Global Leadership Program

This program features a combination of self-paced online resources, virtual learning and engagement sessions, and an immersive, five-day in-person residency in Ottawa.

Learn through dynamic pedagogical approaches, led by global thought leaders and practitioners. The program brings together global experts to share knowledge and guide discussions about core aspects of global leadership while inviting participants to apply a global lens to their own context, mandate, and leadership practice.  Participants will learn through a combination of guided learning, case study review, peer-to-peer and collaborative learning, immersive reflective exercises, energizing simulations, networking, individual and group reflection, and group coaching.

Join a diverse network of global leaders to exchange, collaborate, and reflect.  This program creates opportunities to exchange, collaborate, and reflect on new ideas, as well as build connections related to global leadership. Participants are encouraged to break down silos, learn from others’ different experiences, and, in turn, share their own experiences and perspectives to shape the conversations. 

Cultivate their global mindset, explore the forces shaping our world, and strengthen a practical skillset to lead in a time of complexity . Participants will leave the program equipped to approach complexities in our interconnected world not with a sense of despair but with a sense of agency and hope. They will be able to think critically about how global issues impact their work and consider what they can do to address these issues in their roles as Canadian leaders.

Being a part of this program doesn’t end with online and formal in-person online learning — it opens a lifetime of opportunities, connections, and growth!

Please note: The residential program for 2026 will include one additional day, concluding on the Friday afternoon. 

New geopolitical, social, economic, technological, and environmental forces are driving rapid and far-reaching changes in Canada and globally.

AKFC’s Global Leadership Program provides a dynamic, interdisciplinary exploration of the forces that are affecting the quality of life of people around the globe. It is a unique opportunity for Canadian leaders to examine the complex connections between global and local challenges and mobilize their ethical imagination, intellectual insight, and practical ingenuity to forge a path toward a better future for all.

The program explores the social, economic, political, cultural, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development, considering questions of effective and ethical policies and practices, the factors that influence aid priorities, and the barriers to alleviating poverty and gender inequality, and improving quality of life at home and abroad.

Climate change serves as a lens for exploring fundamental shifts in global politics and how Canada is impacted by and responds to them within global institutions and systems.

The program addresses economic transformation and the impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution on the future of work, the future of populations, and the future of the planet. Participants explore these interconnected themes both through a theoretical lens and by engaging in collaborative, real-world problem-solving with peers and faculty.

Central to the program is an active engagement with pluralism — embracing diversity, fostering social cohesion, and building inclusive communities. To fulfill this commitment, the program integrates reflection, accountability, and context-specific strategies, which include activities focused on advancing gender equality and truth and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples in Canada.

Ultimately, this program equips participants with the understanding, tools, and professional networks to drive transformative change and contribute to a world where we all thrive together.

Program facilitators and guest speakers are experts and thought leaders within the global development sector and more broadly.

Past Facilitators and Guest Speakers:

• Khalil Z. Shariff, Chief Executive Officer, Aga Khan Foundation Canada
• Shakeel Bharmal, Leadership Coach and Facilitator
• Fatema Z. Sumar, Executive Director,​ Center for International Development, Harvard University
• Meredith Preston McGhie,Secretary General, Global Centre for Pluralism
• Nathalie Sirois, Senior Manager, Education, Global Center for Pluralism
• Celina Caesar-Chavannes, Managing Director, CCC & Co. | Founder, The Awakened Leadership Institute
• Clifford Mushquash​, Advisor, Indigenous Engagement, McMaster Health Forum
• Roland Paris, Director, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Ottawa
• Chris MacLennan, Deputy Minister, International Development , Global Affairs Canada
• Rohinton Medhora, Professor of Practice, Institute for the Study of International Development, McGill University
• Rohma Labeeb, Country Director, Pakistan, Accelerate Prosperity​
• Mohannad Obaido, Chief Executive Officer, Aga Khan Foundation Syria (virtual)
• Najmuddin Najm, Chief Executive Officer, Aga Khan Foundation Afghanistan (virtual)
• Nancy Booker, Dean, Graduate School of Media and Communication, Aga Khan University (virtual)
• Tinni Sawhney,  Chief Executive Officer, Aga Khan Foundation India (virtual)

• Be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada.
• Be fluent in English.
• Be available to travel to and attend the in-person residential program in Ottawa between November 1 and 6, 2026. (The program fully covers the cost of travel from anywhere in Canada, accommodation, and meals of the residency.)
• Demonstrate a clear desire to learn from others and to contribute to meaningful dialogue.
• Be committed to joining virtual group coaching sessions before and after the in-person residency.
• Be committed to staying engaged as an alum — continuing to learn, collaborate, and contribute to a growing network of global leaders that are committed to a more peaceful, prosperous, and pluralist world for all.

Please note: If you are selected, a nominal fee of $100 CAD will be expected to secure your spot in the program. AKFC is committed to ensuring that this program is accessible to participants regardless of financial status. If you are selected and this fee is a barrier, please notify AKFC so that we can accommodate this.

For more information, please visit our FAQ page.