The United States’ Presidential Precinct has launched its Corporate Leaders Program, a high-level, short-term accelerator designed to propel African CEOs and executives to the next stage of global success.
The initiative seeks to empower African CEOs, both those based on the continent and those in the diaspora, with elite training and strategic international connections.
This intensive program aims to foster courageous leadership and help participants redefine their professional missions.
By creating a platform for collaboration, organizers hope to build a community of forward-thinking alumni who can tackle pressing local and global issues together.
The program is made possible through a partnership with the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business and a generous gift from John Olajide, the founder of Axxess.
This collaboration combines world-class academic expertise with the practical insights of top-tier corporate leaders.
Funding and benefits
The accelerator is a fully funded program, covering airfare, lodging, a meal plan, and all specialized programming for its primary duration.
This financial support ensures that 15 selected leaders can focus entirely on their professional growth and networking without overhead concerns.
Participants will attend a custom master class at UVA’s Darden School, ranked as the world’s top global public business school, covering topics like Business Effectuation and Relational Acumen.
The itinerary also includes exclusive, invitation-only sessions with the World Bank in Washington, D.C., to explore pathways to financing.
As a significant bonus, participanting African CEOs will attend the U.S.-Africa Business Summit in July 2026, held in Mauritius.
While the program facilitates B2B and B2G networking at the summit, participants are responsible for their own airfare to and from this specific event.
Application requirements and eligibility
The search is limited to 15 African CEOs of small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that have been in operation for at least two years.
Eligible businesses must employ between 50 and 200 people and have generated a minimum of $1.5 million USD in annual revenue in 2025.
Candidates must also demonstrate a significant economic footprint, with $15–20 million USD invested in bilateral trade or investment within African countries. International applicants must be proficient in English and possess a valid visa for travel to the United States.
Beyond financial metrics, the Presidential Precinct is looking for leaders with a proven commitment to community service or mentoring.
The ideal applicant is a “forward-thinking” leader with a deep passion for addressing systemic challenges in their home communities.
Deadline
According to the sources, applications are currently open for the upcoming cohort scheduled to run from April 18–25, 2026.
While a specific calendar cut-off for submissions is not listed in the provided material, interested leaders are encouraged to start their applications immediately to secure one of the 15 available slots.
Visit the African CEOs application call page to apply. Explore our global opportunities page for more.
Summary not available at this time.
