July 19, 2024, New York, NY – MCW Global’s 27th Young Leaders Fellowship convened in New York City and Vermont from July 9th to July 18th, uniting a global cohort of emerging leaders. This immersive program, held at NYU’s School of Professional Studies (SPS) and Champlain College facilities, equipped participants with the essential tools to catalyze positive change in their communities and beyond.
Over the course of ten days, young leaders ages 18-26 from diverse backgrounds delved into themes of Modern Leadership, Self-Awareness, Global Citizenship, and Vision Planning. Through interactive sessions, cross-cultural exchanges, and expert insights, participants honed their leadership skills, expanded their worldview, and forged lasting connections with peers from around the globe. The Fellowship’s curriculum emphasized the importance of effective communication, collaboration, and critical thinking in addressing pressing issues such as education, health, and economic security. By cultivating these competencies, MCW Global aims to empower young leaders to become catalysts for positive change in their communities and beyond.
Participants kicked off the program by getting to know one another. Young leaders shared their aspirations for improving their communities in gender equality, women empowerment, mental health, sustainability, education, social justice, and youth civic engagement. Later in the program, participants learned about the core aspects of leadership, which was focused on the different approaches, styles, and cultural understandings of leadership. Further, the Fellowship covered Self-Awareness, Mental Health, and Global Citizenship components which enhance participants’ self-development and support them in becoming global leaders. During the program, facilitators, MCW team members, and mentors supported participants in developing their ideas through vision planning, a project management method that incorporates strategy, vision, mission, understanding and defining the problem, resource development, and time management.
“The 2024 Young Leaders Fellowship exceeded my expectations,” shared Hilina Elias Getahun, a mentee from Ethiopia. “Meeting inspiring individuals from around the globe enriched my perspective and created bonds that I will always cherish.”
Mark Kemper, MCW Board Member, echoed this sentiment, stating, “Witnessing the passion, dedication, and unwavering support of this year’s cohort has filled me with hope. Their potential to make a lasting impact on the world is undeniable.”
Exceptional speakers, guests, MCW mentors and staff members led sessions on modern leadership, understanding gender, mental health, self-awareness, global citizenship, community engagement and building a personal brand. Speakers included: Abdelrahman ElKattan, Mentor – Alumnus 2020; Achraf Adnane Tasfaout, Co-Lead Mentor – Alumnus 2019; Ayeshwini Lama, Mentor – Alumna 2020; Cara Power, Founder of Cara Power Coaching; Dr. Charles Robbins, MCW Board Member, and Professor, Stony Brook University; Dhurata Berisha, Coordinator – Young Leaders Fellowship; Eddie Bergman, MCW Global Co-Founder and President of the Board; Edsel Bodden, Mentor – Alumnus 2020; Florencia Peñaflor Paran, Mentor – Alumna 2019; Hildah Bwembya Nkonde, Mentor – Alumna 2023; Huma Nasir, Mentor – Alumna 2021; Juan Pablo Alvarado Herrera, Mentor – Alumnus 2022; Latanya Mapp Frett, President and CEO of Global Fund For Women; Leon Gojani, Program Associate – Young Leaders Program; Lisa Hussain, Mentor – Alumna 2021; Liz Graydon-Gannon, Co-founder of “What Better Looks Like”; Made Urmylla Lyyasintha Sunaya, Mentor – Alumna 2018; Maisie Franke, Youth Program Specialist, Up for Learning; Maria José Lovaton, Media Coordinator – MCW Global; Norma Loeb, Co-founders of “What Better Looks Like”; Patrick LaClair, Program Director, Up for Learning; Richard Magid, President – Soundboard Consulting Group, LLC; Samiur Rahman, Mentor – Alumnus 2023; Stanley Asango, Mentor – Alumnus 2023 and Sylvia Chemweno, Co-Lead Mentor – Alumna 2015.
A panel of esteemed judges evaluated the one-minute elevator pitches of each participating mentee. This year, Dr. Charles Robbins, MCW Board Member, and Professor, Stony Brook University; Dominique Tolbert, Procurement Manager – PepsiCo; Jonathan Hakakian, Managing Director – SoundBoard Venture Fund and Sharon Matongo, a recent graduate of Columbia Law School and MCW Alumna from 2018 were part of the jury.
The program brought together 39 participants (2 co-lead mentors, 11 mentors, and 26 mentees) from 28 countries, including Algeria, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Egypt, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Guyana, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Kosovo, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Spain, Tunisia, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uzbekistan and Zambia.
“We have witnessed an incredible transformation within this cohort,” said Dhurata Berisha, Young Leaders Fellowship Coordinator. “From individual aspirations, we have cultivated a powerful collective force dedicated to improving lives worldwide.”
Sylvia Chemweno, a co-lead mentor from Kenya, added, “This year’s Fellowship was an extraordinary experience. Working closely with the amazing MCW Team and inspiring mentors was truly rewarding. Interacting with such talented young leaders ignited a deeper sense of purpose within me.”
The in-person segment of the Fellowship was concluded at our Open Doors event held at NYU SPS where friends and guests of MCW gathered to celebrate the mentees and learn about their next steps as they return to their countries. This year’s recipient of the Roberta Richin Memorial Vision Plan Award was Hilina Elias Getahun from Ethiopia. In second and third place were Ann-Marie Namugenyi from the United Kingdom and Jacqueline Rose St Laurent from Perú. Participants returned to their respective countries to further develop their vision plans and prepare to implement their community projects with the year-long remote support of their mentors.
“What I value most about the Young Leaders Fellowship is how MCW Global brings together people from all around the world and creates a family out of them. As a returning mentor, I find that what inspires me most to keep coming back is to give back to this community that has added so much value to my life. Getting to know the mentees and seeing their leadership this year in person has been so inspiring, and I am changed thanks to this experience” said Ayeshwini Lama, a 2024 mentor from Bhutan.
Thank you to our sponsors: New York University, Hill & Bay, and Ben’s Deli.
