Applications Invited for Western Union Global Fellowship Program

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About the Organization

We believe in the power of local leaders to solve the toughest social, economic, and environmental challenges facing communities.

We do this by partnering with leading corporations and foundations to leverage everything they bring to the table—financial resources, the power of their brand, and the expertise of their teams—plus Watson Institute’s proven model and global network, built and refined since 2013, to accelerate the impact of the most promising local entrepreneurs and leaders.

Watson Institute is committed to helping everyone lead careers of purpose, meaning, and impact. In addition to supporting the most promising rising entrepreneurs and leaders through the Impact Fellowships, we run two programs designed to help rising leaders advance their careers to power forward this broader vision.

About the Fellowship

The Western Union Global Fellowship Program is a fully-funded Impact Fellowship, empowering individuals supporting or hailing from refugee, highly-marginalized, or forcibly displaced communities around the globe. Through this experience, Fellows will gain essential skills, resources, and networks to scale their ventures and accelerate their impact.

This program is fully-funded through the generous support of Western Union.

Key Dates:

• Program: August 25–December 16, 2025
• Immersive: 2-week virtual Immersive Experience, starting August 25, 2025, with daily sessions from 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM MT
• Virtual Summit: December 16, 2025

What You Will Receive:

Through this fully-funded Fellowship, supported by Western Union and powered by Watson Institute, you’ll gain the tools, mentorship, and network needed to scale your venture’s impact. The Fellowship is specifically optimized for entrepreneurs and leaders from marginalized, refugee, and forcibly displaced communities worldwide, with carefully selected facilitators, mentors, and speakers who bring deep expertise in driving meaningful change within these communities.

• Pitch Development & Professional Recording: Refine how you communicate your venture’s impact and vision to stakeholders; Create a professionally recorded pitch video you can use beyond the Fellowship; Master the art of engaging and persuading key audiences.
• Skill Enhancement & Leadership Growth: Develop essential skills through hands-on workshops focused on strategic planning, venture development, and problem-solving; Build resilience and adaptability for the entrepreneurial journey; Learn to effectively lead and scale an impact-driven organization.
• Mentorship & Expert Guidance: Receive one-on-one guidance from experienced mentors and industry professionals; Participate in group mentorship circles for collaborative learning; Work directly with an Entrepreneur in Residence who supports your venture’s growth.
• Community & Network Expansion; Join a dynamic community of impact-driven entrepreneurs and changemakers; Connect with Fellows, Alumni, and experts who share your commitment to social impact; Build lasting relationships that extend beyond the Fellowship.
• Visibility & Collaboration: Share your work through Watson Institute summits and events; Connect with mission-aligned leaders, funders, and industry influencers; Position yourself as a thought leader in social impact.
• Real-World Experience Through Basecamp: Design and lead a Basecamp community event with provided training and resources; Put your leadership skills into action through hands-on experience; Receive a stipend to support your community initiative.

Who Should Apply

• Fellow Profile: You have experienced the challenges of marginalized, refugee, or displaced communities and are actively working to address issues for these populations.
• Venture Stage: Your nonprofit or for-profit organization has an established business model and is actively serving customers or beneficiaries in historically underserved communities. You’re now ready to scale your impact with the support of dedicated mentorship and resources.
• Location & Eligibility: Applicants located in and/or creating impact in the following locations are encouraged to apply:
• Costa Rica, Argentina, Lithuania, the Philippines, the United States, Brazil, Uganda, Nigeria, the United Kingdom, India, Bangladesh, Mexico, Germany, Colombia, Japan, and Pakistan.

How to Apply

• Submit Your Application: Candidates complete the online application in approximately 30 minutes. Submit by the priority deadline of July 1st, 2025, for early consideration. Applications will continue to be reviewed on a rolling basis until all spots are filled.
• Application Review: Our Admissions Committee evaluates applications to identify entrepreneurs with scalable ventures and strong potential for impact. Early applicants receive priority consideration.
• Interview Selected candidates will be invited to a 20-minute Zoom interview to share their entrepreneurial journey, discuss their venture’s vision for growth, and explore how the Fellowship aligns with their goals.
• Final Selection & Enrollment Final decisions will be announced by July 25th, 2025. Accepted applicants must confirm their enrollment to secure their spot. The program begins on August 25, 2025.

Start Your Application

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Tags Entrepreneurship Skill Development Leadership Others