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The Public Leadership Initiative

The decisions made today will shape the world for decades. We prepare the people who make them.

Great public leadership doesn't happen by accident. It requires rigorous training, exposure to those who have governed, and the conviction that institutions can be better. That is what this initiative exists to build.

The Public Leadership Initiative is an initiative of IE School of Politics, Economics and Global Affairs, built on the conviction that rigorous preparation and direct exposure to those who have led in the public sphere are what distinguish leaders who make a lasting difference. Through academic programs, distinguished fellows, youth leadership programs, research, scholarships, and an annual recognition, it works toward one goal: stronger institutions, better governance, and leaders committed to the public good.

The Initiative at a Glance​

  • PROGRAMSTraining for current and future public leaders, from undergraduate through senior executive level.
  • Distinguished Fellows & Leadership VisitsFormer prime ministers, European commissioners, heads of multilateral organizations, civil society mobilizers, and corporate visionaries, in direct dialogue with our students.
  • Youth Leadership AcademyNext-generation programs and transformational experiences designed to build civic commitment early and sustain it long-term.
  • Research & Case StudiesRigorous research and applied case studies that advance knowledge on public leadership and give practitioners evidence-based tools.
  • Scholarships & AwardsFinancial support for emerging leaders committed to public service. Talent and civic vocation should not be limited by access to opportunity.
  • Public Leadership AwardAnnual recognition of individuals and institutions embodying visionary leadership, integrity, and measurable impact in public life.

Programs

How we build public leaders.

    Programs with Global Partners

    • Workshop on Global Order: Leadership for Times of Change

      Partnership - Yale Jackson School

      A joint program with the Yale Jackson School of Public Policy on leadership in a shifting geopolitical landscape.

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    • The Nelson Mandela Project for Social Change

      Partnership - UN System Staff College

      Developed in collaboration with UNSSC, the Nelson Mandela Foundation and six other universities, it aims to train changemakers and leaders for social change through various programmes and activities.

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    Distinguished fellows

    Those who have led in the public sphere, teaching those who will.

    Our Distinguished Fellows are former heads of state, European commissioners and heads of multilateral organizations who engage with students not as guest speakers, but as working members of the academic community. Their presence gives students direct access to people who have actually governed, negotiated, and made decisions under pressure. Something no curriculum can replicate.

    • 40+
      High-level visits per year
    • 2,000+
      Leaders trained
    • 17
      Programs and initiatives

    Leadership visits

    Influential leaders walk through our doors regularly. We make sure students are in the room.

    Ministers, high-ranking government officials, ambassadors, diplomats, EU commissioners, global city mayors, UN officials, and civil society leaders visit throughout the academic year. Through seminars, open dialogues, and visiting engagements, students gain direct exposure to leadership in action and to the real texture of public decision-making.

    • Ministers and high-ranking government officials.
    • EU Commissioners.
    • Ambassadors & Diplomats.
    • City mayors and urban policy-makers
    • Officials from multilateral bodies and the UN.
    • Civil Society leaders.
    • A panel discussion featuring Maria Jose Pinto, the Vice President of Ecuador, at an event with national flags in the background.
    • A live virtual conference session taking place in a modern classroom with a large screen showing a remote participant.
    • Two men are engaged in a conversation in an office setting with a modern backdrop.
    • A panel discussion on European power strategy and global partnerships.
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    A presentation is taking place in a modern conference room with a group of people seated and attentively listening.

    Youth Leadership Academy

    The next generation of public leaders.

    The Youth Leadership Academy develops these leaders through immersive experiences, mentorship, and direct engagement with the people and institutions that shape the world, before they graduate, before they govern.

    Public Leadership Credential: Governance, diplomacy, and policy for master's students

    A structured program for master's students building the foundations of public leadership. Students complete a series of workshops across one of three thematic areas: Leadership & Management Skills, Diplomacy & Negotiation Skills, and Policy-Making Skills. These workshops feature distinguished figures who share their expertise.

    Past contributors include:

    • A professional-looking older man with gray hair wearing a suit and tie.

      Alberto Navarro González

      Former Secretary of State for the European Union of the Government of Spain.

    • A smiling woman wearing a pink blazer.

      Miriam Medel

      Former Chief of Global Policy Advocacy. UN Convention to Combat Desertification.

    • A middle-aged man with a beard is smiling in front of a blurred background featuring groups of people.

      José María Vera

      Former Director OXFAM International.

    • A man in a suit is speaking at a conference while holding a small device.

      Bjorn Beam

      Former Operations Officer & Economist, Presidential Daily Briefing Staff, CIA.

    • A woman with wavy hair wearing a blue sweater, smiling gently at the camera.

      Sofia Sprechmann Sineiro

      Former Secretary general CARE international.

    Research in the service of better governance

    Scholarships & Awards: Supporting and recognizing those who lead

    The initiative promotes scholarships & awards for students committed to public service and civic leadership, supporting emerging leaders who demonstrate academic excellence, integrity, and a genuine vocation for impact.

      A discussion featuring speakers on stage at a university event.

      Public leadership award

      A standard worth recognizing.

      The Public Leadership Award recognizes individuals and institutions embodying visionary leadership, integrity, and measurable impact in addressing today's most pressing challenges.
      Because how you lead matters as much as what you achieve.

      Awarded to those who demonstrate:

      • Visionary leadership
        Individuals and institutions who think boldly about the future and inspire others to act.
      • Unwavering integrity
        Leaders who uphold ethical principles even when facing difficult choices.
      • Measurable impact
        Celebrating tangible results that improve lives and strengthen communities.

        This initiative is led by

      • Enrico letta
        Chair

        Dean of IE School of Politics, Economics and Global Affairs.
        Former Prime Minister of Italy.

        Full profile
      • Borja Santos
        Co-Chair

        Vice Dean, IE School of Politics, Economics and Global Affairs.

        FULL PROFILE
      • A man in a suit and tie smiling at the camera with trees in the background.
        Manuel Muñiz
        Global Order: Leadership for Times of Change

        Rector of IE University.

        FULL PROFILE
      • A person stands smiling in a colorful temple adorned with intricate paintings.
        Edurne Pasabán
        Transformational Leadership Journey

        World-renowned alpinist and the first woman to climb the world's 14 highest mountains.

        Full profile
      • A man in a suit smiles in front of flags.
        Santiago Cabanas
        The Diplomatic Academy

        Former Spanish Ambassador to the United States, the Czech Republic, and Jordan.

        Full profile
      • Amanda Sloat
        Amanda Sloat
        Power & Purpose Podcast

        Special Assistant to the President in the Biden Administration and Senior Director for Europe at the National Security Council.Founder, Power & Purpose Podcast.

        Full profile
      • A smiling woman with short hair wearing a red sleeveless top poses in front of a light gray background.
        Margarita Mayo
        Research

        Award-winning leadership expert, bestselling author, and influential professor recognized globally for her research, teaching excellence, and thought leadership.

        Full profile
      • Ivan Stola
        Iván Stola
        Master in Public Policy

        International advisor and public policy expert with over 20 years of experience.
        Academic Director of the Master in Public Policy.

        Full profile
      • A woman with long hair is smiling and standing with her arms crossed against a dark background.
        Simona Costanzo
        UN System Staff College

        Chief, Academic Partnerships, UN System Staff College

        Full profile

      FAQs: What people ask about the Public Leadership Initiative

      • The Public Leadership Initiative is an initiative of IE School of Politics, Economics and Global Affairs, based in Madrid, Spain. It trains current and future public leaders through academic degrees, executive education, distinguished fellowship programs, youth academies, applied research, and scholarships.

      • The initiative is chaired by Enrico Letta, former Prime Minister of Italy and former President of the European Council. The Distinguished Fellows include former European Commission President José Manuel Barroso, former EU Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni, former EU Commissioner Cecilia Malmström, and former Colombian President Iván Duque.

      • The initiative offers a Master in Public Policy, a Bachelor in Political Science, and an executive Public Leadership Program for senior officials, as well as joint programs with the Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs and the UN System Staff College through the Mandela Project for Social Impact.

      • Yes. The initiative administers several scholarships including the Young Talented Leaders Program, the Dallé Family Scholarships for Misongi Scholars (Cameroon), the Valentín Diez Morodo Scholarship Fund (Mexico), the Kistefos Young Talented Leaders Scholarships (Africa and Norway), and the IE-Princess of Girona Foundation Scholarship (Spain and Latin America).