Programs for Professionals

U.S. Mission Russia offers programs for professional development. Please see below for further information on each program.

The Russian Business Leaders Virtual Program – 2021 is a program for young Russian business persons and entrepreneurs with at least two years of demonstrated leadership experience in the fields of business, entrepreneurship, innovation, social entrepreneurship, regional economic development and technology.

RBL Virtual will provide participants with an array of modern business tools, concepts, and principles that will strengthen their leadership and technical abilities through community learning, interaction with U.S. business experts and practitioners, the RBL Virtual program will support building enduring professional relationships between Americans and Russians who share an interest in driving economic development forward.

The program will include a 12 week long virtual entrepreneurship curricula provided by U.S. experts which is carefully designed and aligned with participants levels, a consecutive four week long professional fellowship with a U.S. mentor and relevant online enhancement activities. Virtual component of the program is tentatively scheduled to take place from the beginning of September to the end of November 2021. Time commitment for the whole program is approximately 40 hours. Based on the results of the virtual entrepreneurship course and professional fellowship, participants will take part in a video pitch competition. The winners of the competition (approximately 25% of the participants ) will be considered for an in-person programing opportunity focused on entrepreneurship and innovation (location and time will be determined at a later time and will be contingent on global travel safety policies).

Program Goals

  1. To increase the capacity of Russian entrepreneurs, innovators, and business professionals from diverse backgrounds and to grow their businesses and become influential leaders and drivers of economic development and innovation.
  2. To provide young business leaders with the skills, knowledge, and inspiration to foster entrepreneurship, engage in new forms of innovation, strengthen leadership abilities, stimulate economic growth and development in Russia, and establish productive ties with American society
  3. Create partnerships between companies and young entrepreneurs in the United States and Russia
  4. To further strengthen a dynamic, engaged, and resilient network of entrepreneurs, innovators and business leaders across Russia

To be eligible for the Russian Business Leaders program, applicants must:

  • Be a citizen and current resident of Russia. Applicants living outside Russia or on a long term program outside Russia will not be considered eligible to apply;
  • Be between 22 and 35 years of age at ANY time of the application period (be born on/after April 2, 1985 and no later than February 5, 1999);
  • Be proficient in English; and
  • Have at least two years of relevant experience in and commitment to a career in business, entrepreneurship, social media, innovation, social entrepreneurship, or regional economic development.

Individuals in the following circumstances are NOT eligible to apply to participate as fellows in the Russian Business Leaders program:

  • U.S. citizens and permanent residents of the United States
  • Individuals currently participating in in-person academic, training, research programs, or who are currently working in the United States
  • Individuals who have already been recipients of and participated in the Russian Business Leaders program
  • Individuals currently residing or working outside Russia
  • Persons arrested for, charged with, or convicted of a crime as further detailed by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs

For more information please visit www.RussianBusinessLeaders.org

Contact us at RBL@americancouncils.org

 

The Professional Fellows Program affords promising young professionals from Russia the opportunity to gain practical experience in, and exposure to, United States policies related to innovation and entrepreneurship. The knowledge and interest of these young Eurasian professionals in American policies to the above-mentioned areas will be expanded through short-term fellowships in a variety of American organizations and state bodies across the United States that address innovation/entrepreneurship policy issues.

To be eligible for the PFP, applicant must:

  • Be a citizen and current resident of Russia;
  • Be 25 to 35 years of age at the time of the program;
  • Be proficient in English;
  • Have relevant experience in and commitment to a career in innovation/entrepreneurship in the public and private sector;
  • Be able to apply US experience towards innovation/entrepreneurship policy development in Russia;
  • Be involved (full time or part time) in the ecosystem or policy-making in the innovation and entrepreneurship sector (i.e., accelerators, incubators, mentors, non-profits, government offices, private business etc.) Entrepreneurs are eligible to apply for the program!
  • Be involved (full time or part time) in private business which supports and impacts innovation and entrepreneurship in Russia;
  • Be involved (full time or part time) in private business which uses and employs innovative entrepreneurship tools to promote business development in Russia.

Participants are selected through a competitive application process. Fellows will travel in two delegations (spring and fall) for a total of six weeks.

For more information on this program and how to apply, please visit: https://www.professionalfellows.org/

The Young Transatlantic Innovation Leaders Initiative (YTILI) is the U.S. Department of State’s flagship program for emerging entrepreneurs from Europe. In 2021-2022, a cohort of young European entrepreneurs from 45 European countries will participate in a robust fellowship program. Learn more.

The Atlas Corps Fellowship is a 12-18 month fellowship in the United States for the world’s top social change leaders ages 22-35.  Fellows serve full-time at local host organizations, nonprofit and grassroots organizations that work in the field of health, education and social development (such as Ashoka, Grameen Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, CARE, Save the Children, and the UN Foundation). In addition, fellows will learn effective practices in nonprofit management through the Atlas Corps Global Leadership Lab and networking opportunities with other fellows who are skilled nonprofit professionals from around the world and the Americas. This fellowship includes health insurance, flight, visa costs, and a living stipend to cover basic expenses (food, local transportation, and shared housing).

Qualifications:

  • Two or more years of relevant experience
  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent
  • English proficiency (oral, writing, reading)
  • Age 35 or younger
  • Commitment to return to your home country after the fellowship
  • Commitment to living on a basic stipend that only covers food, shared housing, and local transportation

For more details about eligibility requirements and the application process, please visit: https://atlascorps.org/apply-united-states/

 

How to Apply:

Atlas Corps considers applications on a rolling basis, though we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to be considered for host organization placements. Our fellow classes start four times a year: January, April, July, and October.

Contact for Additional Information

apply@atlascorps.org



The U.S. Mission Russia also manages the following nomination-based programs. Embassy Officers select the participants. You may not apply for these programs or nominate yourself.

The International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) brings mid to senior level individuals from Russia to the U.S. for a period of two to four weeks, to meet with their American counterparts and examine issues related to democratic and economic reforms, as well as other topics of interest in the U.S.-Russian relationship. The IVL Program provides a unique opportunity for established or potential foreign leaders in government, politics, media, education, labor relations, arts and other key fields to confer with their professional counterparts and to experience the United States first-hand.
Candidates cannot “apply” or nominate themselves. Unlike most other programs, the U.S. Embassy nominates the visitors and organizes a three-week trip to the United States from Russia to meet with their American counterparts in various cities around the country. Cultural and geographic diversity play a large role in these programs. The decision whether to accept and fund each person rests with the Department of State in Washington and the Public Affairs Section in Moscow.

IVL projects generally last three weeks and provide an in-depth look at a particular subject area. Participants travel in groups and visit Washington, D.C. and three to five other U.S. cities. Participants are typically in their 30s or 40s, and are mid-career professionals with a long career track ahead of them.

The following are among the topics that have been addressed in recent visits:

  • American Studies and the U.S. Political Process
  • HIV Prevention Strategies
  • The Role of Media, the Policy Community and NGOs from a Government Perspective
  • Journalism Education in the U.S.
  • Aviation Safety Programs and Procedures
  • Intellectual Property Rights and Technology Commercialization
  • The Role of Citizen’s Watchdog Groups
  • Terrorism Preparedness Programs
  • Using Public-Private Partnerships for Local Economic Development
  • International Adoption

The United States Congress established the Open World program in 1999. The program organizes short-term professional visits to the United States for citizens of the Russian Federation and the CIS states.

The goal of the program is to develop and strengthen mutual understanding and cooperation between the United States and the Russian Federation. It provides opportunities for Russian leaders and professionals in various fields to visit the United States on a short visit, meet with their American counterparts, and exchange best practices on the most vital issues for both parties.

The program is intended to have a positive impact on the participants, both from the United States and from the Russian Federation. It promotes further professional growth of participants by developing their business and personal contacts, and contributes to the implementation of new projects that benefit the future of Russian society.

The program promotes mutual understanding between the United States and the Russian Federation by opening new venues of cooperation and developing and maintaining new forms of dialogue between new generations of American and Russian leaders. Since its inception in May 1999, approximately 19,600 leaders from the Russian Federation have participated in the program. They were hosted in more than 800 community organizations in the United States.

The Open World Leadership Center is governed by an independent Board of Trustees and implements an expanded year-round exchange program. It is permanently housed in the Library of Congress.

https://www.openworld.gov/