About the Millennium Leadership Program

Since its inception, the Atlantic Council’s Millennium Leadership Program (MLP) has focused on building a vibrant community of leaders who transform bold ideas into action. Through its programming, the MLP equips global professionals across diverse industries with the tools to elevate their leadership and expand their impact. Participants gain access to a global network of exceptional peers, engage with world leaders through global study tours, participate in dynamic leadership development experiences, and lead the debate on key issues.

The Millennium Leadership Program is built on three core pillars: leadership, community, and impact. These pillars are woven into every aspect of programming, enabling participants to grow both personally and professionally while contributing to a larger global community. Together, they equip leaders to address today’s challenges and shape a more equitable, prosperous future. Through the MLP, leaders gain tools to enhance their leadership skills, amplify their ability to drive meaningful change, and build strong, supportive networks. The MLP boasts a robust and active alumni network, ensuring participants stay connected and engaged after completing the program.

“The Millennium Fellowship connects the internal to the interpersonal, and ultimately to the international. What binds us together as fellows is a commitment to lead from a place of hope.”

—Karim Farishta, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, Office of the Secretary of Defense

(Millennium Fellowship 2023)

Our Programs

Millennium Fellowship

The MLP’s flagship program brings together thirty-five exceptional rising leaders from diverse sectors for a transformative nine-month fellowship. Fellows both contribute to and benefit from the Atlantic Council’s expertise, participating in world-class leadership training, personalized coaching, and tailored growth assessments. The program features an in-person study tour, where fellows engage directly with senior decision-makers tackling today’s pressing global challenges.

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European Leadership Accelerator (ELA)

This five-month leadership accelerator brings together a select cohort of rising European leaders at the forefront of the digital and green transition. ELA provides unparalleled opportunities to collaborate, engage leading experts, and drive impact.

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Millennium Leadership Intensive (MLI)

MLI offers a dynamic, three-month program for leading professionals eager to connect and enhance their leadership capabilities. The program focuses on the complexities of the Middle East, combining in-depth leadership training, expert engagement, and an immersive study tour to the region. Participants will refine their ability to lead effectively in a rapidly evolving global landscape.

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Young Global Professionals Program (YGP)

The YGP Program is a paid internship that offers current students and recent graduates hands-on experience across the Atlantic Council’s sixteen programs and centers. Jointly facilitated by the MLP and HR teams, the program is designed to prepare the next generation of young global leaders. YGP participants benefit from tailored career development sessions and opportunities to network with leading professionals within the Council.

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In their own words

2024 ELI Participant Reflections from Israel and Palestinian territories Study Tour

The participants of the Executive Leadership Intensive explored the local and regional implications of the ongoing conflict in Gaza and gleaned lessons that they can apply in their home countries.

2023 Fellow Reflections from Taiwan Study Tour

Global leaders cannot sit idly by as the world order faces increasing threats; instead, they will need to be proactive to secure the future. The 2023 cohort of Millennium fellows traveled to Taiwan for their study tour, meeting with government officials, private sector innovators, and civil society groups to discuss the challenges leaders contend with today.

Climate Leadership Program: Lessons From Ghana

After successful action planning in Ghana, Climate Leadership Program participants are ready to take on a pressing issue in climate investment.

How our fellowship prepared us for a world of challenges

Members of the 2021 Millennium Fellowship came away with vast and diverse insights, but some lessons stood out above the rest.

Leadership

Staff

Jonah Fisher

Senior Director

Millennium Leadership Program

Arabic Central Europe

Staff

Aalaa Abuzaakouk

Deputy Director, Millennium Leadership Program

Millennium Leadership Program

Arabic Civil Society

Staff

Taylor Smith

Associate Director

Millennium Leadership Program

Central Europe Education

Staff

Tyler Lennon

Project Assistant

Millennium Leadership Program

Corruption Economic Sanctions
support the Millennium Leadership Program

Content

Program Impact Story

Jun 12, 2019

MLP Executive Education – Bancolombia

By Atlantic Council

From June 12 to June 15, MLP hosted an executive education program and study tour for Bancolombia executives. The bank brought a mix of C-suite executives from flagship and subsidiary organizations including their Chief Executive, Juan Mora Uribe. Participants were hosted at the Council for a series of high-level meetings. MLP collaborated with many others […]

Colombia Economy & Business

Blog Post

Jun 1, 2019

Millennium Leadership Program 2019 Core Program

By Millennium Leadership Program

From May 3 to May 17, the 2018 and 2019 cohorts of Millennium Fellows traveled to Colombia for MLP’s annual Core Program. The 2019 cohort began with the Study Tour component that included meetings with seven ministers and cabinet members, two additional elected officials, six additional senior government and multilateral officials, and a nonprofit leader […]

Americas Civil Society

NATOat70

Apr 24, 2019

A strong NATO could help alleviate the world’s migrant and refugee crisis

By Priyali Sur

NATO’s ability to adapt to new emergencies in different geographies only proves that an international allied effort is needed now as much, if not more than ever.

Migration NATO

Program Impact Story

Apr 3, 2019

MLP at NATO Engages

By Atlantic Council

On April 3rd, a cohort of Millennium Fellows had the opportunity to attend and participate during NATO Engages. Zafar Hashemi shared his history with NATO beginning as a boy in Afghanistan and culminating in his current position with SIGAR. Pete Seat was asked to present his perspective immediately following Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg’s address to […]

Afghanistan International Organizations

Press Release

Mar 29, 2019

Atlantic Council Welcomes 2019 Class of Millennium Fellows

WASHINGTON, DC – On March 29th, the Atlantic Council announced it’s 2019 class of Millennium Fellows. An Italian entrepreneur bringing revolutionary vaccination technology to market to eradicate polio and measles rubella; a senior advisor to the Prime Minister of North Macedonia that led landmark legislation to change the country’s name in 2018; the chief-of-staff of […]

New Atlanticist

Dec 10, 2018

Why the Irish border matters

By Dan Haverty and Brendan Reaney

It remains unclear if the withdrawal agreement May has reached with Brussels will impact the life of her government, but it is clear that the Irish border has impacted the Brexit debate and will force the prime minister to turn to her party’s rivals to push the deal through Parliament.

Democratic Transitions Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Nov 26, 2018

Latvia struggles to form a government

By Rihards Kols

The newly elected parliament is very fragmented and still—a month and a half after the election—is unable to produce a stable government, a phenomenon also seen in other European countries this year.

Democratic Transitions Elections

New Atlanticist

Sep 7, 2018

Europe’s new normal: Turning the migrant challenge into an opportunity

By Pete Seat

With inhospitable temperatures across North Africa and Central Asia, constant war and conflict in Middle East hot spots, and the advance of authoritarian regimes, today’s refugees don’t represent a temporary conundrum, but rather a new normal of European life.

Climate Change & Climate Action Conflict

New Atlanticist

Aug 2, 2018

South Sudan must end the arbitrary detention of Peter Biar Ajak

By Frederick Kempe, Damon Wilson, and Daniel Bennett

We urge the government of South Sudan to end the arbitrary detention of Peter Biar Ajak, an alumnus of the Atlantic Council Millennium Fellowship, who was arrested in Juba July 28, 2018.

East Africa

New Atlanticist

Jul 6, 2018

Complementarity Without Competition: How NATO Can Benefit from Stronger European Defense Cooperation

By Ulrik Trolle Smed

Despite the current political tension in the transatlantic bond, the facts on the ground for NATO’s summit in Brussels on July 11 and 12 could not be better. After years of calls from the United States for more defense investment, NATO allies have been responding ever more credibly to meet the rising threats in the […]

European Union International Organizations
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