About the Fellowship Program:
The Council of Women World Leaders (CWWL) is pleased to re-launch its highly acclaimed Student Fellowship Program in collaboration with Columbia University. The program offers graduate students the unique opportunity to work directly with women leaders of stature and influence, and to learn first-hand, the substance of gender issues addressed in the work. To this date, the Council has administered this successful and unique program for more than ten years, placing over 180 graduate students in the offices of Council members, ministers, and international organizations around the world. The Fellowship program is under the leadership of Patricia Deyton, Senior Advisor for CWWL.
During the 2021-2022 period, three graduate students were placed in Fellowships over the summer months. Fellowships were hosted by the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership in London, which is chaired by H.E. Julia Gillard, at the Club of Madrid in Spain, and at The Yellow House in Copenhagen, a women-led global public health consulting group working closely with GAVI, UNICEF, and the WHO.
The Council welcomes inquiries from other universities about participation in the Fellowship Program. For any universities interested, please contact council@unfoundation.org to inquire about the requirements for participation.
During the 2021-2022 period, three graduate students were placed in Fellowships over the summer months. Fellowships were hosted by the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership in London, which is chaired by H.E. Julia Gillard, at the Club of Madrid in Spain, and at The Yellow House in Copenhagen, a women-led global public health consulting group working closely with GAVI, UNICEF, and the WHO.
The Council welcomes inquiries from other universities about participation in the Fellowship Program. For any universities interested, please contact council@unfoundation.org to inquire about the requirements for participation.
View our Previous Placement Sites:
Hear from Past Fellows:
"I have always hoped the day would come where I could combine my expertise in leading nonprofits, mobilizing communities, and enhancing the leadership and visibility of women with my competence and passion for international policy, particularly associated with transforming and supporting the development of capacities in women to create a balanced world that operates on the principles of representation, collaboration and full economic and political participation. My experience as a Graduate Fellow with the Council of World Women Leaders propelled me forward towards making this transformation."
- Elizabeth Gillette (Fellow at the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership, 2021)
“I know that after my experience working with CWWL and CdM that women’s rights will become a prominent area of focus in my future studies and work, and my perspective can contribute to solving issues that affect people of all genders. For example, I am very interested in migrant and refugee health, and I can tailor that to advocate for access to maternal and reproductive health, which is a women’s health issue, but contributes to the well-being of the larger community.”
- Anjali Nair (Fellow at Club de Madrid, 2021)
“Overall, my time as a Council of Women World Leaders Fellow was a great experience. I really enjoyed getting exposure to the health consulting field and seeing how much collaboration and interaction was involved, something that has influenced my consideration of possible career options in the future. I learned a lot through the background research and conversations that I conducted in preparing the deliverable that I worked on, and I fully intend on finding ways to introduce and integrate justice-focused initiatives into my academic and professional work moving forward.”
- Meghana Atre (Fellow at The Yellow House, 2021)
"The opportunity to shadow the President of Malta in the summer of 2018 was an unparalleled, life-changing experience. My time working with the Office of the President developed my global awareness, cross-cultural competency, and outlook on potential career paths. President Coleiro Preca focused her term on children’s issue, promoting wellbeing in society, welcoming people from all walks of life who seek to make a home out of Malta, and much more. It was amazing to see how committed her team was to furthering those causes and ensuring that every day, every event, and every duty went smoothly and flawlessly. The team’s pride in their work came as a result of the President’s impressive leadership skills and appreciation for all those who share her vision."
- Natasha Cox (Fellow under the leadership of Council member Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, President of Malta 2018)
"It was a wonderful experience to have the opportunity to work with Laura Deal, Head of the Women Leaders Programme, as well as to meet Saadia Zahidi, co-author of the Global Gender Gap Report. During my fellowship, I researched on women in global leadership positions and learned about topics impacting women's professional advancement, like the “glass ceiling”. My time at the World Economic Forum helped me fully appreciate the importance of continuously investing in girls’ education in order to improve societies and the health and wellbeing of future generations."
- Alejandra Viloria (Fellow at the World Economic Forum)
- Elizabeth Gillette (Fellow at the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership, 2021)
“I know that after my experience working with CWWL and CdM that women’s rights will become a prominent area of focus in my future studies and work, and my perspective can contribute to solving issues that affect people of all genders. For example, I am very interested in migrant and refugee health, and I can tailor that to advocate for access to maternal and reproductive health, which is a women’s health issue, but contributes to the well-being of the larger community.”
- Anjali Nair (Fellow at Club de Madrid, 2021)
“Overall, my time as a Council of Women World Leaders Fellow was a great experience. I really enjoyed getting exposure to the health consulting field and seeing how much collaboration and interaction was involved, something that has influenced my consideration of possible career options in the future. I learned a lot through the background research and conversations that I conducted in preparing the deliverable that I worked on, and I fully intend on finding ways to introduce and integrate justice-focused initiatives into my academic and professional work moving forward.”
- Meghana Atre (Fellow at The Yellow House, 2021)
"The opportunity to shadow the President of Malta in the summer of 2018 was an unparalleled, life-changing experience. My time working with the Office of the President developed my global awareness, cross-cultural competency, and outlook on potential career paths. President Coleiro Preca focused her term on children’s issue, promoting wellbeing in society, welcoming people from all walks of life who seek to make a home out of Malta, and much more. It was amazing to see how committed her team was to furthering those causes and ensuring that every day, every event, and every duty went smoothly and flawlessly. The team’s pride in their work came as a result of the President’s impressive leadership skills and appreciation for all those who share her vision."
- Natasha Cox (Fellow under the leadership of Council member Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, President of Malta 2018)
"It was a wonderful experience to have the opportunity to work with Laura Deal, Head of the Women Leaders Programme, as well as to meet Saadia Zahidi, co-author of the Global Gender Gap Report. During my fellowship, I researched on women in global leadership positions and learned about topics impacting women's professional advancement, like the “glass ceiling”. My time at the World Economic Forum helped me fully appreciate the importance of continuously investing in girls’ education in order to improve societies and the health and wellbeing of future generations."
- Alejandra Viloria (Fellow at the World Economic Forum)