On March 26th, 2026, Vital Voices celebrated the graduation of the second cohort of the Vital Voices Global Fellowship. The program brought together 25 women social entrepreneurs and 26 women public leaders to engage in tailored learning and build a global network of support.
Over the course of 10 months, fellows engaged in a dynamic learning experience designed to strengthen leadership and foster collaboration across sectors. The fellowship began with joint sessions that introduced leadership frameworks, such as our Vital Voices Leadership Journey, and built a foundation for cross-pillar connection. In November, fellows convened in The Hague, Netherlands for an in-person gathering focused on deepening relationships, exchanging ideas, and strengthening collaboration. Hosted with the support of Vital Voices partners, the City of The Hague, the convening created space for meaningful engagement and shared learning. Fellows engaged with the local ecosystem through site visits, gaining firsthand insights into innovative initiatives and impact-driven organizations. Throughout the convening, fellows participated in storytelling exercises, including sharing their stories of self, and joined pillar-specific sessions to further strengthen their sector expertise.
Following the convening, fellows continued with advanced pillar-specific trainings and collaborative action sessions that emphasized peer learning, cross-sector exchange, and partnership building. Through the VV Venture pillar, fellows strengthened their ability to articulate their value proposition, refine stakeholder engagement strategies, and integrate storytelling into their ventures. Through the VV Engage pillar, fellows enhanced their leadership approaches in public spaces, strengthening skills in advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and strategic communications. Across both pillars, fellows developed the tools and relationships needed to drive impact and collaborate on solutions to shared challenges.
As a result of the program, fellows strengthened their leadership capacity, expanded their impact, and built a trusted global network rooted in collaboration. Upon graduating, they will join the Vital Voices Global Network, which has supported more than 49,000 individuals across 195 countries. We look forward to continuing to support this group of changemakers as they advance solutions to the world’s greatest challenges.
More information about the Vital Voices Global Fellowship and the cohort can be found at: https://www.vitalvoices.org/program/vital-voices-global-fellowship/.
The 2025-2026 VV Venture program would not be possible without the incredible support of FedEx.
The 2025-2026 VV Engage program would not be possible without the incredible support of Freeport-McMoRan.
About Vital Voices Global Partnership
For almost three decades, Vital Voices Global Partnership has been investing in women leaders solving the world’s greatest challenges. We are “venture catalysts,” identifying those with a bold vision for change and partnering with them to make that vision a reality. We scale and accelerate their impact through long-term investments to expand the skills, connections, capacity, and visibility of women leaders.
Vital Voices provided early support for leaders who went on to become Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, U.S. Youth Poet Laureates, prime ministers, and breakthrough social entrepreneurs. Since its founding in 1997, Vital Voices has directly supported more than 49,000 women change makers across 195 countries and built the most powerful global network of women leaders who are daring to reimagine a more equitable world for all.