EIT Urban Mobility Emerging Leaders

Join the 2025 EIT Urban Mobility Emerging Leaders cohort

A modern leadership program

The EIT Urban Mobility Emerging Leaders program fosters the growth of high-potential leaders within the public sector, equipping them with the skills and perspectives to effectively manage and innovate in an increasingly complex landscape. The six-month participant-led program comprises 8-10 emerging public sector leaders from cities and public transport authorities across Europe.

Participant profile

The EIT Urban Mobility Emerging Leaders program has been designed for the future leaders of our cities. Participants must be:

Working in a city council, public transport authority or related public entity
Mid to senior-level role, either technical or strategic position
Actively engaged in urban transformation initiatives
Based in a European city or metropolitan area with a population 300,000 or more
A dynamic professional committed to driving impactful change

Be a part of the next generation of city leaders to drive sustainable urban change

Join a unique participant-led program that offers tailored leadership development and access to a strong alumni network for ongoing collaboration and impact across Europe.

Why should you join?

Boost your career by developing leadership skills that shape the future of your city
Expand your influence by engaging effectively with policymakers and stakeholders
Join a network of changemakers in a growing community that’s committed to urban mobility innovation

Learn more

Testimonials

Péter Dalos, Budapest

"The program enhanced my self-awareness and people management skills. It was an empowering learning experience in an engaging international environment. I highly recommend it to professionals seeking to develop their leadership capabilities and connect with a global network!"

Julia Azpiroz de Achával, Barcelona

"An incredible opportunity for personal and professional growth! The program offered valuable tools and insights within a supportive environment to develop as a leader. Learning alongside peers from diverse cities and backgrounds was enriching, highlighting our shared challenges and aspirations."

Silvia Demetri, Milan

"The program helped me connect with young professionals across Europe and build a strong network. It offered fresh perspectives on leadership and practical ways to apply its principles across all levels of teamwork."

Be bold

Emerging Leaders will enable you to take the next step in shaping the future of your city. You will gain the leadership skills and vision you need to bring about meaningful change, and open the doors to career growth through executive coaching and discussions with senior leaders.

Be heard

Do you want to participate more actively at the policy making level? Make your expertise count by elevating your voice in the right places. Through Emerging Leaders, you will have the opportunity to learn from your peers and exchange knowledge.

Feel supported

Through Emerging Leaders, you will be one of a new wave of urban leaders where technical expertise drives policy. The opportunity for peer-to-peer interaction and support doesn’t stop after the program has ended. You will be able to join our unique alumni network and pay it forward by supporting new alumni network members’ growth as well.

How to join the program

Participants need to be nominated by senior figures in city councils, such as the head of their organisation, senior executives, city council leaders or leaders from organisations involved in urban transformation projects, including public transport authorities.

To join our next cohort starting in Spring 2025, nominators must fill out the nomination form. Our team will inform selected candidates.

Nominate today

Program details

The first edition of the program, launched in Barcelona in May 2024, set the stage for transformative experiences in seven cities across Europe. The second edition will start in 2025, offering a six-month program with approximately 40 hours of tailored professional development. Delivered through a hybrid format, it combines both in-person and online learning experiences.

It is participant-centred, meaning that full commitment and participation from participants and their organisations will drive a growth loop of benefits.

Our pillars

The Learning Circle

Participants draw on each other’s experiences and insights to explore future leadership challenges and enhance their skills to deal with those challenges. Each learning circle is bespoke, its composition and outcomes unique to each set of participants.

Coaching

Many future leaders may never have experienced the benefit of focused coaching. The program provides a short, time-optimised series of executive coaching sessions where participants can explore their personal leadership goals and aspirations.

The Conversation

Experienced professionals recognise that leadership is a craft. The program offers participants the opportunity to meet with experienced senior leaders and explore their approach to leadership in unscripted, closed-door sessions.

The Conference

Participants are invited to join and shape a bespoke conference with their peers, people from their cities and guests. They will explore leadership challenges for the workforce of the future, including how to deal with the pace of change, cultivate trust, drive positive impact, and create shared value.

The Community

The program is participant-centred, meaning that total commitment and participation from future leaders and their cities will drive a growth loop of benefits. On completion, participants are invited to remain as part of the alumni community of practice to maintain ongoing collaboration and connection.

Program pricing

The program fee is €5,000 per participant. For the 2025 edition, EIT Urban Mobility is pleased to offer a co-funding opportunity of 40% to the cohort of selected candidates. Any associated travel costs will be covered by the participating organisation. 

Emerging Leaders cohort #1 2024

Julia Azpiroz de Achával, Barcelona

“Urban mobility is key to reducing social and territorial inequalities”

Péter Dalos, Budapest

“We started with the seeds; now we have a jungle”

Lianne Cassar, Malta

“It’s my dream to replicate this program on local levels”

Jordi Marfà Vives, Barcelona

“It’s important to develop the skills to listen, understand and negotiate”

Silvia Demetri, Milan

“In urban mobility, we have to practise what we preach”

Sayalee Pendharkar, Munich

"I want to actively contribute to discussions with policymakers on mobility transformation"

Kate Riggs, Croydon

“I think urban mobility is still a work in progress with everyone learning from each other all the time"

Ready to lead?

Nominations are now open for 2025. Be a part of the next cohort of emerging leaders and join our community of innovators shaping tomorrow's cities.

For any queries, please get in touch emerging.leaders@rmit.edu.au

Nominate today

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