17 March 2025
Application submissions open
Mid Career Fellowship
Mid Career Fellowship
No challenge in today’s society stands in isolation. The interconnected nature of our world means that a global pandemic influences the world-wide supply chain. Climate change impacts economic growth and decline. Digital divides contribute to societal unrest, and societal unrest leads to digital divides.
Anticipating, adapting to and embracing change brought on by technological advancement requires far greater understanding of the myriad of interconnected forces that shape our societies and economies.
The Mid Career Fellowship provides today’s leaders with the know-how to navigate volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA), knowing that their purpose, livelihood, and organizational goals are influenced or impacted by the Internet.
About the Program
The Mid Career Fellowship is a unique opportunity that offers 15 Fellows unparalleled access to world-class educational institutions and experts in a seven-month program, from June through December. It equips global mid career Internet champions with the knowledge, skills, and tools to enable inclusive, innovative, holistic, and strategic leadership.
The fellows work throughout five modules which have live lectures and assessments, and culminate in a symposium to showcase the work they’ve completed. The program also includes seminars on trends, such as digital geopolitics, leadership in VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity) environments, and advocacy and communications, practical case studies and cross-sector networking.
The core content areas covered are: the Internet Critical Properties and Enablers, Digital Transformation and Key Internet Issues, Digital Futures and Strategic Foresight, Systems and Design Thinking, and Leadership and Decision-making.
Who Is Eligible to Apply?
Candidates must be mid career professionals in leadership roles, working in the Internet ecosystem in a technical, policy, economic, or social capacity. They are welcome to apply if they:
- Have at least 10 years of relevant experience, including leading or managing teams and/or projects, in the Internet space in a technical, policy, economic, societal, or other capacity.
- Currently work in a position/organization that is addressing digital challenges or facing digital disruption and transformation.
- Want to solve problems, work in multi-stakeholder and multi-disciplinary teams, and acquire new knowledge and skills.
- Want to ensure that the Internet remains open, globally connected, secure, and trustworthy.
In addition, candidates must:
- Have reliable access to broadband Internet connection and relevant devices.
- Be able to fully participate in the seven-month experience which requires a commitment of approximately six hours a week.
- Have a proficiency level in verbal and written English.
How to Become a Fellow
Candidates must complete an online application form.
Candidates are reviewed confidentially through a multi-step evaluation process by the selection committee. The committee attempts to achieve professional, geographical, and gender diversity in the overall selection.
Key Dates
11 April 2025
Application submissions close
April – May 2025
Fellows selection
End of May 2025
Program kick-off
December 2025
What Alumni Say About the Mid Career Fellowship
Completing the seven-month Mid Career Fellowship with the Internet Society has been transformative for both my life and career. […] The fellowship’s emphasis on inclusive, innovative, holistic, and strategic leadership has fortified my ability to anticipate and adapt to change. As a Mid Career Fellow, I now stand better prepared to address the complexities of our interconnected world, armed with the tools necessary for effective decision-making and impactful leadership in the digital age.”
The Mid Career Fellowship program is a transformative, applied learning experience for technologists and technology enthusiasts. The opportunity to learn with and from fellow colleagues working in different geographies and across diverse disciplines was invaluable and directly applicable to my full-time work in EdTech. […] I’d highly recommend this program to develop leadership skills and knowledge of new technologies, reinvigorate your current career, and build a foundation for future work.”
2024 Program Partners
Disclaimer: The Internet Society reserves the sole right to decide if an applicant proposal meets the eligibility requirements.
Image credit: ©Frederic Courbet/Panos Pictures