Global First Ladies Academy
Despite the role First Ladies play in enabling change, few receive the training, network, and resources they need to do so successfully. The Global First Ladies Academy was created to address this need. The Academy - a four-day certified executive leadership training in health and development - is provided annually in partnership with Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.
To learn more about the 2025 Global First Ladies Academy, please email hello@gfla.org
2024 Academy
In 2024, GFLA hosted its Second Annual Global First Ladies Academy in partnership with the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, with support from our sponsoring and presenting partners, including the Ford Foundation, GE HealthCare Foundation, Merck, PepsiCo Foundation, Prosper Africa, and the Rockefeller Foundation.
The Academy convened participants from across several regional networks, including the Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD), the Alliance of Spouses of Heads of State and Representatives of Latin America (ALMA), the Spouses of CARICOM Leaders Action Network (SCLAN), and the Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen (European network). We are grateful for our growing community and honored to be joined by 14 First Ladies and over 20 Senior Advisors from 17 countries.
❝
There is no other forum like this in the world. I am so sorry I was not able to join this when I first became First Lady. It would've accelerated my work so much.
— Shared by a First Lady during the Academy
❝
There is no other forum like this in the world. I am so sorry I was not able to join this when I first became First Lady. It would've accelerated my work so much.
— Shared by a First Lady during the Academy
The 2024 Program featured discussions on i) GFLA's ten-step framework for how to run an effective First Lady's office, ii) Brand Finance's research on First Ladies' soft power, iii) frameworks for understanding policy processes and effective communication, iv) and strategies for building sustainable initiatives that outlives First Ladies' time in office.
Discussions on how to lead effectively, the unique challenges facing First Ladies, and examples of First Ladies' impact helped foster a strong sense of community and support among the participants. At the end of the multi-day training, First Ladies shared they felt "energized and invigorated" and "had found new friends and a new community" to draw support from as they continue advocating for change in their countries and regions, reinforcing the unity and support among the participants.
❝
I had no idea this program would allow for so much vulnerability and sharing. Learning from other First Ladies has been so valuable, I am so grateful I came.
— Shared by a First Lady during the Academy
❝
I had no idea this program would allow for so much vulnerability and sharing. Learning from other First Ladies has been so valuable, I am so grateful I came.
— Shared by a First Lady during the Academy
Read the summary report here.
2024 Academy
In 2024, GFLA hosted its Second Annual Global First Ladies Academy in partnership with the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, with support from our sponsoring and presenting partners, including the Ford Foundation, GE HealthCare Foundation, Merck, PepsiCo Foundation, Prosper Africa, and the Rockefeller Foundation.
The Academy convened participants from across several regional networks, including the Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD), the Alliance of Spouses of Heads of State and Representatives of Latin America (ALMA), the Spouses of CARICOM Leaders Action Network (SCLAN), and the Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen (European network). We are grateful for our growing community and honored to be joined by 14 First Ladies and over 20 Senior Advisors from 17 countries.
❝
There is no other forum like this in the world. I am so sorry I was not able to join this when I first became First Lady. It would've accelerated my work so much.
— Shared by a First Lady during the Academy
The 2024 Program featured discussions on i) GFLA's ten-step framework for how to run an effective First Lady's office, ii) Brand Finance's research on First Ladies' soft power, iii) frameworks for understanding policy processes and effective communication, iv) and strategies for building sustainable initiatives that outlives First Ladies' time in office.
Discussions on how to lead effectively, the unique challenges facing First Ladies, and examples of First Ladies' impact helped foster a strong sense of community and support among the participants. At the end of the multi-day training, First Ladies shared they felt "energized and invigorated" and "had found new friends and a new community" to draw support from as they continue advocating for change in their countries and regions, reinforcing the unity and support among the participants.
❝
I had no idea this program would allow for so much vulnerability and sharing. Learning from other First Ladies has been so valuable, I am so grateful I came.
— Shared by a First Lady during the Academy
Read the summary report here.
2023 Academy
In 2023, we launched the first Academy in partnership with Columbia University and the Organization of African First Ladies for Development.
Over four days, Columbia Mailman faculty and GFLA experts led interactive sessions with First Ladies from Botswana, Burundi, The Gambia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, and Zimbabwe, covering topics from effective leadership, communications, and strategic policymaking to public health system-strengthening, program intervention, HIV/AIDS, women’s cancer and HPV.
The week’s highlight was a roundtable discussion between participating First Ladies from African nations and U.S. First Lady Dr. Jill Biden—a meeting that underlined the partnerships between First Ladies globally. Read more about Dr. Biden’s visit here.
2023 Academy
In 2023, we launched the first Academy in partnership with Columbia University and the Organization of African First Ladies for Development.
Over four days, Columbia Mailman faculty and GFLA experts led interactive sessions with First Ladies from Botswana, Burundi, The Gambia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, and Zimbabwe, covering topics from effective leadership, communications, and strategic policymaking to public health system-strengthening, program intervention, HIV/AIDS, women’s cancer and HPV.
The week’s highlight was a roundtable discussion between participating First Ladies from African nations and U.S. First Lady Dr. Jill Biden—a meeting that underlined the partnerships between First Ladies globally. Read more about Dr. Biden’s visit here.
First Ladies Roundtable
Since 2009, GFLA has convened First Ladies, their senior staff, and expert advisors to share best practices and build the capacity of the First Lady’s Office. A core component of the program is a facilitated off-the-record roundtable for First Ladies to share their personal experiences and discuss successes and challenges.
Through this work, GFLA has helped foster stronger relationships between the First Ladies, facilitated multi-sector partnerships, and helped First Ladies develop focused agendas in collaboration with the President’s Office, national ministries, and other international and local agencies.
Impact: Elevating the Status & Influence of First Ladies Globally
2014-2018
New York
2013
Dar Es Salaam, Addis Ababa & New York
2012
New York & Addis Ababa
2011
New York & Addis Ababa
2010
Washington, DC
2009
Los Angeles
Highlights
2018
In 2018, GFLA partnered with Scholastic, ATKearney, and Voice of America for a summit focusing on strategic planning. The summit was held during the United Nations General Assembly week in New York and engaged First Ladies and their Offices from thirteen countries. Through this summit, First Ladies refined their priorities, implementation strategies, and methods for evaluation and reporting.
2017
In 2017, GFLA partnered with Facebook, MAC AIDS Fund and OkayAfrica for The Future of Women: Defining Leadership in a New Era Summit. The summit was held during the United Nations General Assembly Week in New York and focused on tangible solutions for creating equitable societies. Through working sessions on women’s empowerment and the role of technology and social media, First Ladies discussed ways to amplify women’s voices and create positive change. At this summit, GFLA announced #theFutureofWomen 2017 Awardees and celebrated the work of rising African women leaders in the area of technology, social impact, and creative entrepreneurship.
2013
In 2013, GFLA partnered with the Bush Institute for the “Investing in Women Strengthening Africa” Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The two-day summit brought together Heads of State, current and former First Ladies, including Michelle Obama, Laura Bush and Cherie Blair, government officials, academics and representatives from non-profit and private sector organizations around the world to focus on effective investments in women that lead to greater stability and prosperity in countries. Participants discussed how to effectively empower women entrepreneurs and improve agricultural outcomes for female farmers among other issues.
2012
In 2012, GFLA partnered with Mrs. Laura Bush, former First Lady of the United States, the George W. Bush Presidential Center, RAND, the Pardee RAND Graduate School, and the Ford Foundation for a summit focused on becoming effective leaders. The First Ladies were given an important opportunity to meet with their peers from other African Nations, the U.S., and the UK, for a private, facilitated discussion on the challenges and possibilities of their unique roles. The conversations centered around ways to use the First Ladies’ Offices to advance women’s health, girls’ education, and women’s economic empowerment. The meeting was followed by a five-day seminar for the First Ladies’ Senior Advisors focused on strategic planning, evaluation of health programs, and the development of successful partnerships.
2011
In 2011, GFLA partnered with RAND, the U.S. Department of State's African Women Entrepreneurship Program and the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) on a summit to Advance Women's Leadership and Economic Empowerment in Africa. Nearly a dozen current and former First Ladies joined, including Penehupifo Pohamba of Namibia, Sia Nyama Koroma of Sierra Leone, former U.S. First Lady Rosalynn Carter and Cherie Blair, wife of former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair. The gathering brought the support of GFLA, the convening authority of the U.S. State Department, and the business connections of CCA to enhance the influence and visibility of First Ladies to promote an issue that greatly affects women across Africa: access to credit, professional development, and economic empowerment. The event was made possible by support from Fred Pardee, Exxon Mobil, Johnson & Johnson, General Electric, the Corporate Council on Africa, and the Ford Foundation.
2018
In 2018, GFLA partnered with Scholastic, ATKearney, and Voice of America for a summit focusing on strategic planning. The summit was held during the United Nations General Assembly week in New York and engaged First Ladies and their Offices from thirteen countries. Through this summit, First Ladies refined their priorities, implementation strategies, and methods for evaluation and reporting.
2017
In 2017, GFLA partnered with Facebook, MAC AIDS Fund and OkayAfrica for The Future of Women: Defining Leadership in a New Era Summit. The summit was held during the United Nations General Assembly Week in New York and focused on tangible solutions for creating equitable societies. Through working sessions on women’s empowerment and the role of technology and social media, First Ladies discussed ways to amplify women’s voices and create positive change. At this summit, GFLA announced #theFutureofWomen 2017 Awardees and celebrated the work of rising African women leaders in the area of technology, social impact, and creative entrepreneurship.
2013
In 2013, GFLA partnered with the Bush Institute for the “Investing in Women Strengthening Africa” Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The two-day summit brought together Heads of State, current and former First Ladies, including Michelle Obama, Laura Bush and Cherie Blair, government officials, academics and representatives from non-profit and private sector organizations around the world to focus on effective investments in women that lead to greater stability and prosperity in countries. Participants discussed how to effectively empower women entrepreneurs and improve agricultural outcomes for female farmers among other issues.
2012
In 2012, GFLA partnered with Mrs. Laura Bush, former First Lady of the United States, the George W. Bush Presidential Center, RAND, the Pardee RAND Graduate School, and the Ford Foundation for a summit focused on becoming effective leaders. The First Ladies were given an important opportunity to meet with their peers from other African Nations, the U.S., and the UK, for a private, facilitated discussion on the challenges and possibilities of their unique roles. The conversations centered around ways to use the First Ladies’ Offices to advance women’s health, girls’ education, and women’s economic empowerment. The meeting was followed by a five-day seminar for the First Ladies’ Senior Advisors focused on strategic planning, evaluation of health programs, and the development of successful partnerships.
2011
In 2011, GFLA partnered with RAND, the U.S. Department of State's African Women Entrepreneurship Program and the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) on a summit to Advance Women's Leadership and Economic Empowerment in Africa. Nearly a dozen current and former First Ladies joined, including Penehupifo Pohamba of Namibia, Sia Nyama Koroma of Sierra Leone, former U.S. First Lady Rosalynn Carter and Cherie Blair, wife of former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair. The gathering brought the support of GFLA, the convening authority of the U.S. State Department, and the business connections of CCA to enhance the influence and visibility of First Ladies to promote an issue that greatly affects women across Africa: access to credit, professional development, and economic empowerment. The event was made possible by support from Fred Pardee, Exxon Mobil, Johnson & Johnson, General Electric, the Corporate Council on Africa, and the Ford Foundation.
2018
In 2018, GFLA partnered with Scholastic, ATKearney, and Voice of America for a summit focusing on strategic planning. The summit was held during the United Nations General Assembly week in New York and engaged First Ladies and their Offices from thirteen countries. Through this summit, First Ladies refined their priorities, implementation strategies, and methods for evaluation and reporting.
2017
In 2017, GFLA partnered with Facebook, MAC AIDS Fund and OkayAfrica for The Future of Women: Defining Leadership in a New Era Summit. The summit was held during the United Nations General Assembly Week in New York and focused on tangible solutions for creating equitable societies. Through working sessions on women’s empowerment and the role of technology and social media, First Ladies discussed ways to amplify women’s voices and create positive change. At this summit, GFLA announced #theFutureofWomen 2017 Awardees and celebrated the work of rising African women leaders in the area of technology, social impact, and creative entrepreneurship.
2013
In 2013, GFLA partnered with the Bush Institute for the “Investing in Women Strengthening Africa” Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The two-day summit brought together Heads of State, current and former First Ladies, including Michelle Obama, Laura Bush and Cherie Blair, government officials, academics and representatives from non-profit and private sector organizations around the world to focus on effective investments in women that lead to greater stability and prosperity in countries. Participants discussed how to effectively empower women entrepreneurs and improve agricultural outcomes for female farmers among other issues.
2012
In 2012, GFLA partnered with Mrs. Laura Bush, former First Lady of the United States, the George W. Bush Presidential Center, RAND, the Pardee RAND Graduate School, and the Ford Foundation for a summit focused on becoming effective leaders. The First Ladies were given an important opportunity to meet with their peers from other African Nations, the U.S., and the UK, for a private, facilitated discussion on the challenges and possibilities of their unique roles. The conversations centered around ways to use the First Ladies’ Offices to advance women’s health, girls’ education, and women’s economic empowerment. The meeting was followed by a five-day seminar for the First Ladies’ Senior Advisors focused on strategic planning, evaluation of health programs, and the development of successful partnerships.
2011
In 2011, GFLA partnered with RAND, the U.S. Department of State's African Women Entrepreneurship Program and the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) on a summit to Advance Women's Leadership and Economic Empowerment in Africa. Nearly a dozen current and former First Ladies joined, including Penehupifo Pohamba of Namibia, Sia Nyama Koroma of Sierra Leone, former U.S. First Lady Rosalynn Carter and Cherie Blair, wife of former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair. The gathering brought the support of GFLA, the convening authority of the U.S. State Department, and the business connections of CCA to enhance the influence and visibility of First Ladies to promote an issue that greatly affects women across Africa: access to credit, professional development, and economic empowerment. The event was made possible by support from Fred Pardee, Exxon Mobil, Johnson & Johnson, General Electric, the Corporate Council on Africa, and the Ford Foundation.
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