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Heed the Call

The application period for the ninth cohort of Omidyar Fellows is now closed. Cohort IX Fellows were announced on Thursday, May 16.

Please review the application package details below prior to submitting your application. Carefully note all page and word limits for each required element as submissions beyond these limits will not be forwarded to the Selection Committee. 

Required elements of the application package are:

Application Form

This online form requests basic information such as organization, job title, and email address for you and both writers of your letters of support. The application form cannot be saved so please compile all the necessary information, including PDF documents of your resume and leadership reflections, before submitting at one time.

While we recognize the significance of diacritical markings, we respectfully ask that you omit any such markings in your application form responses as including them may result in submission errors due to the web format of the online application. However, feel free to include diacritical markings in any of your attachments

Resume

In two to three pages, prepare a resume with your leadership and supervisory experiences and the items below:

  • Employment History: title, dates in position, scope of responsibilities, and achievements
  • Professional Affiliations: name of organization or group, dates of involvement, and description of your role or activities
  • Community/Civic Involvement: name of organization or group, dates of involvement, and description of your role or activities
  • Professional Development: name of institution/program, year(s) attended, credential(s) awarded
  • Formal Education: name of institution, years attended, degree(s) awarded

Leadership Reflections

“Leadership is an activity, not a position or authority. It is an activity available to all of us. Leadership emerged in 1955 when Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on the bus. Leadership emerges whenever a new employee asks a question no one wants to answer. Leadership has nothing to do with role. It has everything to do with seeing and seizing moments to help a group move forward.” – Excerpt from When Everyone Leads by Ed O'Malley and Julia Fabris McBride

In 250 words or less for each response, answer the questions below. Prepare your responses in a single PDF file.

  1. Reflecting on the idea that “Leadership is an activity,” tell us about a time when you believed you exercised leadership (that may or may not be evident on your resume).
  2. What is the issue you would like to transform with your leadership and how will Hawaiʻi and its residents be better off if you are successful?
  3. How do you hope to be changed by the Omidyar Fellows program?
  4. What is a challenge you encountered in your past and how has it shaped your leadership today?
  5. “Power is characterized by the ability to move; in systems, power is characterized by the ability to move people.” – Tong Yee
    Power is one lens we use in our Impact Network Strategy. How might the Forum of Fellows Impact Network further empower your leadership, and how might you seek to shift and flow power through your networks to achieve the change you are driving with your work?

Letter of Support From Your Chief Executive

If you do not have a CEO, executive director, or Board chair, submit a letter from a colleague who is an executive in their organization. An Omidyar Fellow may only write your letter of support if they are the CEO or Board chair of your sponsoring organization. 

In two pages or less, the letter should address:

  • Why would you make a great Fellow?
  • What would you contribute to the Omidyar Fellows network and to Hawaiʻi as a result of this program?
  • Your organization’s commitment to endorse you to participate fully in all program activities and challenge you to apply your learning where it will benefit the organization.

Please ensure that this letter is submitted with your application or emailed directly to: info@omidyarfellows.org.

Letter of Support From a Colleague

Colleague should be outside your organization. Omidyar Fellows may not write colleague letters of support.

In two pages or less, ask a colleague from outside of your organization who knows your work to write a letter addressing:

  • Why would you make a great Fellow?
  • What would you contribute to the Omidyar Fellows network and to Hawaiʻi as a result of this program?

Please ensure that this letter is submitted with your application or emailed directly to: info@omidyarfellows.org.