About

What Inspired the Global Mayors Academy

Swiss-made. Harvard-inspired. UN-certified. Powered by the integral approach of Living Cities Earth.

The GMA is designed to empower your leadership and the lasting success of your city.

It is founded by accomplished graduates of the Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard Business School, and leaders from globally renowned institutions and some of the world's best cities.

We asked: “How could city leaders worldwide receive Harvard-level education… or better?” This question became our guiding light as we designed the world’s best program for city leaders - combining Harvard approach to leadership education with practical tools & insights from the world’s best cities, mayors and city leaders from Europe, Africa, Americas and Asia”

Lev Gordon

Harvard Business School, Global Business Leadership Program ’08, Columbia Executive MBA ‘04, co-founder of Living Cities Earth & Global Mayors Academy, member of Harvard Club

It began with a bold vision—led by Lev Gordon and a global team of changemakers—who came together to reimagine leadership education for mayors and city leaders worldwide. Drawing on decades of experience in governance, community-building, and integral development, they set out to create a program that goes beyond theory—rooted in real cities, real results, and real leadership growth.

The result is the Global Mayors Academy (GMA)—a standout among hundreds of executive education programs. Designed to empower your journey as a city leader and changemaker, GMA brings together some of the world’s leading experts in leadership, community, and city development.

Today, you can join the GMA Flagship City Leadership Program. And in 2026, we launch the world’s first, 15-month Masters degree programs with Integral Leadership Practices at the heart:

Master of City Administration (MCA)
Master of City Development (MCD)

These degrees are designed to equip leaders in cities around the world, with the tools, wisdom and knowledge required to meet the future of urban life—where integral, systemic leadership is not optional, but essential.

GMA is powered by a world-class faculty from Living Cities Earth—the world’s largest network of experts in integral development, headquartered in Switzerland, the world’s #1 best overall country.

With a growing portfolio of Executive Education offerings, The Global Mayors Academy mission is clear

To inspire, interconnect, and empower 1 million leaders in 10.000 cities worldwide to

create a better future for themselves and their cities.

Here's how we stack up against similar programs

Who is Living Cities Earth

The team behind the GMA - Living Cities Earth is the world’s largest integral city development community with more than 150 co-founders - leading experts and change-makers from 30 countries and 5 continents. LCE Association is a Swiss-registered nonprofit organisation creating positive impact in 100+ countries.

With 1000+ research publications and 2000+ years of combined experience in leadership, organisational and city development, LCE experts provided inspiration, advice and practical tools to thousands of city leaders and change-makers in 700+ cities in more than 100 countries.

Many LCE co-founders themselves were leading remarkable city development projects and full-scale city transformations that are now part of GMA curriculum and materials.

| LCE vision is simple: 10.000 living cities, 1 living planet.

LCE mission is to inspire, interconnect and empower 1 million leaders of positive change in 10.000 cities to create future where people live happy healthy lives in harmony with nature.