LEAP – Leadership Education in Bulgaria Program
The Leadership Education in America Program (LEAP) provides hands-on training in the United States for Bulgarian professionals from the public, private, and civic sectors. LEAP aims to support the potential of active Bulgarians in early and mid-career with ideas and determination to improve the communities in which they live and make a positive difference in Bulgaria.
You don’t have to be an executive or manager to be a leader. Leadership is not an innate quality reserved for the few; it’s about creating and sustaining lasting improvement in the world around you – for yourself, your community, and Bulgaria.
This program is designed to help participants develop essential leadership skills and unlock their potential to communicate ideas effectively, inspire others, and rally support around a vision for the greater good. LEAP also aims to foster a culture of mutual respect and collaboration.
LEAP includes a study program at Babson College in Boston, Massachusetts, as well as a cultural immersion in New York, New York. It is open to candidates with Bulgarian citizenship, a college degree, born in 1986 or later, and who are 18 years of age or older.
To the official LEAP website: www.leap.bg
LEAP is a leadership training program developed and funded by the America for Bulgaria Foundation, managed by the Association of the Bulgarian Leaders and Entrepreneurs and hosted at Babson College.
The Association of Bulgarian Leaders and Entrepreneurs (ABLE) is a vibrant community of young professionals who are changing the world wherever they go. Our goal is to develop an active civil society, inspire leadership, and foster an entrepreneurial culture in Bulgaria. Through our programs, we develop entrepreneurial and leadership thinking and help people grow.
Completing the LEAP program qualifies you to join ABLE.
The America for Bulgaria Foundation (ABF) is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonpolitical U.S. grant-making foundation that works in partnership with Bulgarians to strengthen the country’s private sector and its associated democratic institutions. ABF began operations in Bulgaria in 2009. Its four key priorities are: business, entrepreneurship and technology; human capital development and retention; business-friendly environment; cultural heritage and natural tourism.
Babson College is a leading American educational institution located in Boston, Massachusetts. Since its founding more than a century ago, Babson College has been a pioneer in the field of entrepreneurship and leadership education and has instilled in its students an entrepreneurial mindset – the most powerful force for creating economic and social change. For more than 30 years, Babson has held the number one spot in the U.S. News and World Report rankings for entrepreneurship education, for both undergraduate and graduate programs. In September 2024, Babson was named the second best college in the United States by The Wall Street Journal. Babson has also achieved significant success in its executive education programs, both domestically and internationally.
ABLE has partnered with two Bulgarian organizations to expand the program’s reach: the Bulgarian Center for Nonprofit Law (BCNL) and the Institute for Market Economics (IME) will support outreach efforts and assist with the selection process.
Find out all about the eligibility criteria, upcoming editions, and the application process at www.leap.bg.