Leading for Humanity 2027 Cohort

Nominations are open for the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation Leading for Humanity 2027 Cohort, an immersive leadership programme designed to nurture courageous leaders committed to truth, justice, reconciliation and societal repair. The programme draws inspiration from the values and moral courage of Archbishop Desmond Tutu and creates a space for participants to reflect, engage in courageous conversations and strengthen their ability to lead meaningful change.

Leading for Humanity is an eight day residential programme that brings together leaders from different backgrounds, sectors and life experiences. Through peer exchange, personal reflection and facilitated conversations, participants explore questions around leadership, compassion, forgiveness, Ubuntu, purpose and societal repair.

The 2027 residential programme will take place in April 2027 in Cape Town and Hermanus, South Africa. Full participation is required because the programme is designed as an intensive and immersive experience.

About the Programme

The Leading for Humanity programme is a flagship initiative of the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation. The Foundation works to preserve and carry forward the legacy of Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Leah Tutu by supporting courageous voices and leadership grounded in human dignity, justice and social transformation.

The programme provides participants with an opportunity to step away from their normal environments and engage deeply with themselves and others. It encourages leaders to examine their values, experiences, relationships and approaches to difficult social challenges.

A central idea of the programme is that societal repair can be connected to personal repair. Participants therefore explore how self awareness, compassion, courage and personal growth can influence the way they lead within their communities and organisations.

Programme Benefits

• Participation in an eight day residential leadership programme.

• Programme costs covered by the Foundation.

• Accommodation covered during the programme.

• Meals covered during the residential experience.

• Opportunity to connect with a diverse community of leaders and change makers.

• Space for personal reflection and leadership development.

• Opportunity to explore courageous and values based leadership.

• Deeper engagement with Ubuntu and compassionate leadership.

• Opportunity to examine personal and societal repair.

• Participation in courageous and challenging conversations.

• Opportunity to strengthen personal purpose and leadership direction.

• Connection to a lifelong community of purpose.

• Opportunity to develop the courage to lead from wherever you are.

Participants or their sponsors are responsible for travel to and from South Africa.

Eligibility Criteria

The programme welcomes nominations of individuals who demonstrate:

• Leadership potential and courage.

• Commitment to truth, human rights and justice.

• Willingness to engage deeply with themselves and others.

• Commitment to societal repair.

• Readiness to participate in vulnerable and challenging conversations.

• Openness to learning from people with different backgrounds and experiences.

• Ability to commit fully to an intensive residential programme.

• Interest in values based and compassionate leadership.

• South African or international background.

• Ability to travel to Cape Town and Hermanus, South Africa.

• Ability to participate fully throughout the residential programme.

The programme does not specify a particular academic qualification, profession or age requirement. Leaders from different sectors and life experiences are encouraged to be nominated.

Who Can Nominate

Both self nominations and nominations by other people are accepted.

• Individuals can nominate themselves.

• Colleagues can nominate leaders they work with.

• Mentors can nominate people they support.

• Employers can nominate members of their organisations.

• Community members can nominate individuals making a positive contribution.

Nominations should clearly demonstrate why the individual embodies courageous leadership and how they could contribute to and benefit from the programme.

Required Nomination Information

Applicants and nominators should prepare information that demonstrates the nominee's leadership experience, values and potential contribution.

• Motivation explaining why the nominee embodies courageous leadership.

• Explanation of how the nominee would contribute to the programme.

• Explanation of how the nominee would benefit from participation.

• Nominee's contact details.

• Brief biography.

• Curriculum vitae where available.

• Reference letters where available.

• Supporting materials demonstrating leadership, courage, social impact or commitment to societal repair.

The motivation should provide specific examples of the nominee's leadership and explain how their experience connects with the purpose of Leading for Humanity.

How to Apply

1. Review the Leading for Humanity 2027 programme and its nomination requirements.
2. Decide whether you will submit a self nomination or nominate another individual.
3. Prepare a motivation explaining why the nominee demonstrates courageous leadership.
4. Provide concrete examples of the nominee's commitment to truth, justice, human rights or societal repair.
5. Explain how the nominee could contribute to the Leading for Humanity community.
6. Explain how participation could support the nominee's personal and leadership development.
7. Prepare the nominee's contact details and brief biography.
8. Attach supporting materials such as a CV and reference letters where available.
9. Submit the nomination by email to shanti@tutu.org.za.
10. Use the subject line Leading for Humanity nomination: 2027 cohort.
11. Submit the complete nomination before October 14, 2026.
12. If shortlisted, participate in the interview process and provide any additional information requested by the Foundation.