What's it about? 

Are you considering applying for the Future Leaders Programme? Want to know a bit more about it before you take the leap?

Being part of the programme is a leadership challenge in itself. Your ideas about leadership will be broadened, challenged and turned on their head.

Unlike most leadership development programmes, this  is not a prescriptive environment - we don't tell you what to think. You will not be regurgitating leadership ideas that have been presented to you. Instead, you will be encouraged to question, challenge and debate everything you hear and everything you believe to be true about leadership.

The Future Leaders Programme will help you to make an impact in the areas you are passionate about, by encouraging active learning through participation. You don't have to be a genius or a star-performer to be a suitable candidate for the next Future Leaders Programme - but you do have to want to make a difference.  

What is unique about the programme?

The programme requires that you participate in a process of finding your own innate leadership identity and style. Some key elements of the Future Leaders Programme include:

• The Future Leaders participants come from across the country, from different sectors and with widely varying perspectives about leadership. Because of this diversity, participants learn from very different spheres and perspectives, and develop a more holistic picture of leadership in New Zealand. 
• The Future Leaders Programme is driven with a three-pronged learning approach, incorporating online, peer group learning, and residential workshops.
• Participants will build a sense of what is possible - that extends beyond positional leadership, developing a sense of empowerment and ability to influence.
• Participants' everyday life experiences will become a primary source of learning within the programme, enabling real development rather than theoretical training. 
• Participants become focussed on making an impact beyond themselves through leadership. Accountability in leadership is considered and enacted, with the last stage of the programme being focussed strongly on leadership action to create organisational and community impact.

Why do we have a Future Leaders Programme?

Excelerator's overall purpose is to enhance the understanding of leadership, and ensure that the leaders of tomorrow have the necessary mindset to guide our organisations and communities forward.

Excelerator is committed to nurturing the development of young, emerging leaders - those who hold the key to the future success of our country. We have focussed on this population as we see that often this a time in young people's lives where they do not get much support to develop their aspirations and how they are making an impact.

There are numerous existing initiatives which focus on leadership development at the two ends of the spectrum; for much younger people or senior leaders. However this stage of young peoples' lives is critical for them to learn about themselves, their relationships, and future possibilities for themselves and those around them.     

When is the next Future Leaders Programme

The next Future Leaders Programme is scheduled to begin in 2012.

Participants:

Applications are not yet open for the 2012 cohort, however we invite you to register your interest for this programme and we will keep in touch regarding progress.

Sponsors:

We are always looking for fresh ways to support places on our leadership development programmes. We welcome your interest in supporting the Future Leaders programme scheduled to begin in 2012.  Find out more...

Past Future Leader Programmes:

Our inaugural 18-month Future Leaders Programme started in March 2005 with 60 young people from throughout the country. Each drew from the experience a unique perspective on leadership, and have gone on to achieve some amazing things for their communities, organisations and the country as a whole. Find out more about the 2005 Future Leaders participants.

Our second Future Leaders Programme began in April 2007 with 24 aspiring young people from across the country. Learn more about this group and their experience.

Congratulations to the recent graduates of our third Future Leaders Programme, which was launched in Auckland on the 16th July 2009. 30 emerging leaders involved in a variety of sectors celebrated the successful completion of their 18-month programme in December 2010.

"Nothing is black and white. If you thought leadership had a manual and developing it was as easy as reading it - then think again. It's up to you whether you take or leave anything presented to you and how you use it to develop your leadership skills". - Alice van den Hout

"It is unsettling and reassuring at the same time. You begin to question your assumptions that you hold, and how you interact with the people around you. It is empowering in that you are helping to steer the direction you are taking. It is the start of a life long path for better relationships and greater capacity".  Carl Chenery (graduate)