Millennium Leadership Program

For over sixty years, the Atlantic Council has convened global leaders to address our world’s most pressing challenges. As a central pillar of this legacy, the Millennium Leadership Program (MLP) launched in 2015 to connect and empower the next-generation of international changemakers who will shape the twenty-first century. The MLP currently hosts three programs: The Millennium Fellowship, the Millennium Leadership Intensive, and the European Leadership Accelerator.

The Millennium Fellowship Millennium Leadership Intensive European Leadership Accelerator
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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

Tyler Lennon

Program Assistant

Millennium Leadership Program

Corruption Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

Staff

Camilla Reitherman

Program Assistant

Millennium Leadership Program

Caribbean Civil Society
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Content

Issue Brief

Dec 12, 2017

Water innovation in the face of a changing climate

By Fidan Karimova

Fidan Karimova examines the creative methods employed by London, Rotterdam, and the state of California as they navigate different water-related challenges and provides successful models to be used by other local governments in their own water management strategies.

Issue Brief

Dec 12, 2017

Water innovation in the face of a changing climate

By Fidan Karimova

One of the most fundamental challenges created by climate change is managing the developing global water crisis. Whether it is controlling floodwaters and rising sea levels, or maintaining potable water access during a drought, governments and individuals worldwide are forced to find new ways to mitigate the impact of this crisis. In “Water Innovation in […]

Issue Brief

Sep 21, 2017

Using citizen-based observations to plan for climate change

By Sarah Abdelrahim

As a global challenge with profound implications at the local level, climate change provides new opportunities for individual engagement.

Issue Brief

Sep 21, 2017

Using citizen-based observations to plan for climate change

By Sarah Abdelrahim

As a global challenge with profound implications at the local level, climate change provides new opportunities for individual engagement. Communities around the world have their own unique experiences with the effects of climate change, as well as drastically different climate adaptation needs. This gives individuals an unprecedented role to play in sharing information and guiding […]

Issue Brief

Aug 17, 2017

The United States’ climate change relocation plan

By Victoria Hermann

By 2100, at least 414 towns, villages, and cities across the United States will be flooded no matter how much humans decrease carbon emissions.

Climate Change & Climate Action United States and Canada

Video

Jun 23, 2017

How to Help the Environment
Energy & Environment

New Atlanticist

Jun 23, 2017

‘We’re Not Going Back from a Low-Carbon Future’

By Rachel Ansley

Former US officials criticize Trump’s decision to quit Paris climate deal While US President Donald J. Trump predicated his withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord on the protection and restoration of US coal jobs, clean energy technology is not only the most effective, but an essential path toward improving the economy and fighting climate change, […]

New Atlanticist

May 22, 2017

Macron Signifies a New ‘Third Way’ for France and Europe

By Mayecor Sar

The election of Emmanuel Macron as France’s president on May 7 is a welcome boost for “third way” politics, a centrist political philosophy that broadly advocates a combination of right-wing economic and left-wing social policies. For the first time since the 1970s, France has elected a president that does not belong to either of the […]

France

Issue Brief

Feb 3, 2017

Political consensus and the energy transition

By Sam Hampton, Julia De La Cruz, and Henning Huenteler

There has been a global push toward finding a way to reduce the impact of climate change. In an attempt to help achieve this goal, countries have made changes to move toward low-carbon economies. Comparing transitions toward a low-carbon economy in the United Kingdom (UK), United States, Germany, and Denmark show the divergence of approaches […]

Issue Brief

Feb 3, 2017

Political consensus and the energy transition

By Sam Hampton, Julia De La Cruz, and Henning Huenteler

There has been a global push toward finding a way to reduce the impact of climate change. In an attempt to help achieve this goal, countries have made changes to move toward low-carbon economies.

Climate Change & Climate Action Energy & Environment
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