Are you ready to be inspired? Today, we’re shining a spotlight on the dynamic young leaders of Cohort 17 of the Atlas Corps Virtual Leadership Institute—now proudly part of the Cultural Vistas. This milestone marks the first time the VLI is integrated with Cultural Vistas programs and with it, we invited 56 emerging changemakers from 23 countries to this transformative six-month program.

VLI participants, also known as VLI Scholars, bring diverse perspectives as emerging leaders in their communities. Through a rich mix of keynote speakers, interactive workshops, peer discussions, and community-building, they’re growing as global leaders—and we’re here to share their thoughts on their experience so far.

Dive into their reflections on leadership, growth, and their plans for the future. We’re honored to celebrate their voices and cheer them on as they grow as leaders in their communities!

Meet Our Scholars

• Ashish Singh, India, Atlas Corps Fellow & Banyan Impact Fellow
• Manuel-Javier Mata, Mexico, Cultural Vistas Alum (J-1 Trainee)
• Carlos Diaz, United States, Banyan Impact Fellow 
• Arti Singh, India, Founder & CEO, The Social Purpose Trust
• Isaac Looremeta, Kenya, Product Data Analyst, StepStone

What made you want to participate in the Virtual Leadership Institute (VLI)?

Ashish: Leadership is constantly evolving, shaped by shifting global dynamics, economic transitions, different generation work together, technological advancement, and increasing interconnectedness. These changes demand a new kind of leadership—one grounded in empathy, adaptability, and systems thinking. I was drawn to the Virtual Leadership Institute because it offers a unique opportunity to develop these essential skills through a globally designed program. The course is aligned with the needs of current and future leaders working across cultures and communities, which resonates deeply with my own professional context.

Manuel: I’m seeing VLI as a huge opportunity for my development as a professional and as an individual. Moreover, I want to contribute positively to society and create a good impact.

Carlos: I wanted to join the Virtual Leadership Institute in order to gain a better understanding of how I can refine and innovate my skills as a leader with my current project working in rural areas of India. 

Arti: As a social entrepreneur, I believe it’s essential to continuously nurture and evolve my leadership potential. The challenges we face in the social impact space are complex and ever-changing, requiring thoughtful, adaptive, and values-driven leadership. I saw the VLI as a unique platform offering a thoughtfully curated leadership curriculum and the invaluable opportunity to learn from a diverse group of peers across cultures and geographies. The idea of engaging with global changemakers and gaining insights into leadership approaches in different contexts deeply resonated with me.

Isaac: I joined the VLI to improve my skills and supercharge the impact that I have on society. I was drawn by the unmatched diversity in the cohort, which provides me with the opportunity to build relations with impact-driven scholars from all over the world, a step towards cementing my vision as an effective global citizen. Secondly, the resources that the program offers are invaluable as they are based on tested and proven global leadership standards. More than that, I believe that collaborating with the brilliant minds in the program shall create a resonating impact, far greater than I’d ever done by myself.

What does leadership mean to you?

Ashish: To me, leadership is the ability to bring out the best in a diverse group of people by fostering a shared vision, building trust, and cultivating emotional intelligence. A true leader is someone who not only guides others but also creates an inclusive environment where everyone feels seen, heard, and empowered to contribute meaningfully. Leadership, for me, is about enabling collective growth while staying grounded in purpose and values.

Manuel: It means putting all together and making everyone do their best by encouraging and guiding them with a good example.

Carlos: For me, leadership means to be confident in your actions and take accountability for you and others around you. In a leadership role, a person has to be willing to inspire themselves and others; while also encouraging, motivating, and helping those around them. At the same time, a leader is willing to learn from those around them; refining their approach to situations. Thinking logically without compromising empathy or their humanity. 

Arti: Leadership, to me, is about service, empathy, and enabling collective growth. It’s not just about making decisions or setting direction—it’s about creating space for others to thrive, listening with intention, and showing up with integrity. One of the Atlas assignments helped me reflect on my leadership style and made me realize that facilitation and co-creation often speak louder than authority or control. That shift in perspective continues to shape how I engage with my team and community.

Isaac: Leadership is using my skills, position, and resources to inspire and motivate others to bring out their best, aligning towards a common goal thus empowering the team to become a whole greater than the sum of its parts. I am driven by John Quincy Adams’ take on leadership, “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” 

How is the VLI supporting your professional and leadership development? How do you think participation will impact your future goals?

Ashish: The VLI has been thoughtfully designed to meet the contemporary demands of leadership in a rapidly changing world. Its integration of research-based frameworks with practical application is what makes it so powerful. As I continue working within the organization, I find that the tools and mindsets introduced in the program are immediately relevant and actionable. This simultaneous learning and implementation allow me to internalize the knowledge more deeply. As an adult learner, I believe that 70% of my growth happens through real-time application, and VLI has created that ideal environment. This experience is helping me evolve as a leader, and it will significantly contribute to my long-term goal of building and scaling impactful, people-centered programs.

Manuel: With VLI I’ve had the chance to meet wonderful people and know more about their experiences and skills. Therefore, I am looking forward to becoming a good leader like them in the future. Participation will impact my future goals by learning the best way to achieve them.

Carlos: I believe that the VLI allows me to better understand my current strengths and weaknesses as a future leader. This is useful to my future career goals as I aim to become more involved in the international development sector and would want to branch into environmental sustainability. This field requires one to lead effectively and manage projects that not only benefit their repertoire but also the lives of hundreds if not thousands of people. 

Arti: The VLI has provided me with powerful tools to reflect on how I lead myself and others. It is expanding my understanding of systems thinking, adaptive leadership, and the importance of cross-cultural collaboration. These learnings are directly applicable to my work in sustainability and social equity at The Social Purpose Trust. I believe this experience will not only help me lead with greater clarity and humility but also enable me to design more inclusive and impactful initiatives in the future.

Isaac: The VLI provides useful resources including readings, tools, frameworks, and exercises to advance my professional and leadership development. The community is also invaluable as we get to exchange ideas and share feedback to help each other grow. The program is also helping me come up with a social impact project whose implementation would potentially impact lives at a large scale, helping me supercharge my impact. Participation will impact my future goals by giving me a new perspective through which to look at the world – always being conscious of how my actions are impacting the world in everything I do.

What has been a memorable moment or lesson learned in the VLI so far?

Ashish: It’s hard to choose just one moment, but what stands out the most is the realization that the kind of leadership development I had been seeking—for self, others, and organizational transformation—is exactly what the VLI offers. From the moment I reviewed the modules and structure, I felt a deep sense of excitement and alignment. Each session equips me with insights and practices that I can take back to my organization, creating a ripple effect that benefits both adults and children we work with. This alignment between personal learning and systemic impact has been incredibly meaningful.

Manuel: I have enjoyed all sessions and calls, but I love having the chance to share more openly our thoughts and ideas in the Focus Group Calls. 

Carlos: A memorable lesson of the VLI is how it has made me realize that I do in fact practice very good emotional self-awareness and am reasonably capable of getting through stressful situations. Through online surveys and learning modules, I have found a sense of acknowledgement for these characteristics. On the other hand, I also realize that I require to do inner work to refine my approach to action. VLI has helped me practice my approach to the desired project I am working on. Incorporating new techniques such as self-assessment, patience, and time management. 

Arti: One of the most powerful moments for me was the “Leading Self” session with Anna Baldwin during Launch Call 2. Her session highlighted that listening is a superpower, and that often, the biggest barrier to growth is our own non-productive ego. Since then, I’ve made it a habit to check in with myself weekly by asking: “How did I listen today?” This simple practice has helped me become more present in conversations and more aware of how I respond, especially in moments of disagreement or uncertainty.

Isaac: A memorable moment for me so far has been a wonderful session on Communication by Anna Baldwin that gave me pause and challenged how I handle communication in my personal life – something I’d never really given much thought to before.

What tips can you share about how to make the most of your experience in the VLI?

Ashish: One key suggestion I would offer is to increase the number of live virtual sessions or interactive cohort meet-ups. These engagements foster a greater sense of connection and community within the cohort, which is crucial for learning and collaboration. Feeling part of a collective movement enhances not only the experience but also the motivation to lead with courage and purpose.

Manuel: You definitely have to be on time, pay attention all the time and listen carefully to what others say, not only coaches and trainers, but peers too.

Carlos: I would say that one should be open to learning as many modules as they can through the VLI. Many learning modules have valuable insights and material that covers leadership skills, psychology, project management, and emotional awareness. By seeing these modules as an indispensable tool, instead of “just work”, I believe one can get a lot of use that will benefit them professionally and personally. 

Arti: Lean in with curiosity and openness. Be intentional about engaging with the community—some of the most valuable insights come from peer exchanges. Also, give yourself time to reflect after each session. The content is rich, but the real transformation happens when you pause and process how it applies to your own context and leadership journey.

Isaac: 

• Engage intentionally, deeply, and fully in the different aspects – readings, exercises, launch calls, peer calls, 1-1 coffee chats – you get from the program what you put into it.
• Be curious about fellow scholars (you’ll rarely have access to such a diverse group of brilliant people).
• Be open to sharing about yourself.
• Have fun

Upon graduation, VLI Scholars will join a growing network of 500+ alumni making an impact worldwide. We are excited to see our participants continue to lead positive change in the future!