Program aims to shape young island leaders

Hawaii residents interested in honing their leadership skills for the betterment of the state are invited by the newly created Hawaii Leadership Forum to apply for its first Omidyar Fellows Program.

The program will offer up to 15 selected applicants a chance to participate in a rigorous leadership development curriculum designed to prepare leaders for making lasting change in Hawaii, a news release said.

"Hawaii is full of smart, talented people," said Kalei Stern, director of Omidyar Fellows in Hawaii. "The Omidyar Fellows Program offers people a world-class curriculum and aims to inspire them to think about how they might contribute to improving quality of life for the people of Hawaii."

The 15-month program will begin in October and feature actionable skills development, networking with peers, self-reflection and personal growth opportunities, the release said.

The ideal candidate would be in his or her mid-20s to early 40s, have at least five years’ management-level experience, be committed to staying in the islands and making a difference in the state, understand Hawaii and have enough experience to know what’s great about doing business in the state, the release said.

Applications can be completed online at Omidyar­Fellows.org through June 30. More information can be found online as well.

The Omidyar Fellows Program is sponsored by eBay founder and Hawaii resident Pierre Omidyar.

The program is being created by Bill Coy, the director of leadership and learning for the Hawaii Leadership Forum.

Funding for the program will come from the Hawaii Community Foundation’s Omidyar Ohana Fund, established in 2009 after Omidyar and his wife, Pam, a native of Hawaii Kai, pledged to donate $50 million to the foundation over six years.