Leaders Asia-Pacific is a six-month, virtual leadership development program that seeks to ground emerging leaders in a values-based leadership framework to advance inclusive and lasting change in their communities, in the Asia-Pacific region, and across the world. 

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As part of the Obama Foundation’s prestigious programme, you'll be equipped to inspire change in your community, all while learning from global leaders. From Indonesia to Hawaiʻi, President Obama’s ties to the Asia-Pacific have informed his values and his faith in the emerging generation of changemakers across the region.

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Leaders Asia-Pacific launched in 2019 to equip these leaders with a values-based leadership framework to advance inclusive and lasting change in their communities.

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Leaders Asia-Pacific is a six-month, hybrid leadership development program. For 8-12 hours a month, the program brings together a small cohort of 35 emerging leaders from across sectors and issue areas to step outside of what they lead, to examine how they lead. Over the course of the six-month program, Leaders engage in 21 core sessions that run weekly on Saturdays for about 2-3 hours each. In these workshops, Leaders gain key tools to advance their leadership and impact, such as storytelling, understanding power dynamics, and communicating across differences. Leaders also are paired with a leadership coach, who supports their learning and personal growth throughout the program. They also meet with prominent regional leaders to talk about values-based leadership. Past guest speakers included Minister Audrey Tang of Taiwan, President Surangel Whipps Jr. of Palau, Former Vice President Leni Robredo of the Philippines, atomic-bomb survivor Koko Kondo of Japan, and other activists and business leaders. Obama Leaders can expect to come out of the program with a stronger understanding of values-based leadership; of how to lead change and lead together; and how to leverage themselves as leaders to realize inclusive and lasting change.

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Obama Leaders are required to actively participate in the following core components of the program (follow the link for more info).

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The application for the 2026-2027 Leaders Asia-Pacific program is now open. The application closes Friday, Dec. 12, at 12 p.m. United States Central Time (UTC-6).