Zebr Brussels Leadership Program
Learning to lead Self, Others, and Influence Society for Good. A think tank immersion.
The Zebr Brussels Leadership Program is a 6-month-long leadership development program, combining a formational leadership journey with practical training to exert positive influence in the public realm.
Today, a growing number of workers worldwide grapple with the pursuit of meaningful work that fosters human flourishing and stewardship of the earth. Recognising the significance of faith in shaping societal impact, we dive into the intersection of faith and work, exploring how this vital element can catalyse positive change.
Our program was born from a deep desire to witness your growth alongside fellow participants, as you form a network of friends empowered to lead boldly. In today's rapidly changing societies, character and adaptability are paramount. For over 20 years, we’ve been committed to nurturing emerging leaders in Europe.
Two core pillars of the course:
Personal development and leadership formation
Producing think tank content to influence public debate (EU, national or city level)
Through the course, we will explore what courageous, wise and servant leadership may look like. We will also equip participants to understand, research and produce content to influence policy making or public discussions, using our own agile think tank setup as a platform and drawing in experts from various fields.
"Whoever is the greatest should be the servant of the others." -Jesus of Nazareth
What We Offer:
6-month leadership program, with the opportunity to receive continuous input through our alumni network and to further your skills by joining our growing network of researchers and writers.
3 in-person 48-hour modules (located in Brussels twice and once at Zebr´s home base in Bergen, Norway)
Online sessions, mentorship, and coaching
Focused group work: 5-10 hrs/month
Alumni Network:
You will be invited into our exclusive alumni network of former participants, mentors and speakers from around Europe and the world. This will be an optional network of friends you can lean on for the next decades of your life, if you would like to remain a part of the fellowship.
“I most enjoyed being in community with people who share a love for Jesus and the entrepreneurial mindset. Having the chance to listen to talks, but also break into small groups during the sessions to discuss.”
You are an ideal candidate if you:
- Are between 21 and 35 years of age
- Have shown leadership initiative (during studies, in organizations, politics, business, communities of faith, etc.)
- Want to follow the ways and principles of Jesus in life, work, and relationships
- Have a high degree of motivation
- Will commit to fully participating in the program, participate in small group sessions, and participate in occasional evening seminars.
- Motivation to improve your writing skills through the process. However, you do not need to have long-term writing ambitions, but we believe everyone aiming to influence through leadership need to enhance their writing skill to some degree. This journey will allow you to grow in this area.
Why Study Jesus’ Leadership?
Despite what one believes about Jesus, his example of innovative leadership is unique and universal. We will study key principles of Jesus’ teachings including: reconciliation, servant leadership, integrity, purpose, love, clarity, and freedom. His model remains highly relevant today.
“I feel more assured about my calling and that I can be used by God and for his kingdom no matter where I am”
Entrepreneurial Leadership for Today’s Challenges:
Entrepreneurship is usually defined as the creation of new products or services and as such is limited to the field of business. However, research is now increasingly showing that the entrepreneurial leadership style is relevant throughout society as a whole. In our course, we aim to empower young leaders aiming for careers in all sectors to develop a more entrepreneurial mindset.
As the world is facing unprecedented challenges such as the weakening of democratic institutions, migration, climate change, decreasing resources such as water and species of the world`s insects and animals, we believe the ability to enhance one´s entrepreneurial thinking is pivotal. The course aims to do just that.
Think Tank Content Creation:
We will give you an introduction to the art of writing articles, op-eds and create media content for the public and to utilise them to influence policies or the public discourse. You will choose your own topic based on your current knowledge or engagement. You will receive training and coaching to write either a journalistic, research-based article, an opinion-piece (op-ed) or create other media content through the course of the program, aiming to publish it either in a local or European context and/or own platform; the Zebr Magazine. During the end of the journey, you will present the content in a public Zebr City Hub meeting in Brussels, inviting other young adults in the city to engage in an evening of discussions on the topics.
Practical information
2026 Dates:
Module 1: January 9-11, Brussels, Belgium
Module 2: March 20-22, Bergen, Norway
Module 3: June (exact date to be announced shortly), Brussels, Belgium
Price: The program cost is €290 which covers parts of our course administrative cost as well as speaker and mentor travelling cost. Fee does not include travel expenses to and from Brussels, accommodation or food during the sessions. Accomodation: we have some simple hostel-style accommodation available on site, but recommend teaming up with other applicants and sharing an Airbnb flat near our location, or coach-surfing with friends or zebr alumni in Brussels. We self-organise meals. The course is conducted with a high degree of sponsorship and has an estimated value of at least € 3,000 per person per year. Zebr Institute is investing in you!
Number of Participants: Space is limited to 10 spots only, and we encourage both women and men to apply. The number of applicants has been high in recent years, so we recommend that you take the time to write a complete application.
Application should include: Motivation for participation in the program, shed light on previous leadership experience from study, organisations, society, or business, what you as a leader have delivered and achieved and your aspirations for the future. Please also include date of birth, CV, and provide at least two references.
Send your application to linn@zebrinstitute.com
Application deadline: Nov 15th, 2025
Questions? Don’t hesitate to email us at linn@zebrinstitute.com.