Advanced Leadership Initiative at Harvard University

Executive Summary of Advanced Leadership

A collaboration of faculty at Harvard University has developed a bold, academic innovation that has the potential to become another facet of higher education, change the concept of "retirement" and help change the world for the better. The Advanced Leadership Initiative is a new third stage in higher education designed to prepare experienced leaders to take on new challenges in the social sector where they potentially can make an even greater societal impact than they did in their careers.

The Advanced Leadership Initiative was formed by faculty drawn from Harvard's professional schools of law, business, government, education, medicine and public health to build knowledge about societal challenges requiring interdisciplinary leadership skills and to capitalize on demographic changes that create opportunities to educate and deploy accomplished leaders at later life stages in public service.

Systemic problems such as poverty, global health, environmental degradation, and basic education also have political and technical dimensions that cannot be solved by a simple one-off approach. Research universities are uniquely positioned to close knowledge gaps by finding new ways to develop and implement comprehensive solutions through integrative research and educational innovation.

Through the Advanced Leadership Initiative, Harvard is seeking to tap the experience of a socially conscious generation of leaders and help redirect and broaden their skills to fill critical leadership gaps in solving major social issues. Starting in January 2009, a select group of Fellows from diverse sectors with a track record of achievement and accomplishment have come to Harvard to transition from their primary income-earning careers and prepare for their next phase plan as change agents for society.

The Program

During their year at Harvard, Fellows will be able to take advantage of the vast intellectual resources of the University to learn, teach, mentor, consult, reflect and plan in preparation for their post-Fellowship project.

Course Auditing

A central component of the Fellowship program is the opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge through auditing courses anywhere in the University in an integrated program of study related to their desired next pursuits could be wide ranging such as applied skills (finance, marketing, non-profit governance, constitutional law), regional studies, or courses in the sciences relevant to a problem of interest.

Think Tanks

Fellows will participate in three intensive problem-focused interactive modules called "Think Tanks." These seminars will be built around faculty research and guest panelist thought leadership and will feature in-depth discussion sessions analyzing alternative approaches to intervention of strategic problems with the participation of key actors from organizations.

Seminars

Fellows will participate in a series of Fellows Seminars that will focus specifically on the leadership dimensions of their learning about problem areas: leadership gaps, leadership skills, opportunities for intervention. These seminars will include dinner and will provide a unique peer learning experience as well as an opportunity to learn from guest speakers who have successfully made the transition to new leadership roles in their later stages of life.

Field Immersions

In their "Field Immersion Experiences," Fellows will have the opportunity to see firsthand global and regional issue areas that need leadership and interdisciplinary approaches in order to be addressed capably. Topics will be selected in collaboration with Fellows and faculty and might include a variety of areas such as: post-disaster community economic development in the Mississippi Delta and Indonesia; basic education in rural Mexico and Illinois; disease eradication in sub-Saharan Africa. Fellows will be able to make connections, conduct research and find opportunities for service during their field immersions.

Student Interaction

Through their interaction with students, Fellows will be able to share their life experience and wisdom. Fellows will be expected to participate in or lead study groups in which they would explore their topic of interest. These study groups will have a multiplier effect by expanding opportunities for degree students in the professional schools to learn from these accomplished leaders and to co-construct with them action plans and designs to intervene in improving social sector conditions around the world.

Projects

With guidance from core faculty, Fellows will be able to develop and refine their specific plan for their public service project such as a social venture, book project, joining an existing non-profit foundation launch, or a campaign for a cause. Fellows may choose to collaborate and prepare a joint plan of action.

The capstone of the Fellowship year will be the Colloquium where Fellows will present their social purpose project plans to an audience of their peers and beyond. The Advanced Leadership Initiative will continue to track the accomplishments of the Fellows and create a network where Fellows from the first year and successive years will be able to interact and provide support and advice as they execute their social sector projects.

The Advanced Leadership Initiative is embracing a historic opportunity to leverage the experience and wisdom of a generation and to mobilize it as a force for positive change addressing some of the most pressing and urgent global and social issues of our time. By establishing a new higher education pathway, the Advanced Leadership Initiative Fellowship seeks to educate, engage, and inspire experienced leaders to find new meaningful vocations that will benefit society as well as enrich Fellows' own lives and sense of purpose.