I was lucky enough to be selected by the Obama Foundation as a 2023 Obama Leader. For the next six months I learned about campaigning from some of the best campaigners around the world.
The program started in January and ended in June at a global convening in Athens, Greece. The six months consisted of weekly 2 hour learning sessions where some of the best campaigners from around the world came and spoke to us about what they were doing, and how they were doing it.
It was also an opportunity to meet 34 incredible leaders from across Europe, who were making Europe more tolerant, more sustainable, and more connected. On one of the last sessions before we met in Athens, President Obama joined us – we got an opportunity to ask him all our burning questions.
Then it was Athens. This was the first time my cohort and I were meeting in person.
We were also joined by incredible Leaders from Africa, and Asia too. This is what the global 2023 group looked like.
The whole experience was one to remember. I felt very honored to be a part of it, and I will carry the lessons that I learned there with me for a lifetime.
Mevan Babakar 