Changing the leadership narrative

To achieve a more equitable world

Inequity in leadership development

The Spark

The paradox of spending billions on leadership development, instead of investing those funds directly to resolve the problems such programs endeavor to resolve, inspired us to begin the significant and complex journey of changing the narrative.

We must divest financial resources from perpetuating a Westernized status quo approach to social change, which has done little to change systemic inequity. Our approach to leadership is to invest in authentic leaders, advance proven effective strategies, and foster critical discourse to keep up with ever-complex challenges.

Atlantic Fellows connect at our meta-leadership workshops to cut the feedback loop of ethnocentric, academic, Westernized solutions that inadequately serve complex social problems. Empowering leaders to catalyze change on a local level promotes equity on a global scale.

Call to Action

The complexity of social inequity issues worldwide pose a unique challenge: how do Atlantic Fellows effectively make a positive difference in a practical, impactful way?

Atlantic Fellows are leading their communities and fields though action. Connecting social change leaders from all around the world helps instill a shared sense of purpose, essential to sustaining the ongoing, critical work of social change.

The Initiatives

In partnership with the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, the Atlantic Institute facilitated a gathering of Fellows in Oxford, UK. The workshop brought together a diverse group of Fellows from across all seven Atlantic Fellows programs to explore personal narratives of social change leadership.

This leadership narrative initiative exists to shift the status quo of the leadership development industry to more efficiently and effectively create equitable societies. This first workshop focused on:

Connection — conducive to interdisciplinary and cross-cultural collaboration.

Content — critical discourse on contemporary theories on social change leadership, to develop a shared leadership framework.

Community — creating a network of leaders from a diverse array of backgrounds.

The Initiatives

Connection — conducive to interdisciplinary and cross-cultural collaboration.

Content — critical discourse on contemporary theories on social change leadership, to develop a shared leadership framework.

Community — creating a network of leaders from a diverse array of backgrounds.

The Scale

What does ethical diverse leadership look like, and how can we apply this globally? Every Atlantic Fellow is a leader who holds a piece of the puzzle. Participating Fellows take their learnings and experiences back with them to work on the ground in their communities. With a focus on skills training, networking, and thought leadership experience, Fellows are empowered to leverage forward-thinking strategies, and bring their vision of more equitable societies to fruition.

These gatherings cultivate an ecosystem of community and connection development, empowering leaders who are already deeply involved in advocating for social change in their communities. Working together over time, Atlantic Fellows will catalyze real, significant change in reframing the leadership narrative.

The Future

Conferences and workshops like this are a meaningful way for social change leaders to connect and unite their efforts with a shared sense of purpose. Connections were made and bonds forged between Fellows at this gathering. The seeds of cooperation were sown, the Fellows have begun their work together on changing the leadership narrative; some meet regularly to explore future actions. In March 2021, other Fellows took part in a meta-leadership masterclass and workshop. Over time, this young, growing community will continue to draw on its shared values and diverse skills to change the leadership narrative in the long-term.