Apply for the Reciprocal Leadership Institute Now!

As part of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, the Reciprocal Leadership Institute (RLI) is an opportunity for approximately 15 U.S. MBA students to participate in a three-week intensive academic and leadership program at the University of Pretoria’s Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), an internationally-accredited business school in Johannesburg, South Africa.  The RLI is developed and implemented in collaboration with Clark Atlanta University.  Participants will take part in classroom and experiential learning activities that examine the impact of critical issues on the global economy and explore opportunities for increased collaboration between the United States and Africa.  Participants will also have the opportunity to build relationships with Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni, who will serve as guest speakers, site visit hosts, and local cultural ambassadors.

The 2025 RLI is a limited opportunity open to current MBA students enrolled at one of two current Mandela Washington Fellowship Institute Partner universities: Clark Atlanta University (CAU) and Jackson State University (JSU).  A faculty or staff member from each university will join the three-week program in South Africa, providing support for participants and building their own capacity to better support future cohorts of Mandela Washington Fellows in the United States.  After the RLI, these faculty and staff will support participants in sharing their experiences through presentations on their campuses and in their local communities. 

Fellows network at Clark Atlanta University (CAU).

The Reciprocal Leadership Institute offers the opportunity to:

  • Participate in a fully funded three-week leadership program at the University of Pretoria’s Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), an internationally-accredited business school in Johannesburg, South Africa. 
  • Gain professional and intercultural skills, experiences, and perspectives that are valued by corporate, nonprofit, and government employers in today’s global economy. 
  • Promote international exchange programs and international business opportunities with local communities. 
  • Network with Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni, who will serve as guest speakers, site visit hosts, and local cultural ambassadors.   
  • Collaborate with peers from Clark Atlanta University and Jackson State University. 
  • Join a global Alumni Network that fosters innovative solutions to common challenges.  

Application and Selection Timeline

  • January 27 – February 9, 2025: Applications Open 
  • Week of March 3, 2025: Notifications 
  • March – May 2025: Document Processing and Pre-Departure Orientation for Participants 
  • May 13 – June 7, 2025: Reciprocal Leadership Institute Dates 

What should I consider when preparing my application?

  • Demonstrated interest in U.S.-Africa business opportunities and partnerships for current or future work; 
  • Potential impact of participation on individual’s academic and career trajectory, with concrete plans to share learning outcomes with university and community groups after program completion; 
  • Clear and specific goals and motivation for participation; and 
  • Openness and interest in both the cultural and professional exchange aspects of the RLI. 

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • U.S. citizen or national; 
  • Currently residing in the United States; 
  • Not an employee or immediate family member (spouse, parent, child, or sibling) of an employee of the U.S. Government (including a U.S. embassy or consulate, USAID, or other U.S. Government entity); 
  • Current MBA student at CAU or JSU who is actively enrolled in an academic program and is expected to return to campus to continue or complete their degree program; 
    • Exceptional graduate students taking business courses and demonstrating  strong interest in the economic relationship between the United States and Africa, or related fields, may also be considered. 
  • Is not an Alumni or prior participant of the Mandela Washington Fellowship’s Reciprocal Exchange program.  

Questions? Email us at REmwf@irex.org 

The Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders is a program of the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and administered by IREX.