Millennium Fellowship Overview

The Millennium Fellowship is a year-long, high-impact leadership accelerator for rising leaders from around the world and across sectors. Through our program, accomplished global professionals with both demonstrated achievement and reserves of potential sharpen their leadership abilities, increase their capacity for meaningful impact, and build community. Fellows complete a curriculum comprised of world-class leadership development resources and have access to the Atlantic Council’s geopolitical expertise, global networks, and international reach. For more information about the program structure, visit the About the Program page.

Applications for the 2024 Millennium Fellowship are now closed.

Fellows

Thirty-five Millennium Fellows are selected per cohort through a competitive application process. Fellows are between twenty-five and thirty-nine years of age, are already leading at a high level, and have decades of impact ahead in their careers. Diversity is core to the program, and each class of fellows has participants representing every world region. Cohorts are also selected for a balance of public-, private-, and nonprofit-sector perspectives. Past public-sector fellows have included ministers of finance, secretaries of foreign affairs, senior advisors to heads-of-state, military officers, and other leading public officials. Private-sector fellows have included C-suite executives at Fortune 500 companies, groundbreaking entrepreneurs, and leading voices in the media. For more information about fellows and alumni, visit our Fellows Page.

2023 Fellows

Apply

Fellows are selected annually through a competitive application process. Candidates from any country and sector are welcome to apply, provided they are between twenty-five and thirty-nine at the time of the application deadline and demonstrate both passion and potential for shaping the global future.

Applications open in January, selections are made in the spring, and the program calendar begins in the summer. Each application is given thorough consideration and passes through several rounds of review by a committee of subject matter experts across the Atlantic Council. Top candidates will be invited to interview. Accepted fellows sign an offer letter committing to complete the program expectations and pay the associated fees. Scholarships may be available for those who qualify. For more details about the Millennium Fellowship application, eligibility requirements, and costs, please visit our FAQ Page.

Leadership

Content

Press Release

Apr 12, 2021

Atlantic Council names Jonah Fisher director of Millennium Leadership Program

Social impact innovator will oversee unique international leadership accelerator program

New Atlanticist

Mar 8, 2021

Lessons from women in leadership: A celebration of International Women’s Day

By Mary Prakas and Will O'Brien

In celebration of International Women’s Day and in continuation of our mission to foster the next generation of global leaders and change agents, the Atlantic Council’s Millennium Leadership Program asked women leaders in politics, finance, energy, non-profit management, and philanthropy to highlight the importance of women in leadership roles and share the lessons they have learned over the course of their careers.

Resilience Resilience & Society

In the News

Jan 1, 2021

Venezuela is Patient Zero Challenging The Western Financial System with Bitcoin

By Adam Zarazinski

Americas Economy & Business

MENASource

Dec 22, 2020

The quest for water: Will the Abraham Accords change the water landscape for the region?

By Rumaitha Al Busaidi

With the threat of climate change already creating direct consequences for water security and conflict, safeguarding water for the region will prove to not only be a challenging task, but an even more crucial one than during the last multilateral efforts in the 1990s.

Climate Change & Climate Action Energy & Environment

Photo Essay

Nov 17, 2020

How ‘artivism’ can change society—in Afghanistan and beyond

By Kabir Mokamel and Omaid Sharifi

Art can be used as an outlet for self-expression, but also as a tool to advocate for human rights. Through art, we can share the untold stories of the civil society, win back the hearts and minds of our fellow citizens, and send a clear message that activism in South Asia is vigorous and flourishing, and—in a region that continues to face many challenges—demonstrate that change is possible.

Afghanistan Civil Society

Press Release

Jul 8, 2020

Atlantic Council welcomes 2020 class of Millennium Fellows

Incoming class of twenty-one young leaders selected from 1,300 applicants and over 100 nations

Banner announcing Millennium Fellowship applications

Insights & Impact

Feb 5, 2020

Millennium Leadership Program announces call for 2020 Millennium Fellowship applications

By Millennium Leadership Program

On December 9, 2019 the Millennium Leadership Program opened the 2020 Millennium Fellowship Application. Inviting individuals aged 25-35 years old to apply, this competitive process will see twenty spots filled by promising talent from the next generation of global leaders.

Insights & Impact

Feb 5, 2020

In their own words: Millennium Fellows reflect

Three Millennium Fellows shared their thoughts with us on their motivations to join, where they found the most value, and shared some advice for prospective applicants and the incoming class. Answers have been edited for length and clarity.

Blog Post

Jan 31, 2020

In their own words: Millennium Fellows reflect

Three Millennium Fellows shared their thoughts with us on their motivations to join, where they found the most value, and shared some advice for prospective applicants and the incoming class. Answers have been edited for length and clarity.

New Atlanticist

Jan 6, 2020

Shaping the global future together: the Council’s “Top fifteen hits” of 2019

By Frederick Kempe

We look back at the Atlantic Council's top work of 2019 galvanizing US leadership alongside partners and allies to tackle the most pressing challenges confronting our nation and our world.

Africa Americas