Application for The McCain Institute Global Leaders Program 2025 for Emerging Leaders Worldwide   

Applications are currently open for the 2025 McCain Institute Global Leaders Program. In order to respond to and address the challenges of a continually evolving global landscape, the McCain Institute will establish a global thematic focus area along with specific technical areas for each region, selecting participants who engage with relevant issues tied to each theme. Over the span of the 12-month program, the Leaders will take part in regional and global programming designed to connect them with a targeted professional peer group in their home region, as well as a broader and diverse network of international peers.  

2025 Global Theme & Regional Themes

•  Global Theme: Advancing Democracy and Human Rights  
• Western Hemisphere (Regional Theme): Safeguarding the Human Rights of Migrants  
• Europe and Eurasia (Regional Theme): Combating the Rise of Authoritarianism  
• Africa and the Middle East (Regional Theme): Laying the Groundwork for Conflict Resolution  
• Asia and Oceania (Regional Theme): Navigating Great Power Competition in the Asia-Pacific  

Leaders are chosen through a competitive and open recruitment process. Each annual cohort consists of up to 25 Leaders, divided into four regional groups. While there is no specific age requirement, Leaders generally fall between the ages of 25 and 45. Candidates should demonstrate a strong commitment to serving a cause greater than themselves and have direct experience working on the global theme of defending democracy and their respective regional theme. The McCain Institute global prioritizes diversity in terms of gender, ethnicity, disability status, political perspective, economic background, and educational experiences.

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Eligibility Requirements for The McCain Institute Global Leaders Program

• Candidates should be professionals at the mid to senior level of their careers, demonstrating strong proficiency in English, and actively engaging with the program’s focus areas in relation to global and regional themes.  
• Prospective McCain Global Leaders (MGLs) must hold a leadership position within their field and be actively involved in efforts to create change within their local communities.  
• Candidates need to be dedicated to a cause larger than themselves and should be prepared to fully engage in virtual activities, face-to-face programs, and alumni initiatives following the program.  
• There are no minimum educational qualifications nor specifications regarding a particular field or job area.  

McCain Institute Global Leaders Program Schedule

Participants will engage in three significant in-person events, which will be complemented by online learning experiences. These events will include practical skills training led by experts and provide a leadership development curriculum inspired by Senator McCain’s legacy, focusing on peer mentorship and collaborative problem-solving.  

Benefits of McCain Institute Global Leaders Program

• Participants will receive a stipend designed to cover incidental costs encountered during the program. However, the McCain Institute will fully cover the direct costs associated with participation in the program, such as economy class airfare, accommodations, and visa fees.  
• Aside from the time commitment required to engage in programming, there will be no expenses incurred for participation.  

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Summer 2025 

The McCain Leadership Curriculum: Throughout the program, Leaders will take part in a curriculum that is delivered both online and in person. This curriculum is crafted to integrate lessons and experiences from Senator McCain’s life, enhancing both virtual and in-person engagements while promoting community building and collaborative problem-solving. A key component of the curriculum is a dynamic peer-mentorship model, through which Leaders aid each other in their respective journeys. The curriculum aims to assist each leader in outlining their path as a changemaker while providing practical skills to tackle some of the most challenging issues facing their home country and region.  

Fall 2025  

(Annapolis, M.D. and Washington, D.C.): The program’s initial in-person event, the Leadership Experience, will unite all participants for the first time at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, M.D., and in Washington, D.C. This 10-day event will immerse leaders in the principles that shaped Senator McCain’s leadership style and facilitate connections with experts in their core thematic areas and key decision-makers. Additionally, leaders will collaborate with experts to develop their own leadership philosophies and objectives.  

Winter 2025/2026

The Changemaker Tour (Host Country in Each Region): The program’s second in-person event will gather each regional cohort along with members of the Global Advisory Council for five-day regional study tours that explore the global theme of defending democracy in a host country. This tour will focus on fostering regional connections and networks, allowing leaders to discuss solutions and concepts related to the theme. Leaders will be encouraged, though not obligated, to pursue regional professional collaborations, and the McCain Institute will actively support any resulting partnerships. Each region will have one Changemaker Tour. Previous tours have taken place in countries such as Colombia, Poland, Singapore, and South Africa.  

Spring 2026 

The Legacy Experience (Vietnam): The culminating event of the 10-month journey will again bring all Leaders together in a country that holds significance in Senator McCain’s own leadership story. The Legacy Experience will be hosted in Vietnam, where participants will reflect on their program experiences and examine the journey and relationship between Senator McCain and the Vietnamese people. During this seven-day event, Leaders, MGL Alumni, and Global Advisory Council members will gather to reflect on their experiences throughout the program, share how their leadership philosophies have transformed, explore professional partnerships, plan the next steps in their leadership journeys, and learn about resources available to them as program alumni.  

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Application Deadline: February 21, 2025

For More Information:  

• If you have any inquiries, please reach out via email at leadershipinitiatives@mccaininstitute.org.  
• Visit the Official Webpage of the McCain Institute Global Leaders Program to apply.