Activating transformational leadership Worldwide
THE PROBLEM
From war to poverty to climate change, the challenges facing our world are immense. The leadership that this moment requires is born into every community.
But structural barriers hamstring the development of leaders in the places most in need. From inadequate funding, training, mentorship, and networks, many of the individuals and organizations best positioned to lead in their communities are not maximizing their impact and failing to achieve large-scale systems change.
Our world’s biggest challenges will remain until there is a systematic effort to help our world’s most promising leaders reach their full potential.
Malika Amini, Mountaintop Fellow, at the 2024 Leadership Institute.
THE SOLUTION
Mountaintop International is a nonprofit that builds the inner capacity, or “human infrastructure,” of leaders worldwide in order for their communities to flourish. Mountaintop’s initiatives help individual leaders, NGOs, governments, and other institutions to develop talent and deepen systems change. In the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., whose "Mountaintop" speech called for a locally led movement to stir our global consciousness, we are proud champions of a global revolution that puts people first so that every community can lead its own future.
Mountaintop’s flagship program is a paid, one-year, full-time fellowship for the most promising local leaders to stay in or return to their home communities and contribute to systems change in lower-income places around the world. Mountaintop’s Fellows receive a $3,600 grant, two week leadership institute hosted at Harvard University's Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Ethics, 1:1 mentorship, additional grant opportunities, and a lifelong community of inspiring peers to accelerate their leadership journeys and prepare them for large-scale impact to transform their communities and countries.
IMPACT TO DATE
Mountaintop Fellows have started organizations that have benefited 1m+ people worldwide. Currently, Mountaintop has Fellows serving in 14 countries across Latin America, Asia, and Africa, working on everything from girls education in Afghanistan to peacebuilding in Sudan. In 2023, there were 6,517 fellowship candidates from 155 countries. Speakers for Mountaintop training events include Dr. Shirin Ebadi, a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, and Dr. Shady ElGhazaly Harb, a leader of the Egyptian Revolution.
In a survey with 100% completion rate, the average satisfaction with the 2024 Leadership Institute was 9.2/10 and 77% said that the Leadership Institute had a "transformative" impact on their leadership trajectory (23% said it had a "significant" impact).
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2024 Mountaintop Fellows being formally recognized at the Massachusetts State Capitol.
TESTIMONIALS
"I am inspired by the belief that to grow with our community, we must deepen our roots and expand our wings. Joining the Mountaintop Fellowship will give me a wing to fly so I can broaden my skills, expand my network, and gain valuable knowledge, ultimately enabling me to strengthen my roots and contribute to the development of my homeland."
Sumarni Laman, 2024 Mountaintop Fellow and Founder of The Heartland Project (Palangka Raya, Indonesia)