Deadline: 10-Mar-23

Are you an entrepreneur, activist, non-profit leader, or someone who has a bold vision for change? Then the VV Visionaries program in partnership with the Estée Lauder Emerging Leaders Fund is here to support your leadership journey.

The program is investing in trailblazing women by increasing their access to leadership training, mentorship, and the networks that sustain them. For over 25 years, Vital Voices has partnered with thousands of women leaders across 184 countries to deepen their impact, grow their leadership skills, and accelerate change on a global scale. Together with the Estée Lauder Emerging Leaders Fund, they aim to champion women leaders across diverse sectors, industries, and experiences who want to create positive social impact in their communities and beyond.

About the Program 

• Three cohorts of 50 women visionaries over the age of 18 will participate in a 7-week immersive virtual experience built on the proven leadership model of Vital Voices, incorporating lessons in leadership from Estée Lauder executives and Vital Voices Global Network leaders.
• Participants from all three cohorts will have the chance to be selected for one annual in-person experience that provides deeper training and investment in their personal leadership journeys.
• Following completion of the cohort, participants will join the Vital Voices community of over 20,000 changemakers across 185 countries, each of whom are daring to reimagine a more equitable world for all.

Program Dates

• Cohort 1: May 25 – July 6, 2023
• Cohort 2: August 10 – September 19, 2023
• Cohort 3: October 12 – November 16, 2023

Eligibility Criteria

• The VV Visionaries program supports women leaders ages 18 and up from across the globe who are seeking to build the soft skills required for leadership. They encourage applications from those who are:
• Empowered leaders who are challenging the status quo, defying norms, and disrupting systems.
• Committed to making a difference in their community and/or industry, creatively pursuing social impact, elevating the voices of and opportunities for others, and paying it forward.
• Criteria and Commitment
  • Participant Profile & Criteria:
    • Is at least 18 years old at the time of application and identifies as a woman
    • Is proficient in English
    • Is a key decision maker of their social impact organization, business, initiative, OR
    • Has an established social impact organization, business, initiative, OR
    • Has a clear vision for an organization, business, initiative  with an explicit social purpose
    • Is passionate about having a positive social impact in their community and/or industry and has demonstrated progress toward doing so
    • Has demonstrated leadership that constitutes a more collaborative and innovative approach to leadership
    • Is committed to fully engaging in the 7-week course and actively being a part of the cohort and broader Vital Voices community for collaboration, shared learning, and peer support
    • Is seeking to step into, or build upon, their leadership potential
    • Is open and ready for deep personal reflections
    • Is open to listening and learning from others, values diversity of thought, and is committed to creating a safe space
  • What Makes an Outstanding Applicant:
    • Uses the power of their own identity, experiences, and/or community to challenge traditional notions of leadership and authentically leads to create positive change
    • Has a cohesive, thoughtful, and innovative approach to solving a challenge they have experienced or witnessed in their community or industry.
    • Is committed and dedicated to their social impact initiatives for the long-term.
    • Is focused on paying it forward, showing how they intend to create positive social change and/or positively impact women and/or girls.
    • Share core values such as compassion, inclusion, and empathy
• Program Commitment
  • Successful applicants who are invited to participate in the program are expected to:
    • Fully participate in the 7-week program, which will include 2-4 hours per week of live virtual training and weekly assignments focused on your personal leadership growth. Participants should have no more than 2 absences to remain in good standing and receive a certificate of completion.
    • Engage and collaborate with other leaders in your cohort as part of a peer support and learning network.
    • Submit regular updates to Vital Voices throughout the program and remain in contact with Vital Voices after the program to share success stories, conduct follow-up surveys about your progress, pursue further opportunities for awards or visibility, etc.

For more information, visit VV Visionaries Program.