2012 Young Leader Selection

The Young Leaders program provides promising leaders from France and the United States with the opportunity to share best practices and get to know one another. The format of the program encourages discussion and strengthens ties between participants so that in the future, French and American leaders may together more effectively address issues of global concern.

Applying to the Program

Young Leaders are selected by committees composed of alumni and close contacts of the Foundation. The selection process is highly competitive, with many more candidacies than can be accommodated in a given year.

As a candidate, you must be between the ages of 30 and 40 when you apply to the program. Application procedures for French and American candidates vary slightly. We encourage candidates whose most significant educational and professional experiences took place in France, to apply on the French side. To apply as a French candidate, please contact Zenab Choug at zenab.choug@french-american.org.

For those whose significant educational and professional experiences took place in the United States, we recommend applying through the American selection process. To apply as an American candidate, please review the description on our website and contact the Foundation staff in New York with further questions.

If your background is neither strictly French nor American, please contact a member of the staff, and we will recommend the best approach for your application.

Selecting the Class of 2012 Young Leaders

The French and American selection committees evaluate candidates based on their potential to attain the highest level of their profession, and contribute to the enrichment of the French-American relationship. The committees aim to select Young Leaders with diverse backgrounds and experiences.

In depth knowledge of France is not a requirement for American candidates, and vice versa for French candidates. However, a perfect knowledge of English is a requirement for all candidates. The program is conducted entirely in English.