A proposal for decision-makers at home
Each scholar defends a proposal on a live question from their own country or field before a panel of experts.
The program(01)
Policy in Washington meets the leader each scholar intends to become.
Each week, policy experts and practitioners in Washington teach one theme, and a faculty director helps scholars connect it to their own country and field of interest.
Alongside the policy curriculum, a seasoned professional coaches each scholar on the kind of leader they intend to become. Scholars bring the two together in an individual project, a proposal on a question facing their country or field, which they present to a panel of experts. Every scholarship is fully funded.
Designed and delivered by
GELP follows the experiential learning cycle described by David Kolb, in which people learn by moving from experience to reflection, to new concepts and to application. Each of the eight weeks follows that cycle.
Experience
Expert sessions and site visits
Policy experts and practitioners teach one theme each week, from U.S. foreign policy to artificial intelligence, and scholars visit an institution connected to it.
Reflection
Faculty-led seminar and the weekly reflection
Dr. Valeriia Popova, the Faculty Director, connects the theme to each scholar's own country and field. Each scholar writes a reflection at the end of the week.
Concepts
Professional coaching
A coach works with each scholar as a leader, one-on-one, every week, starting from the scholar's own interests.
Application
The individual project
Each reflection adds a piece to a proposal for decision-makers in the scholar's own country or field. The Faculty Director guides each project.
The eight weeks(02)
Week 1 of 8Washington as a global decision centerProfessional coaching: Intention and self-knowledgeProject: Define the area of interest
Eight weeks. Eight themes.
Every week follows the same structure. Choose a week to see its themes.
Tuesday
Expert session
A policy expert or practitioner teaches the week's theme.
Tuesday
Faculty-led seminar
The Faculty Director connects the theme to each scholar's own country and field.
Thursday
Coaching hour
One hour, one-on-one, with a seasoned professional who works with the scholar as a leader.
Friday
Site visit
Scholars visit an institution connected to the week's theme. One Friday is a day in New York.
The gold ring is the individual project, which moves one stage forward each week until the panel on November 23.
| Week | Policy theme and expert | Professional coaching theme | Project stage |
|---|
The scholars(20)
Fall 2026 scholars
Twenty scholars from Gibraltar and Spain. Each tile shows the scholar's area of interest.
Network and outcomes
Each scholar leaves Washington with a professional network and a proposal for their country or field.
The program connects each scholar with the policy experts, former officials, journalists and senior professionals who teach and coach the eight themes, and with the institutions that host them. Scholars add their own contacts through a networking challenge across the eight weeks, two informational interviews and a networking reception.
- 1Professional coachA senior Washington professional who works with the scholar for the eight weeks
- 8Session expertsPolicy experts and practitioners, one for each theme
- 8Site visitsSeven institutions in Washington and a day in New York
- 19Fellow scholarsThe rest of the cohort, from Gibraltar and Spain
- +Contacts of their ownThe people each scholar meets through two informational interviews and the networking challenge
A statement of the leader they intend to become
In the final hour of professional coaching, each scholar writes down the kind of leader they intend to become and their next three steps.
A written evaluation from their coach
Each professional coach writes an evaluation at the end of the program, and a letter of reference where the coach is willing to write one.
A record of how their thinking changed
Scholars write a reflection at the end of each week, and the eight pieces come together in a final reflection.
The traits(10)
Ten traits. One globally minded professional.
GELP scholars develop the traits of a globally minded professional. Choose a trait to read it.
Faculty and professional coaches
Faculty Director
Dr. Valeriia Popova
Dr. Popova is a behavioral research scientist with a focus on trust, safety and information integrity. She earned her PhD in Political Science from Florida International University, where she taught American Government and Comparative Politics, and has also taught at American University and Howard University. In GELP, she leads the seminar that follows each weekly expert session and guides each scholar's individual project.
Professional coaches
Washington professionals and leaders
Each scholar works with one coach for the eight weeks.
Funders(02)
Governments and foundations fund the scholars.
HM Government of Gibraltar
Funds fifteen scholars from Gibraltar in the Fall 2026 cohort. The Government of Gibraltar and the Advanced Leadership Foundation have worked together since 2016.
Fundación MAPFRE Canarias
Funds five scholars from Spain in the Fall 2026 cohort.
For governments and foundations
Email the Foundation
Fund a scholar
Governments and foundations fund scholars from their own countries and communities. Each scholar completes the eight weeks and presents a proposal on a question facing their country or field to a panel of experts.
globalprograms@aleadership.org
For future scholars
Email the Foundation
Join the list for future cohorts
Receive news of the next cohort, including eligibility and application dates, from the Advanced Leadership Foundation.
Email the Foundation to be added to the list.
globalprograms@aleadership.org