May 12 - June 9, 2023
What is the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI)?
The Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) empowers entrepreneurs to strengthen their capacity to launch and advance their entrepreneurial ideas and effectively contribute to social and economic development in their communities. Since the initiative’s launch in 2015, more than 1,000 YLAI Fellows from Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada have expanded their leadership and entrepreneurial experience through fellowships at businesses and organizations across the United States. Through the YLAI Entrepreneurial Leadership Curriculum and individualized professional placements, YLAI Fellows have accelerated their commercial and social ventures’ success and developed specific action plans to implement upon return to their home countries. YLAI Fellows built networks, linkages, and lasting partnerships to attract investments and support for their entrepreneurial ventures. Program components have included:
- Four-week Professional Placement
- YLAI Entrepreneurial Leadership Curriculum
- YLAI Welcome Workshop in the United States
- YLAI Closing Forum in the United States
- Post-Fellowship Sustained Engagement
We are seeking businesses to be host organizations for YLAI fellows! Responsibilities include:
- A project for the fellow to work on.
- Dedicated workspace.
- Dedicated collaboration.
- Minimum of 2 people to support this project.
Benefits to the host organization include:
- Talented mid-career individual to work on a dedicated project for one month or longer.
- Global connections.
- Access to government grants.
- Possible international travel.
Organizations still needed for the following fellows:
- Walter, Guatemala: Textiles Simon produces Mayan women's clothes by integrating technology and artisanal processes to maintain Mayan ancestral culture and knowledge.
- Alicia, Bolivia: Banana Pack is a start-up using green manufacturing to produce packaging products from banana waste.
- David, Colombia: AI-based mentoring app for workforce development and anti-bullying in the education sector.
- Matias, Argentina: E-learning platform mentoring young people in building social enterprises and NGOs.
To learn more about YLAI or for host organization inquiries, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
