PODER Collective Is Bringing Its Leadership Fellowship to New York City This Fall
There are plenty of leadership programs that promise to help people become better leaders. PODER Collective takes a different approach: start with purpose, then build from there
Founded by John Moreno-Escobar, PODER Collective is a leadership community focused on helping emerging and established leaders connect their work with a deeper sense of purpose. Its Fellowship is built around the P.O.D.E.R. framework: Purpose, Opportunity, Development, Empowerment, and Results, and has already graduated more than 30 fellows
Now, the organization is bringing its Fellowship to New York City for the first time
A New NYC Cohort
The inaugural NYC cohort will run from September 8 through December 16, 2026, with a deliberately small group of just 10 fellows
The program combines in-person gatherings with online sessions:
- Two in-person days in NYC
- Four online sessions via Zoom
- A multi-month cohort experience running from September through December
The goal isn't simply to add another credential to someone's résumé. The Fellowship is designed around reflection, leadership development, community, and turning ideas about purpose into meaningful results
That makes the program particularly interesting for people who are building companies, leading community organizations, working in the nonprofit or creative worlds, or simply trying to figure out what the next chapter of their leadership should look like
Who Should Consider Applying?
PODER is looking for people who are serious about leadership and interested in doing that work alongside a small cohort of peers
That could mean a founder building a company, a nonprofit leader, a community organizer, an artist, an executive, or someone taking on a larger leadership role within their organization. And because the NYC cohort is limited to 10 spots, this isn't designed as a massive conference or a passive online course. The small cohort is part of the point
You Don't Have to Apply to Get Involved
If the Fellowship isn't the right fit for you right now, PODER is looking for people who can refer potential fellows or introduce the organization to partners and sponsors who might want to support leadership development in New York
For people who spend a lot of time building communities, supporting founders, or connecting organizations across New York, that may be an especially useful way to get involved
Applications Are Open Through August 28
The application deadline for the inaugural NYC cohort is August 28, 2026
If you're curious about the program, you can watch a short introduction to PODER Collective and learn more about the Fellowship through its application page
Learn more and apply: https://www.podercollective.com/get-involved
Watch the video: https://youtube.com/shorts/y3k1og9MdWM?si=aRgNeOn5udhBOI82
For anyone looking for a leadership community this fall . especially people interested in purpose-driven work, entrepreneurship, community building, and personal development PODER's first New York cohort is worth a look
