programmes delivered
organizations represented
alumni
of participants were recipients of Common Purpose funded scholarships
cities across 17 countries
programmes delivered
organizations represented
alumni
of participants were recipients of Common Purpose funded scholarships
cities across 45 countries
At Common Purpose, our impact shines through the journeys of our alumni. Their stories show how our programmes transform individuals - students, emerging leaders, and senior executives alike - into catalysts for growth and collaboration.
These experiences demonstrate how our programmes strengthen teams, organizations, cities, and sectors, creating lasting, positive outcomes. Each story reflects both the extraordinary achievements of our alumni and the tangible results of our partnerships.
Developing leaders as strategic decision-makers, visionary change agents, and resourceful connectors who drive innovation and spark positive change.
Alexander Gunkel, Founder & Managing Director, Space4Good
Alexander’s journey with the Sky Blue programme transformed how he leads Space4Good, turning a vision of using space tech for good into a global movement. By expanding his network and empowering a diverse team, he’s now driving projects like the preservation of wild forests in the Balkans, showing how collaboration can create real-world change.
Dr. Syahira Hamidon, Head of the Entrepreneurship Unit, Ministry of Education, Malaysia
How did Dr. Hamidon manage to unite government ministries, development institutions, and the financial sector to create a game-changing business recovery plan? Through tough conversations and skilful negotiation, she turned conflicting interests into a unified strategy that was approved in record time.
Tania Banotti, Director, Creative Ireland
When Tania, a creative leader, met a senior government official at a leadership programme, neither could have predicted the impact of their collaboration. This chance encounter sparked a groundbreaking initiative that uses art to tackle climate change, transforming communities across Ireland.
feel they have the tools that help them make better decisions
are more prepared to influence beyond their circle of authority
are more comfortable in their ability to adapt to new situations
Espoir Ngalukiye, Executive Member, Ensemble pour la République
Espoir’s journey from grassroots activism to political action got a major boost from his programme experience. With fresh leadership skills and new connections, he’s now tackling political challenges in Goma and driving change in his community.
Grace Owen, Advisor, Trustee, Director, Facilitator
Grace’s transition to the non-profit sector was deeply influenced by her time on the African Diaspora Leaders programme. This experience reinforced her sense of identity and opened doors for her to pursue her social purpose, it enabled her to transform her prototyped idea into the community legacy project, “African Diaspora Kids”.
Wei Yang Cheon, Vice Provost for Strategic Research Partnerships, SMU & Senior Health Economics Adviser, Ministry of Health, Singapore
Amid the chaos of COVID-19, Wei Yang embraced a demanding new role and used insights from a leadership programme to spark transformative changes in healthcare. Dive into how innovative ideas and fresh perspectives helped reshape Singapore's approach to community health and overcome challenges in a world-renowned system.
feel better able to make a positive impact
feel more committed, persistent and determined in their approach
are more prepared to address complex problems
Sarah Cant, Senior Change Partner, ASOS
Initially conceived as a hypothetical solution to retain more graduates in Leeds, 'In Leeds' quickly evolved into a fully realized programme after receiving enthusiastic feedback from the panel. Thanks to Sarah and her programme peers, the initiative has now provided over 300 students with localized career opportunities by harnessing the rich network of organizations and universities within the city.
Michael Bell, Founder, PAINT
Michael’s paint business is transforming Cape Town’s forgotten areas into vibrant community spaces, bringing people together through art. Hear how his Common Purpose experience helped him bridge cultural divides, making it possible to work more effectively with local communities and stakeholders to create lasting change.
Julie Sanders, Former Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost, Newcastle University
Emphasizing on cross-sector collaboration and inclusivity, Julie created new roles to integrate community voices and champion innovation, social justice, and sustainability. Her leadership has significantly advanced the university's climate emergency response and social justice projects.
are more prepared to build better trust-filled relationships
are more prepared to work with people who are different from them
feel better able to adjust their behaviour in culturally diverse situations
Empowering leaders to tackle the most pressing challenges facing our society.
Jayson Abad, BA Sociology Student, Mindanao State University
Jayson’s time in the ASEAN Young Leaders Programme reinforced his passion for uniting people across cultural lines. From empowering youth to shaping policy in the Bangsamoro Youth Parliament, his leadership journey is fuelling lasting change in his region, where every voice is heard and every community benefits.
Meera Harish, Partner, Satva Consulting
After a career in the private sector, Meera’s eye-opening experience with the Common Purpose programme inspired her to pivot from traditional business to driving social impact at Sattva Consulting. Discover how this shift has allowed her to work with diverse mission-driven organizations and redefine her professional path.
The Chicago Community Trust
Since 2019, the Chicago Community Trust and Common Purpose have partnered on the Chicago200 program, empowering young people aged 18-25 to envision and create a better future for their city, resulting in a network of 280 alumni skilled in addressing systemic issues and contributing to Chicago's civic ecosystem.
are more willing and able to impact their city, region, or country’s future
have identified shifts they want to make and have set goals to achieve them
recognize the value of having a strong sense of purpose
Working with a diverse range of public, private and not-for-profit organizations to co-create innovative solutions to their big problems.
are more open to diverse perspectives
feel better prepared to challenge their assumptions
are more confident in experimenting with different ways of working
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