What is the Asia Leaders' Circle?

Asia Leaders' Circle is a regional leadership platform hosted by Pijar Foundation, with the support of The Rockefeller Foundation. It connects emerging leaders across Southeast Asia to exchange perspectives, address shared regional challenges, and build lasting relationships.

The Circle for Those
Shaping Asia's Future

Join the Circle

Asia’s future is shaped by those who lead today. Rooted in humility, wisdom, and collaboration, Asia Leaders’ Circle connects Southeast Asia’s emerging leaders, turning shared perspectives into collective action.

What If the People Shaping Asia's Future Sat in a Circle?

Southeast Asia’s biggest challenges cross borders. Our leadership must do the same.

The Circle will create a space where there is no head of the table, every perspective matters, and leaders learn with one another rather than stand above others. Through candid conversations, cultural exchange, and cross-border collaboration, leaders will build lasting relationships, challenge perspectives, and turn shared ideas into collective action.

These connections build a lasting regional network, turning collaboration into meaningful change across Southeast Asia.

THE FELLOWSHIP EXPERIENCE

Become a Fellow

Asia Leaders’ Circle welcomes emerging leaders in their 30s and 40s from across Southeast Asia who are already shaping change within their organisations, institutions, and communities.

We are looking for people who bring different experiences, challenge established assumptions, and demonstrate a commitment to leadership that serves a wider public good.

The fellowship brings together perspectives from a range of fields, including:

Your title does not define your leadership. The choices you make, the people you serve, and your willingness to learn from others matter just as much.

If you are ready to grow alongside leaders who see the world differently, we invite you to apply.

Join the Circle

THE FELLOWSHIP EXPERIENCE

Four Days of Immersion

The Asia Leaders’ Circle experience combines a four-day residential programme in Surakarta, Indonesia, with preparation and continued engagement beyond the residency.

BEFORE

THE RESIDENCY

Begin with Reflection

Fellows examine their leadership values, experiences, and expectations through guided self-assessment, laying the foundation for open and meaningful exchange.

DAY 1

CULTURAL IMMERSION

Discover Leadership Through Heritage

Experience the living traditions of Surakarta and explore how cultural values, responsibility, and leadership are passed from one generation to the next.

DAY 2

LEADERSHIP DIALOGUE

Learn From Experience

Engage in candid conversations with experienced leaders and fellow participants about difficult decisions, lessons learned, and the responsibilities that come with leadership.

DAY 3

REFLECTIVE VISITS

See Challenges From Different Perspectives

Step outside the meeting room to encounter real challenges faced by communities, institutions, and local changemakers. Reflect on the choices leaders make and their consequences on the ground.

DAY 4

COLLECTIVE ACTION

Turn Reflection Into Practice

Work across disciplines to examine complex regional issues, exchange ideas, and identify practical changes to bring back to your institution.

BEYOND

THE FELLOWSHIP

Stay Connected. Keep Building.

Continue learning through alumni exchanges, regional conversations, and opportunities to collaborate with peers working on challenges across Southeast Asia.

OUR GUIDING VALUES

The Wisdom We Inherit.
The Future We Shape.

Inspired by Southeast Asian philosophical traditions, Asia Leaders’ Circle is grounded in three interconnected values.

Humility

Recognising that no single person holds every answer. Humility invites us to question our assumptions, learn from others, and remain open to perspectives different from our own.

Wisdom

Leadership requires more than making difficult decisions. It asks us to understand their consequences, consider competing needs, and take responsibility for the people affected.

Collaboration

Collaboration is about building trust across differences, sharing responsibility, and working towards outcomes that no single leader or institution could achieve independently.

THE OPPORTUNITY

What Happens When Different Leaders Share the Same Table?

A Trusted

Peer Network

Build meaningful relationships with leaders across sectors, cultures, and countries.

New Ways of

Thinking

Challenge assumptions and explore approaches to leadership through different lived experiences.

Honest Leadership Conversations

Exchange perspectives on complex choices, leadership dilemmas, and the lessons that rarely make it into public speeches.

Regional

Collaboration

Discover shared challenges and build connections that could lead to future partnerships and collective action.

FAQ

About the Fellowship

Eligibility & Application

Fellowship Program & Journey

The fellowship is grounded in three interconnected values inspired by Southeast Asian philosophical traditions:Humility: Recognizing that no single person holds every answer and remaining open to different perspectives. Wisdom: Understanding the consequences of decisions, considering competing needs, and taking responsibility for affected communities. Collaboration: Building trust across differences and working toward shared outcomes.

The Next Chapter of Southeast Asia Begins Here

Be part of a circle committed to learning from one another, building trust across borders, and shaping a more inclusive future for our region.

Join the Circle

Asia Leaders’ Circle is a regional leadership platform hosted by Pijar Foundation, with the support of The Rockefeller Foundation, connecting emerging leaders across Southeast Asia to address shared challenges.

Email:

[email protected]

Phone:

+62 878 - 7713 - 3429

The Circle for Those Shaping Asia's Future

Asia’s future is shaped by those who lead today. Rooted in humility, wisdom, and collaboration, Asia Leaders’ Circle connects Southeast Asia’s emerging leaders, turning shared perspectives into collective action.

What If the People Shaping Asia's Future Sat in a Circle?

FAQ

What is the Asia Leaders' Circle?

What are the core values of the fellowship?

The Circle for Those
Shaping Asia's Future