content including conversations with experts, introductions to leadership frameworks, and skill-building workshops. Participants are put into  interactive small-group discussions and peer learning breakout rooms.

  • Monthly Community Groups

    Leaders participate in small, peer-learning groups facilitated by alumni of the program. These community groups are designed to deepen relationships and strengthen mutual support, creating trusted spaces to reflect on program content, explore open questions from larger sessions, and practice listening and learning across differences.

  • Individualized Leadership Coaching

    Each Leader is matched with a professional leadership coach who supports  them as they navigate their individual growth journey. Coaching offers a reflective space to deepen self-understanding, clarify direction, and translate insights from the program into real-world action.

FAQs

For more information about the Obama Foundation Leaders Asia-Pacific program and answers to some of the most frequently asked questions, visit our FAQ page .

See Leaders Asia-Pacific FAQs

Stories Of Our Asia-Pacific Leaders

Obama Leaders 2025-2026 Cohort P44 Oct 20 2025

Obama Leader bridges culture and climate leadership through storytelling

John Taukave draws on Rotuman stories to guide Pacific climate leadership and inspire communities globally.
Learn more
OLN Spotlight - Smith-Stubbs 1

How one Obama Leader is transforming mental health and combating hate

Obama Leadership Alumni, William Smith-Stubbs, tackles mental health, online hate, and societal division through bold campaigns and inclusive dialogue.
Learn more
DSC07947

Asia-Pacific leaders reunite in Bangkok

Leaders from across Asia-Pacific gathered in Bangkok to share insights, grow skills, and foster collaboration within the Obama Leadership Network.
Learn more

“ The most significant change I experienced in the Obama Leaders program is learning to balance principle and pragmatism with authenticity. Before, I often felt pressure to carry everything alone. Through this program, I discovered that leadership is about inviting ownership, listening deeply, and caring with all my heart.”

–2025-2026 Leaders Asia-Pacific Participant

Sign up for the latest on the Obama Foundation

Get the latest news and updates by signing up for Obama Foundation emails. (All fields required.)
By providing a phone number, you confirm that you are an adult and consent to receive automated marketing and informational SMS messages from The Barack Obama Foundation at the phone number you provided. To learn more about how The Foundation would use your information, read the Foundation's Privacy Statement. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency varies. You may opt out at any time by texting “STOP’ to (773) 915-0096. Consent is not a condition of purchase or service.

Former Asia-Pacific Leaders

2025

Learn more

2024

Learn more

2023

Learn more

2022

Learn more

2019

Learn more

More Leaders Programs by Region

leaders-usa2

Leaders United States

The Leaders USA program is a six-month, non-residential leadership development program that seeks to inspire, empower, and connect emerging leaders across the country.
Learn more
Leaders-Europe

Leaders Europe

A six-month, virtual leadership development journey that seeks to empower and connect emerging leaders from across Europe.

Learn more
Leaders-Africa

Leaders Africa

The Leaders Africa program seeks to build a growing network of innovative changemakers who will drive positive change in their communities.
Learn more