In this sophomore season, Leadership in Action goes inside the minds of skilled negotiators and practitioners, as they attempt to solve some of the world’s most intractable challenges. This trio of episodes begins with the story behind how the United Nations managed to contain the 2014 Ebola epidemic in West Africa. From there, we’ll turn the clock back to 1997, as the British government hands over of Hong Kong to the People’s Republic of China. The season will wrap up by peeling back the curtain on the 2015 negotiations with Iran to curb its nuclear weapons program.

The Bertelsmann Foundation Fellowship (BFF), formerly known as the Congressional European Parliamentary Initiative (CEPI), offers a unique transatlantic hybrid experience spanning five months, designed to foster connections, knowledge transfer, and learning. Each year, the fellowship delves into global challenges confronting the transatlantic alliance. Commencing with an in-person trip to Washington, D.C., fellows then embark on a three-month virtual program, meeting weekly with experts relevant to the year's theme. The fellowship culminates with a visit to Brussels facilitating further in-person engagement. At the program's conclusion, fellows collaborate on a final publication presenting concrete policy recommendations pertaining to the chosen topic, released as an outcome of the BFF initiative. Fellows then also become a part of a larger, active Alumni network- finding opportunities to engage with the Bertelsmann Foundation Fellowship beyond their fellowship year.

In Summer 2023, the Bertelsmann Foundation will host its second annual Summer Enrichment Series. During the months of June, July, and August, selected students and recent graduates will be invited to attend a complimentary, in-person dinner and roundtable conversation each month at its office in Washington, DC. This year’s thematic focus will center around the past, present, and future of the transatlantic relationship.