NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

(Above: At center Chikako Fujita – from the Global Fellows Class of 2011 – supported the expansion of Ziqitza Healthcare’s ambulance fleet from 40 ambulances to nearly 500 through public-private partnerships).

The world is calling out for a new kind of leader – one who can combine financial skills, operational excellence, and moral imagination to address the problems of global poverty. The Acumen Fund Global Fellows Program was designed to fill this leadership gap by recruiting and training a cohort of young professionals to answer this call. Acumen Fund is excited to announce that applications for the Class of 2013 are now open!

We are conducting a global search for our next class of Fellows, and we are looking for highly-talented individuals with the hard skills, dedication, and leadership potential necessary to effect real change. Our Fellows come from all walks of life, are diverse socioeconomically, hail from countries all over the world, and represent many different sectors. But what they all share in common is an unwavering commitment to creating positive and sustainable social change. Our Fellows possess not only the skills to build innovative models to address poverty, but also a will to tackle the most challenging issues of our time. They have the ability to question the status quo, and the vision to see the world for what it can be, rather than accept it for what it is.

(Above: Ayeleen Ajanee, Class of 2007, during her Fellowship in Pakistan).

After the fellowship, our alumni go on to become social entrepreneurs, social investors, and leaders of organizations creating social change. They are breaking new ground across sectors and across geographies, and they are re-designing the development landscape by fusing the rigor of business with the conscience of the social sector. Our powerful global Alumni Network allows past Fellows to connect and collaborate with each other, and with Acumen Fund’s network of the top minds and resources in the business and social sectors.

More detailed information about the fellowship year and about the application process, as well as bios of current and past fellows, can be found on our website.

Do you think you have what it takes to be an Acumen Fund Global Fellow? Click here to apply now!

If you know exceptional individuals who should be part of our 2012-2013 Class, please encourage them to apply! And to share the application with your followers on Twitter, please click here. For questions, reach out directly to fellows@acumenfund.org.

(The Global Fellows Classes of 2011 & 2012 at the Fellows Graduation in New York, Fall 2011).