Leader Exchange and Development (LEAD) Program
LEAD is a staff leadership exchange and development program that provides participants with global JA experiences and connections with an ongoing network of international JA executives to support global organizational understanding, collaboration, and development opportunities. JA Worldwide developed LEAD to inspire and develop executives to broaden their perspectives and move out of their comfort zones, making it easier for them to understand, connect with, and advance the organization’s global strategic objectives.
Participant eligibility
The opportunity will be limited to the chief staff officer (CEO/President/ED of member locations or president of local areas/ subnational offices in member locations that offer sub-licenses) who have a minimum of three years’ experience in that role.
How the program works
As an executive chosen for the program, you’ll be paired with a LEAD counterpart in another region. You and your counterparts will visit and experience JA operations in each other’s territories for five days, followed by attendance at a regional gathering in that region. A detailed list of pre-visit, visit, and post-visit requirements will be provided by JA Worldwide, ensuring a valuable experience for both counterparts and your respective JA operations. Graduates of the LEAD program will periodically meet virtually (as schedules permit) until the Global Leadership Conference (participants’ conference fees for GLC will be covered by the scholarship), facilitating development opportunities, promoting existing and potential collaborations, and providing the opportunity to grow professional networks.
Program Benefits
To JA’s mission
Greater connectivity and understanding between JA operations around the world
Increased potential for international collaboration between JA operations
Development of leadership for future regional or global roles in the organization
To participants’ JA operations
Fresh perspectives and insight into the programs and services they provide at their local operations
Retention and development of leadership talent
Promotion of innovation in solving local challenges
Collaboration opportunities to enhance local operations
To participants
Opportunity to see and be inspired by the impact of the JA experience in another part of the world.
New skills and perspectives.
Expansion of your professional network.
Preparation for ever-increasing levels of responsibility within the organization
Operational Cost Details and Responsibilities
The JA location of participating executives will be responsible for participants’ compensation during their time out of the office, or the executive may opt to use PTO for their time out of the office. JA Worldwide will provide a scholarship of up to US$9,143 to cover expenses for travel, hotel accommodations, and a daily basic meal allowance during the exchange visit and GLC. This scholarship is intended to cover approximately 80% of your total costs. At their discretion, all remaining costs will be covered by the JA executive or their JA office.
Requirements
Commitment from the host and partner JA operations for a reciprocal exchange opportunity scheduled in conjunction with a relevant conference (that is, ROC-coordinated regional sessions), noting that dates and logistics should be agreed in advance. Arrangement of visiting schedule that includes opportunities for networking, informal dialogue, shadowing, cultural exchange activities, and the option of a pre-determined project.
LEAD program applicants must:
Provide formal approval from your board chair to participate, including agreement to all the requirements of participants listed on this document.
Have served as the CEO/President/ED for your JA location for at least three years.
Be able to participate in monthly Microsoft Teams meetings with other participants designed to make the cohort exchange experience more meaningful.
Hold a valid passport with at least two years until the expiration date.
Be fluent in conversational English.
Spend five days visiting the operation of the LEAD participant selected to be your partner (cohort) and participate in all the activities they have scheduled for you to participate in.
Attend a regional gathering of staff in your cohort’s region, either immediately before or immediately following the visit to your cohort’s JA operation.
Following your cohort visit, complete a formal report (template to be provided) that highlights what you learned, what your possible future collaborations will be, and what other key takeaways from the experience will be.
Agree to cover all costs associated with the LEAD Program that exceed the following amounts (all in USD):
Airfare for cohort visit: US$2,614
Hotel for cohort visit: US$2,610 ($261 per night for 10 Nights)
Meal allowance for cohort visit: US $260 (US$26 per day for 10 days)
Regional conference fee during cohort visit (US$523)
Global Leadership Conference (GLC): US$3,136 (Designed to cover conference fee and associated expenses)
Maximum cost covered by LEAD program: $9,143
Design and receive approval of a formal schedule (five days plus conference participation) for your visiting LEAD cohort that includes opportunities to network with staff, formal meetings, on-site program visits, arranged visits to other institutions in the host country as appropriate, participation in any events being organized by the host, and cultural exchange activities during non-work hours.
Serve as your visiting cohort’s primary point of contact during the visit, such as arranging transport and ensuring needs are met.
Attend the 2027 GLC as part of your LEAD experience.
Responsibilities of JA location host
Design and approval of a formal schedule (five days plus conference participation) for the visiting executive that includes opportunities to network with host staff, formal meetings, on-site program visits, arranged visits to other institutions in host country as appropriate, participation in any events being organized by the host, and cultural exchange activities during non-work hours. Designation of an appropriate “host” executive (preferably the CEO/President/ED) to serve as the visiting executive’s primary point of contact during the visit, such as transportation arrangements and ensuring that needs are met.
Responsibilities of visiting JA executives
Active participation in the host cities scheduled activities.
Completion of a formal report outlining and providing an opportunity to highlight learnings, outcomes, possible future collaborations, and other key take aways from the experience.
In collaboration with JA Worldwide, research and schedule (after approval) all required flights, accommodations, travel visa needs, conference registrations, and any other transport required for the exchange.
2026–2027 LEAD Timeline
May 1: LEAD application opens on OneJA
May 29: LEAD application deadline; application closes at 11:59:59pmEDT
June 1–5: Applications shared with ROC leaders for feedback
June 8-10: Application assessments and participant selection
June 12: Selected applicants notified
Late June: Formal announcement of 2026–2027 participants
July/August: Monthly virtual meetings with participants commence
November 2027: LEAD participants from both the 2026–2027 and 2027–2028 cohorts attend the Global Leadership Conference.
2026–2027 LEAD Application
