The Leadership Fellows program offers nonprofit and public-sector organizations the opportunity to leverage the experience, energy, and analytical skills of MBAs for one year. Fellows apply their expertise to roles where they produce immediate results and build long-term capacity within the organization while gaining exposure to senior leaders within the sector.

Leadership Fellows positions are selected based on the program goals of access, impact, and leadership. All positions:

• Report to the CEO or another senior executive and have regular meaningful access to the CEO
• Focus on a discrete, strategic project or set of responsibilities critical to the organization's success
• Involve managerial and leadership development activities distinct from a permanent full-time position

There are two routes to becoming a Leadership Fellow:

• HBS Sourced: Leadership Fellow positions sourced by HBS are selected through an organization proposal process and posted for second year students in October of each year, and offer students the opportunity to recruit directly with the selected organizations
• Student-Proposed: Offers students the chance to create a one-year position with a qualifying organization that aligns with the program goals. Note that this is a pilot program. We will have a limited number of fellowships available for students who propose their own, and students will be updated after the initial application on the number of applications in the process. 

• For HBS Sourced: Reviews proposals from interested organizations and works with qualifying organizations to create a mutually beneficial Fellowship position. Provides a framework and logistics for the interviewing and hiring process.
• For Student-Proposed: Supports students as they work with organizations to develop a proposal.
• Awards $60,000 toward the Fellow’s annualized salary of $120,000 in addition to an upfront relocation benefit to each incoming Fellow.
• Support Fellows with two professional development days on the HBS campus, for increased understanding of the sector, ability to have impact in the Fellowship year, and to explore careers beyond the year. (HBS covers travel and accommodations for these sessions.)

• Creates a Leadership Fellow position that meets the program goals of access, impact and leadership. Fellows will have the opportunity to gain exposure and insight to work being done at the highest levels of the organization as a function of the work assigned.
• Follows all HBS Recruiting Policies in engaging with students and through the candidate selection and interview process.
• Ensures sufficient resources to support the experience of an MBA.
• Commits to pay $60,000 toward the Fellow’s annualized salary plus the costs associated with providing standard benefits offered to full-time employees of the organization, including health insurance.

• Access – Meaningful engagement with senior leaders in the organization and in the field via a direct reporting relationship to the CEO or another senior executive along with regular meetings with the CEO.
• Impact – Ability to work on and influence projects of key strategic importance to the organization with the potential to help build organizational capacity.
• Leadership – An experience that involves management and leadership development activities distinct from a full-time position and tailored to advancing post-MBA skill sets for the benefit of the Fellow and the organization.
• Ongoing coaching and professional development from HBS. Fellows participate in a cohort model that supports their growth during the Fellowship year and beyond, with professional coaching that is beneficial to both the Fellow and host organization

HBS Sourced:

• First, review the Leadership Fellows Proposal Guide to determine if your organization and the role are a fit with the program. Note: the program will consider applications from early-stage organizations. Additional guidance for these organizations can be found here.
• Review the List of Proposal Questions to prepare for the 2024-25 Leadership Fellows Proposal Form (available Summer 2023).
• Contact the HBS Leadership Fellows Program with any questions.

Student-Proposed: Students will work directly with organizations to develop a proposal. Application forms to be completed by the student and the organization will be accessible to students directly from HBS.

Resources for developing a proposal:

• Leadership Fellows Proposal Guide
• Examples of past roles that have been successful
• Guidance for Early-Stage Organizations

HBS Sourced: Key Dates for Fall 2023:

• Early October 2023: organization application deadline
• Mid-October 2023: organizations selected by HBS
• Mid-November 2023: first-round interviews

Student-Proposed: Key Dates for 2023-24:

• December 2023—February 2024: Initial student application period (Note: Feedback will be given to students on a rolling basis)
• February 2024: Final date for feedback on initial application; students are given status on the number of applicants, and more details for working with organizations
• Early March 2024: Final student proposal deadline, including organization details and final job description
• Mid-March 2024: Decisions sent to students

Below is a sample of Leadership Fellows recruiting partners from 2001 through 2022. View a full list of recruiting partners and past Fellows or view this past year's press release.

ACLU	City of San Jose Mayor’s Office	Sesame Workshop
American Ballet Theatre	Harlem Children’s Zone	Social Finance, Inc
Boston Children’s Hospital	Juilliard School	Teach For America
BRAC USA	Kresge Foundation	U.S. Department of Education
City of Boston Mayor’s Office	Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA)	Whitney Museum
Code for America	Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research	World Wildlife Fund

Questions? Email lfp@hbs.edu.