Announcing the 2025 American Express Leadership Academy – London

American Express and Common Purpose are proud to announce the selection of 80 exceptional non-profit leaders from 27 countries, across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) for the 2025 American Express Leadership Academy in London. 

This marks the second of three global Academies in 2025, following the Asia-Pacific program, which kicked off in May, and ahead of the Americas Academy in November. 

The American Express Leadership Academy, a long-standing collaboration between American Express and Common Purpose, is a six-month leadership development program designed specifically for non-profit leaders. It equips participants with the skills, networks, and resilience to lead through complexity—and to drive meaningful, long-term impact in the communities they serve. 

“This region is home to some of the most innovative and courageous non-profit leaders in the world—leaders working at the forefront of everything, including community resilience, public health, the arts, and more,” said Madge Thomas, President of the American Express Foundation. “By supporting them, we strengthen and connect individual organizations and the broader social impact sector.” 

Selected for their leadership potential, commitment to purpose, and readiness to grow, these 80 changemakers represent a diverse cross-section of missions and contexts. What unites them is a deep belief in the power of collective leadership to tackle systemic challenges. 

“In every region, we see how powerful it is when non-profit leaders come together to learn, unlearn, and grow,” said Adirupa Sengupta, Global Chief Executive of Common Purpose. “The Academy will be a space for these EMEA leaders to recharge, connect, and sharpen their ability to lead across boundaries—organizational, cultural, and geographic.” 

The Academy begins with virtual sessions before convening the full cohort in London from July 8–11, 2025, for an interactive experience including workshops, leadership sessions, real-world immersions, and networking with some of the world’s leading figures across industries. The program will continue until December, with the cohort reconvening virtually to reflect on progress and to share key learnings from their journeys since London. 

American Express has invested more than $100 million in nonprofit leaders since the Leadership Academy began. The program has seen more than 165,000 graduates to date—championing those who are changing lives and building stronger communities around the world. 

For more information about the 2025 American Express Leadership Academy, please visit here.