Leaders Asia-Pacific

Leaders Asia-Pacific is an eight-month, non-residential leadership program that helps leaders develop their values-based leadership to advance inclusive and lasting change in their communities, in the Asia-Pacific region, and across the world.
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An Asian man with a medium skin tone holds a microphone as he speaks to an unseen audience. He has short black hair and is wearing a black button up. In the background is the Obama Foundation rising sun logo.

Meet the 2026-2027 Asia-Pacific Leaders

About

The Leaders Asia-Pacific program equips leaders with a values-based framework to advance inclusive and sustainable change in their communities. Leaders Asia-Pacific brings together a small cohort of 35 leaders from across sectors and issue areas to gain key tools to advance their impact, such as storytelling, understanding power dynamics, polarity management, and communicating across differences.

  • Weekly Group Learning Sessions

    Held weekly, typically on Saturday mornings Singapore Time , these live virtual sessions  offer a dynamic blend of content including conversations with experts, introductions to leadership frameworks, and skill-building workshops. Participants are put into  interactive small-group discussions and peer learning breakout rooms.

  • Monthly Community Groups

    Leaders participate in small, peer-learning groups facilitated by alumni of the program. These community groups are designed to deepen relationships and strengthen mutual support, creating trusted spaces to reflect on program content, explore open questions from larger sessions, and practice listening and learning across differences.

  • Individualized Leadership Coaching

    Each Leader is matched with a professional leadership coach who supports  them as they navigate their individual growth journey. Coaching offers a reflective space to deepen self-understanding, clarify direction, and translate insights from the program into real-world action.

How to Apply

The application for the 2026-2027 Leaders program is now closed. Please check back here for updates on our 2027-2028 Obama Leaders application.

A group of Obama Asia Pacific leaders smile and clap as they sit on chairs in a conference room. They are all dressed professionally.

  • Location

    Program participants must reside in one of the following areas: American Samoa; Aotearoa New Zealand; Australia; Brunei; Cambodia; China; Cook Islands; Federated States of Micronesia; Fiji; French Polynesia; Guam; Hawaiʻi; Hong Kong; Indonesia; Japan; Kiribati; Korea, North (DPRK); Korea, South (ROK); Laos; Macao; Malaysia; Marshall Islands; Mongolia; Myanmar; Nauru; New Caledonia; Niue; Northern Mariana Islands; Palau; Papua New Guinea; Philippines; Pitcairn Islands; Samoa; Singapore; Solomon Islands; Taiwan; Thailand; Timor-Leste; Tokelau; Tonga; Tuvalu; Vanuatu; Vietnam; and Wallis and Futuna to apply.

  • Citizenship and Residency

    Program Participants must be: 

    • A citizen of an eligible country or territory OR 

    • A permanent resident of an eligible country or territory 

    • A refugee or asylum seeker in an eligible Asia-Pacific nation or territory OR

    • Have lived in an eligible country or territory for at least the last 5 years, regardless of citizenship or permanent residence status

  • Geographic Focus

    Participant’s  work must be focused on creating positive change for local communities, an eligible nation or territory, and/or the broader Asia-Pacific region. 

  • Program Commitment

    The Leaders Asia-Pacific program is currently scheduled to begin the week of September 1, 2026 and will conclude no later than May 1, 2027, with planned breaks throughout.

  • Language Proficiency & Age

    Participants must be  professionally proficient in English and be between 24 and 45 years of age during their time in the program.  

  • Political Campaigns

    Participants must refrain from participating in an electoral campaign as a candidate for political office from the time they are accepted into the program through its conclusion.

  • Leadership Experience

    Participants must demonstrate at least 3 years of relevant experience in their issue area. 

  • Jurisdiction and Ability to Participate in a U.S.-Based Program

    The Obama Foundation is based in the United States. Participants must be under no legal or regulatory restrictions that would limit their participation in virtual Foundation programming or travel to the U.S. for in-person programming (if any).

Don’t meet these eligibility requirements? Check out our other Leaders programs or the The Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service.

FAQs

For more information about the Obama Foundation Leaders Asia-Pacific program and answers to some of the most frequently asked questions, visit our FAQ page .

See Leaders Asia-Pacific FAQs

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“ The most significant change I experienced in the Obama Leaders program is learning to balance principle and pragmatism with authenticity. Before, I often felt pressure to carry everything alone. Through this program, I discovered that leadership is about inviting ownership, listening deeply, and caring with all my heart.”

–2025-2026 Leaders Asia-Pacific Participant

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Former Asia-Pacific Leaders

2025

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2024

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2023

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2022

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2019

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