Cultivate and connect imaginative leaders

Innovation Fellowship

Creating space for young leaders and innovation. For South Africa to fulfil its potential, we need a vital and innovative civil society that is able to drive change. The DGMT Innovation Fellowship develops young leaders across South Africa who are working in the civil society sector.

Fellows from the fifth cohort of the programme gather in discussion groups.

What is the fellowship?

Every year, DGMT offers this fellowship programme to 22 young leaders. Through a series of immersive workshops, coaching and assignments, Fellows from each participating organisation are supported in becoming innovative change agents within their organisations and the wider sector.

Why do we offer it?

The programme encourages connections and collegial bonds between the Fellows. By nurturing new leadership and creating connections, we encourage a culture of innovation that helps to drive solutions to the complex social problems that we face as a country.

Introducing: Improvise - A publication for the Fellowship for Organisational Innovation

Passionate, imaginative, critical thinkers are one of civil society’s greatest assets. But too often...

“What if, instead of only looking to government or big business for the answers, we turned our attention elsewhere: to the thousands of small, medium-sized and large organisations that are working in society, in civil society?”

Carol-Ann Foulis

Fellowship Lead

How does it work?

The Fellowship runs over the course of one year, during which DGMT hosts three immersive workshops (two residential workshops and one online workshop). In between these workshops, Fellows return to their workplaces to experiment and share what they have learnt. Fellows are coached by a team of experienced individuals over the course of the year.

The workshops consist of lectures, peer groups, discussions, group work, creative sessions and expert guest speakers. The residential immersions allow for plenty of time for Fellows to connect informally.

In terms of fieldwork, Fellows undertake assignments and written reflection pieces. In addition, during fieldwork, organisational leaders engage with Fellows and support them in their assignments. Fellows will receive five one-on-one coaching sessions, three coaching sessions as a pair of Fellows and three organisational mentoring sessions.

How to apply?

Applications are open between October and January every year. During this period, DGMT will interview applicants and enrol Fellows to the programme. The immersive workshops begin in April and the entire fellowship will run until January the following year. After this, the Fellows join our network of Alumni, where they will be invited to various events and opportunities, ensuring that the learnings are shared and continue to be practised in the workplace.

The fellowship accepts nominations throughout the year, but only shortlisted candidates are invited to apply. You can nominate yourself, a person within an organisation or your organisation too. To qualify, the organisation must be a registered NPO and the organisation’s decision-makers must have a desire to expand leadership and innovation skills throughout the organisation. Potential Fellows must be employed by an NPO, be between the ages of 25 and 35 years, and have a desire to expand their own leadership and innovation skills.