Leaders Europe

Leaders Europe is an eight-month, virtual leadership development program that seeks to inspire, empower, and connect leaders to advance inclusive and lasting change in their communities, throughout Europe, and across the world.
Meet the 2026-2027 Cohort
Get to know our newest group of Europe leaders!
How To Become A Leader
Applications for 2027-2028 Leaders Europe are now open!
Learn More
Apply Today
A woman with a light skin tone stands outdoors for a portrait. Her arms are crossed. She has short brown hair and is wearing a red top and lipstick. Apartments are blurred in the background.

Meet the 2026-2027 Europe Leaders

About

The Leaders Europe program identifies leaders working in government, civil society, and the private sector who have demonstrated a commitment to advancing the common good. Through a core set of shared values and leadership skills, the program lifts up a new generation of civically active, positive role models who are prepared to create tangible solutions to the challenges in their communities, across Europe, and around the world.

  • Weekly Group Learning Sessions

    Weekly virtual sessions with subject-matter experts, practitioners and thought-leaders deepen participants’ leadership practice through interactive methods that foster peer-to-peer learning and reflection. Moving beyond theory, these weekly sessions encourage participants to take action and embrace productive intellectual tension as a catalyst for growth.

  • Monthly Community Groups

    Once a month Leaders  meet virtually in small, peer-learning groups facilitated by program alumni. In these community groups, Leaders further discuss key learnings from each program module, share leadership challenges to form solutions, and lean into the discomfort of differing perspectives.

  • Individualized Leadership Coaching

    Each Leader is paired with a certified leadership coach to support them as they articulate, anchor, and utilize their core values to effectively lead themselves and others throughout the long arc of change.

FAQs

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

See Leaders Europe FAQs

Stories of Our European Leaders

Obama Leader and Scholar advances reproductive rights in Europe hero

Obama Leader and Scholar advances reproductive rights in Europe

Nika Kovač's "My Voice, My Choice" pushed the EU to advance reproductive rights, expanding access to safe abortion for millions.
Learn more
35A8439Graded

Obama Europe Leader empowers Irish girls

After losing her sister, Tammy Darcy launched The Shona Project to uplift Irish girls with support and mentorship.
Learn more
MPC4320

Obama Europe Leader champions inclusion through sport

To commemorate the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, we spoke with 2024-2025 Obama Leader and two-time Paralympian Vladyslava Kravchenko, a driving force in Malta’s Para sports.
Learn more

“ The program helped me recognize and work through my inner obstacles I learned how to better navigate between different identities and roles, both professionally and personally. ”

–2025-2026 Leaders Europe Participant

Sign up for the latest on the Obama Foundation

Get the latest news and updates by signing up for Obama Foundation emails.
By providing a phone number, you confirm that you are an adult and consent to receive automated marketing and informational SMS messages from The Barack Obama Foundation at the phone number you provided. To learn more about how The Foundation would use your information, read the Foundation's Privacy Statement. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency varies. You may opt out at any time by texting “STOP’ to (773) 915-0096. Consent is not a condition of purchase or service.

Former Europe Leaders

2025

Learn more

2024

Learn more

2023

Learn more

2022

Learn more

2020

Learn more

More Obama Leaders Programs by Region

Leaders-Africa

Leaders Africa

The Leaders Africa program seeks to build a growing network of innovative changemakers who will drive positive change in their communities.
Learn more
Leaders-Asia-Pacific

Leaders Asia-Pacific

Discover more about Obama Foundation Leaders Asia-Pacific.
Learn more
leaders-usa2

Leaders United States

The Leaders USA program is a six-month, non-residential leadership development program that seeks to inspire, empower, and connect emerging leaders across the country.
Learn more