Changing the leadership narrative

To achieve a more equitable world

Inequity in leadership development

Leadership development is a $366 billion industry — an amount that could solve global poverty many times over — yet its ethnocentric and academic approach is largely ineffective. We believe our efforts and resources should be part of the solution, not part of the problem.

Download Report

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.

No items found.

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

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 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.

See the action in action

Click on the interactive map to see how our Fellows collaborate
changing-the-leadership-narrative
1
Ireland 4th Project
Ireland
Ireland 4th Project
Ireland
changing-the-leadership-narrative
1
Australia 4th Project
Australia
Australia 4th Project
Australia
changing-the-leadership-narrative
1
Vietnam 2nd Project
Vietnam
Vietnam 2nd Project
Vietnam
changing-the-leadership-narrative
1
Timor-Leste 2nd Project
Timor-Leste
Timor-Leste 2nd Project
Timor-Leste
changing-the-leadership-narrative
1
Myanmar 2nd Project
Myanmar
Myanmar 2nd Project
Myanmar
changing-the-leadership-narrative
1
United Kingdom 3rd
United Kingdom
United Kingdom 3rd
United Kingdom
changing-the-leadership-narrative
6
South Africa 3rd
South Africa
South Africa 3rd
South Africa
changing-the-leadership-narrative
1
Jordan 2nd
Jordan
Jordan 2nd
Jordan
changing-the-leadership-narrative
1
Germany 2nd
Germany
Germany 2nd
Germany
changing-the-leadership-narrative
1
United States 5th
United States
United States 5th
United States

Get to know the Fellows

Sebastian Bock

Team leader for Germany, 350.org

Sharon Low

Research manager, REACH Initiative Syria

Kodwa Mpepho

Director, Women and Girls Leadership Foundation

Bulela Vava

Interim national president, Public Oral Health Forum (POHF)

Carmeneza Dos Santos Monteiro

Strategic policy adviser, Ministry of Social Solidarity and Inclusion, Timor Leste

Pan Myat Mon

Country program manager, Australian Volunteers (Myanmar)

Obenewa Amponsah

Coach, facilitator and storyteller, Obenewa Amponsah & Associates

Yaohua Chen

Associate professor in neurogeriatrics, CHU Lille - University of Lille

Mary Hooks

Co-director, Southerners On New Ground

Durkhanai Ayubi

Writer and restaurateur

Mariana Longoria Ibarrola

Faculty, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery

Deborrah G. Liao

Municipal health officer, Rural Health Unit-Gamay

Nomathamsanqa 'Thami' Mngxekeza

Operations manager, Kozi Foundation

Eric Motau

Country director, REPSSI

Rania M. Tarazi

Gender specialist, International Organization; program and policy adviser, Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development; program manager, Oxfam

Expand
to see
fellows

Spread the
news

Share this project if you found it interesting.

More action

Atlantic Fellows Newsletter

Expect to see updates in your inbox in the coming weeks.

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.