Cities everywhere are under pressure, from climate shocks to social divides, economic upheaval and rapid technological change. Meeting these challenges calls for leaders who can think differently, navigate complexity and act decisively, guiding their communities with vision and care.

The Global Mayors Academy is designed to help city leaders face their most pressing challenges with clarity, courage, concrete solutions, and collaboration.

We empower mayors, civic innovators and sector leaders with practical tools, trusted networks, and breakthrough, real-world-tested solutions to navigate complexity and lead systemic change — from rising costs and social fragmentation to housing shortages, infrastructure demands, mobility and transport planning, environmental resilience, and economic renewal.

At the same time, we support the cultivation of the inner capacities essential for leading with wisdom — including reflective practices, grounded purpose, and emotional and relational intelligence — to meet the demands of an increasingly complex and fast-changing world.

Our focus is on building long-term capacity: strengthening cross-sector cooperation, fostering resilience in communities, and creating the conditions for thriving civic, cultural, and economic life.

Through world-class education, real-world projects, and a global community of peers, the Academy equips leaders to solve problems that matter — and to shape sustainable, regenerative cities for generations to come.

1. Develop and strengthen your ability to navigate urgent urban challenges, contextual shifts, emerging opportunities, and evolving risks shaping cities and communities in a fast-changing world.

2. Gain a robust perspective on leveraging data, lived experience, and proven practices to craft systemic solutions, build stakeholder alignment, and mitigate risks in policy design, planning, and implementation.

3. Lead and manage change across diverse stakeholders, sectors, and city networks, fostering trust, collaboration, and shared ownership of outcomes.

4. Understand and influence strategies across multiple governance and policy levels - including regulatory frameworks, financing models, and political dynamics - while balancing local needs with national and global objectives for sustainable and inclusive development.

5. Cultivate inner leadership capacities, including reflective practice, emotional and relational intelligence, and grounded decision-making - essential for leading wisely in complex, high-stakes environments.

6. Integrate regenerative thinking and whole-system approaches into your leadership - enabling cities not just to survive, but to thrive in harmony with people and planet.

We are committed to ensuring that the Global Mayors Academy meets the highest standards of excellence in leadership development and city transformation. As such, we are actively pursuing accreditation with leading institutions in the fields of education, governance, and sustainable development.

This programme has been developed in alignment with the accreditation requirements of the following organisations, and formal accreditation is currently in process:

• University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) — designating this activity for Category 1 Credit(s)™ towards higher education pathways in Integral Leadership, City Administration, and Urban Development.

• The Global Accreditation Council (GAC) — dedicated to accrediting quality learning for a better world.

• UNITAR (United Nations Institute for Training and Research) — supporting learning for sustainable development and global governance.

These accreditations reflect our commitment to academic rigour, global relevance, and the development of transformative city leadership for a thriving world.

Networking event | 4 days | In person
The program concludes with a 4-day in-person networking event in Switzerland, during which you will have the opportunity to network with your peers from around the world, make lifelong connections, and benefit from the perspectives of world-renowned experts and city leaders.

You will visit some of the world’s leading cities - Bern, Zurich and Lichtensteig - and learn from leaders that have created a systemic change in their cities. The event will conclude with the graduation ceremony at one of the Europe’s oldest City Halls.

GMA program leverages Action Learning and is results-focused and practice-oriented. As a program participant, within the first 30 days you will choose up to 3 projects that you will conduct in your city with guidance from our leading experts to create a real-world impact.

In each case, you will understand a powerful framework behind each project, conduct on-the-ground research, build partnerships and develop comprehensive solutions informed by reflecting on your learning and the program insights - all with the expert guidance and encouragement from your peers.
This hands-on experience will both challenge and inspire you, as well as it will empower you to grow your leadership capacity and broaden your impact.

All projects are developed based on the cutting-edge approaches and real-life experience of our faculty.

The Global Mayors Academy is designed for city leaders of all kinds - across various sectors of urban life - including those leading towns, cities, islands, and communities anywhere people come together to live, work, and shape their shared future, and who hold the authority and responsibility to guide their places and people toward thriving, regenerative futures - and who are committed to leading ethical, inclusive, and regenerative transformation in a rapidly changing world.

Participants typically include:

• Elected officials and senior administrators in city governments — including mayors, deputy mayors, city managers, and heads of municipal departments.

• Leaders of public systems and civic sectors, such as health, education, housing, justice, culture, planning, infrastructure, and environmental management.

• Urban practitioners and policy advisors seeking interdisciplinary frameworks that translate global trends, community needs, and complex data into bold, actionable strategies.

• Civic entrepreneurs and ecosystem builders leading cross-sector collaborations and driving inclusive, systems-based solutions in their cities and regions.

• Leaders of universities, research institutions, and learning ecosystems who are committed to educating the next generation in regenerative, integrated, and life-affirming ways — and to advancing place-based research that supports transformational change in how cities learn, evolve, and thrive.

Whether you participate as an individual or as part of a city leadership team, the Academy offers tools, perspectives, and a global peer network to lead with greater clarity, capacity, and impact.

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