Apply to the Young Leaders Program
March 10, 2022
This year’s application portal will closed on March 31, 2022. Applications for the 2023 cycle will open in January of 2023.
Participants attend two 4- to 5-day meetings over the course of two years, one in France and one in the United States. The Foundation covers the travel and lodging expenses of the Young Leaders for the two meetings.
The 2022 Young Leaders seminar will be held from Wednesday, October 26 through Saturday, October 29 in Austin, Texas. Participants are asked to reserve these dates on their calendars.
The mission of the program is to build lasting ties between leaders on both sides of the Atlantic– during the program, and also by engaging with the broader Young Leaders alumni community. The Foundation organizes events, panels and get-togethers throughout the year, both online and (Covid-permitting) in person. Even though Young Leaders live in various cities, we ask that Young Leaders remain engaged in the community and contribute to the activities of the Foundation during the two-year program (and beyond!). For more information, please see the Young Leaders Responsibilities Charter. The Foundation reserves the right to withdraw a Young Leader from the program if he or she does not abide by the charter.
Selection process and eligibility – US candidates
Eligibility
US applicants to the 2022 Young Leaders program are eligible to apply if they:
- Are between 30 and 41 years old at the time they apply. (Uniquely this year, we have extended the age range from 40 to 41 years old in order to accommodate applicants who were unable to apply last year when we paused our application cycle.)
- Are living and working in the United States, with US citizenship or US residency established.
- Demonstrate an outstanding level of leadership in their field and a desire to meaningfully contribute to transatlantic dialogue.
New members to each US class of Young Leaders are selected via a highly competitive application process. All interested candidates who meet the eligibility requirements are welcome to submit an application to the French-American Foundation—United States online via the link at the top of this page, viewable from January 18 to March 31.
Selection Process
The selection process takes place in four phases, from April to June:
Phase One: The Foundation advances the top half to two-thirds of applications to interviewers.
Phase Two: Interviewers, who are comprised of Board Members and alumni of the Young Leaders program, interview selected candidates, either in-person or by phone.
Phase Three: The Young Leaders selection committee, made up of a group of alumni from a diverse range of classes and sectors, reviews applications and interview comments, and votes on candidates.
Phase Four: The selection committee meets to make final decisions regarding the class. Candidates will be notified by mid-June of 2022.
The jury evaluates candidates based on their past leadership experience, their potential to attain the highest level of leadership in their chosen profession, and their ability to contribute to the enrichment of today’s world. Also considered is a candidate’s enthusiasm to participate in the program and his or her interest in being an active member of the Young Leaders alumni community.
The French-American Foundation aims to select Young Leaders with diverse experiences – enabling program participants to develop relationships with French and American leaders across a range of backgrounds and areas of expertise.
Please note: Membership in the French-American Foundation’s Transatlantic Forum does not influence a candidate’s application to the Young Leaders program. Although members of the Forum may apply and be accepted to the Young Leaders program, the admissions processes are not linked. Participation in one does not guarantee access to the other.
Application guidelines
The application portal will open on January 18, 2022 and will close on March 31, 2022.
Candidates living in the U.S. should apply here, to the French-American Foundation–United States, and candidates living in France should apply to the French-American Foundation in France.
For candidates living in the U.S.:
All of the application materials must be in English.
Candidates should send:
- An online application form (accessible via the “click here to apply” link at the top of this page, viewable on January 18, 2022)
- A brief personal statement describing who you are and your motivation to join the program (up to 400 words)
- A resume
- A copy of your passport photo page
- An innovative way of introducing yourself. For example, applicants have sent photo collages, power point presentations, videos (2-minutes maximum), and published materials. This is a chance for you to get creative and help us get to know you beyond your resume.
Please note: This year we are not asking for letters of recommendation.