You are eligible for consideration if you meet all the following criteria:   

• You identify as a woman  
• You work in a role that focuses on global health (your work and partnerships serve target populations in low- and middle-income countries)  
• You have 10–25 years of experience in global health 
• You live in Canada or the United States (any nationality is welcome)  

We require participants to live in Canada or the United States during at least 75% of the program because we believe time zone compatibility is essential to your ability to participate in the touchpoints and to engage with your peers within and outside of the sessions.  

Apply by Wednesday, July 31, 2024, at 11:59 pm ET. 

Access our Application FAQ here. If you have any questions about the application or process, please email [email protected]. 

If accepted, you will be required to attend each virtual session and in-person learning residency* as detailed in the 2025–2026 Cohort A and Cohort B calendars and to complete the deliverables associated with the Leadership Project. Attendance at JourneyPLUS events is optional.

Designed for professional women leaders, the Leadership Journey was thoughtfully crafted for participants to be fully present and engaged. We recognize the importance of work-life harmony.

The time commitment for the required Leadership Journey activities (including all virtual touchpoints and intersession activities) ranges from 4–8 hours each month, plus the in-person residencies (five days total, plus travel). This estimate does not include the time required for the design, planning, and implementation phases of your Leadership Project, so please consider that in your decision to participate in the program.   

You will also be asked to complete a 360-degree evaluation and other leadership style assessments, which will inform your understanding of your leadership strengths and growth areas.

There is no cost to participate if you are selected. All program costs, including travel and lodging, are covered.

You must have access to a computer and internet in order to attend the virtual touchpoints. Proficiency in English is expected, as all sessions will be conducted in English.

While the following are not technical requirements, our hope is that you will bring your drive, passion, and commitment to the program; engage actively with your peers, mentors, and coaches; and take full advantage of the resources provided. Our approach involves human-centered design, so we will ask you to evaluate your experience and contribute ideas for how to enhance the Leadership Journey for future cohorts.  

One of the most important takeaways of this journey is the relationships you form during this year. As many of our alumnae would say, “Behind every successful woman is an amazing group chat.”  

Download our Application FAQ here. 

Please see the Elements of the Leadership Journey section above and this Leadership Project infographic for the rules and parameters for a Leadership Project. You can also see examples of Leadership Projects from North America’s 2020 Cohort, 2021 Cohort, 2022 Cohort, and 2023 Cohort by watching their inspiring Lift-Off videos. 

Describing your Leadership Project idea is a critical element of your application. Please note that implementation of your project does not have to be complete by the end of the Leadership Journey and will likely continue beyond it.

WomenLift Health does not provide funding for your Leadership Project, but we will support you by connecting you with highly experienced mentors, coaches, and experts within our team and network. Your peers in the cohort can also be an excellent resource for enhancing your project. We also encourage you to align your project with your work stream and gain buy-in from institutional leaders. 

Please include a letter of recommendation from your supervisor. If you can’t obtain a letter of recommendation from your direct supervisor, you may submit a letter written by a senior leader at your current organization or a leader in the global health community who has experience working with you.

The letter of recommendation may speak to:  

• Any significant contributions you have made to your professional field that demonstrate your leadership capacity  
• Your strongest personal quality that distinguishes you and qualifies you to participate in this Leadership Journey  
• How this Leadership Journey will help you enhance your leadership knowledge and skills  

For your application to be considered complete, you must upload and submit your letter of recommendation as part of your application by the deadline. 

Open Application Period: The application period closes Wednesday, July 31, 2024, at 11:59 pm ET

Notification Period: We will notify applicants of their acceptance status in late September 2024.

Acceptance & Pre-Orientation Period: The 60 accepted candidates will be asked to confirm their participation by mid-October 2024, after which we will begin onboarding.   

Leadership Journey Launch: Orientation commences the week of March 4, 2025.

This program benefits from the considerable resources of the New Venture Fund (NVF), a 501(c)(3) public charity that incubates new and innovative public-interest projects and grant-making programs. Our sponsor, the Gates Foundation, has provided the funds to enable this movement. Our Leadership Journey curriculum design partner and touchpoint facilitator is the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL). The virtual learning and engagement platform is developed and powered by our partners at TechChange.