The APF Emerging Leaders Program

 

APF Emerging Leaders Program 2025

Summary

The American Pakistan Foundation (APF) Emerging Leaders (EL) Program is designed to prepare college undergraduate level youth (generally aged 18-21) for impactful careers through career development, networking, scholarly research, intergenerational dialog, and lifelong learning initiatives. The EL Program serves as a gateway into the APF Leadership Council and provides EL Fellows the opportunity to work on individualized projects that are showcased across APF platforms.

Sadia Malik is the APF Emerging Leaders Program Manager and Ammad Mahmood is the Emerging Leaders Board Lead.

Background and Objectives

Background:
The APF Emerging Leaders Program is a dynamic initiative designed to empower, inspire, and cultivate the next generation of Pakistani American leaders. This multifaceted program includes three key components:

  1. Fellowship Program: A flagship pathway offering personalized mentoring for undergraduate students to support their career development and professional growth. Fellows work on project showcases aligned with their interests and APF’s mission while building connections with the APF Leadership Council, establishing a robust pipeline for future leaders.

  2. PSA Leadership Development Institute: A specialized training center focused on strengthening Pakistani Student Associations (PSAs) across American colleges and universities. This institute equips students with the leadership skills and resources to promote cultural awareness and foster meaningful community engagement.

  3. Annual PSA Competition: A celebratory event that encourages and rewards PSAs for their innovative efforts in promoting Pakistani culture on college campuses. This competition highlights cultural exchange and serves as a platform to inspire creativity and community pride.

By combining mentorship, training, and heritage appreciation, the Emerging Leaders Program provides a comprehensive framework for developing Pakistani American youth. It functions as both a standalone leadership initiative and a strategic filter to identify and nurture future APF leaders, ensuring the sustained growth and impact of the organization.

Program Objectives:

  1. Provide personalized mentoring to undergraduates to support the career development, professional growth, and leadership potential of Pakistani American youth.

  2. Enable students to design and implement community projects that align with their personal interests and APF’s mission of empowering and connecting the Pakistani American community.

  3. Establish a sustainable pipeline for future APF leaders by connecting fellows and participants with the APF Leadership Council and broader professional networks.

  4. Serve as a comprehensive leadership development institute for Pakistani Student Associations (PSAs) at colleges and universities, equipping them with the skills and resources needed to lead impactful cultural and civic initiatives.

  5. Celebrate and encourage the promotion of Pakistani culture through an annual PSA competition that fosters creativity, collaboration, and pride in cultural heritage.

  6. Facilitate intergenerational dialogue to address complex challenges and build innovative solutions for the Pakistani American community.

  7. Cultivate a lifelong commitment to learning, community empowerment, cultural exchange, and civic engagement among program participants.