Central Eurasia Leadership Alliance 19th Leadership Academy CELA'19

July 13 to July 22, 2026

Graduate School of Business, Nazarbayev University

Astana, Kazakhstan

The CELA'19 Leadership Academy brings together about 40 outstanding individuals from Central Asia, the South Caucasus, Afghanistan, and Mongolia for a 10-day residential program focused on immersive personal transformation, self-exploration, and finding purpose as a human and a leader. The Academy is designed for people who already carry responsibility and want to expand their leadership scope, regional perspective, and cross-border engagement. It serves as the main entry point into the Central Eurasia Leadership Alliance, connecting participants to a broader ecosystem and sister leadership communities in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and the United States. Relationships formed during the Academy often continue long after the program ends. The program is conducted entirely in English and fluency is required.

Due to the immersive format and graduation requirements, participants must arrive on July 12, 2026, attend the full program without interruption, and depart no earlier than July 23, 2026. Graduation from the Academy grants membership in CELA, a network with 24 years of history and approximately 700 leaders across the region.

This application is intended to help the Selection Committee understand your professional journey, leadership context, and personal perspective. Admission is competitive.

Applicants must complete all required sections of the application form and upload a CV, along with any additional materials they wish to share. Applications may be submitted through the online form or sent by email to info@celanetwork.org with the subject line “CELA 19”, followed by your full name and country of citizenship.

Eligibility

• Age between 28 and 40

• Citizenship of Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, or Uzbekistan

• Mid-career professionals from business (especially entrepreneurs), media, academia, civil society, or government, who are seeking to expand their leadership role and regional engagement

After submission, applications are reviewed by Country Selection Committees. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview. Successful candidates will receive further instructions from CELA staff.

Participation fee

The participation fee consists of two parts:

• USD 2,000 program and materials fee

• USD 1,500 full board expenses, covering shared accommodation at the campus hotel with private bedrooms and shared bathrooms, all meals, two daily coffee breaks, and welcome and graduation dinners. This fee applies to all participants, regardless of individual accommodation or meal preferences.

Participants are responsible for their own travel and visa expenses.

A non-refundable deposit of USD 500 is due by May 20, 2026.

The remaining USD 3,000 is due by June 15, 2026.

For questions, contact info@celanetwork.org.

Application deadline - March 1, 2026