Applications to the 2025 Young Leaders program are open!
January 14, 2025
Join a global, diverse network of exceptional leaders.
Applications to the 2025 Young Leaders program opened on Monday, January 13th and will close on Friday, March 14.
The 2025 Young Leaders seminar will be held in Marseille, France from Tuesday, October 21 – Saturday, October 25, 2025 (departing on Sunday, October 26). Participants are asked to reserve these dates on their calendars and will be removed from consideration should they be unable to attend.
Since 1981, jointly with our sister organization, the French-American Foundation–France, the Young Leaders program has brought hundreds of exceptional leaders from all walks of life together with a common purpose: to ignite positive change and strengthen the Franco-American relationship at all levels of leadership. Learn more about the mission of the program.
“A close accord between our two countries is essential to the good of mankind in this turbulent world, and that is impossible without a mutual and intimate understanding of each other. That is exactly what the French American Foundation Young Leaders program inspires.”
– Andrew Klaber (Young Leader 2018), CEO of Bedford Ridge Capital
Each year, the Foundation carefully selects a class of individuals between the ages of 30-40 who exemplify outstanding leadership and achievement to become Young Leaders. Participants attend two seminars over the course of two years, alternating between the United States and France, where they have the opportunity to engage in robust dialogue and debate, meet distinguished speakers and experts, and create lifelong bonds with one another. View past seminars and other events.
“I doubt if I could fully explain how useful and stimulating I found the discussions and informal conversation. The specific topics were timely, but, even more important to me, were the various perspectives the participants brought to them.”
– Hillary Clinton (Young Leader 1983), Former First Lady and U.S. Secretary of State
After two years, Young Leaders join a robust alumni network composed of over 600 French and American leaders, including presidents and entrepreneurs, CEOs and scientists, diplomats and educators, military and non-profit leaders. The Foundation is proud to count 42nd U.S. President Bill Clinton and French President Emmanuel Macron as alumni of the program. View all Young Leaders classes or check out past alumni reunions.
“After serving as a Young Leader, I feel my writing becoming bigger, braver. Through FAF, I’ve gotten to know incredible people who leave everything on the table–in their careers, and in life. They embolden me to do the same.”
– Karin Tanabe (Young Leader 2018), Novelist