Home>How it will go

Systems Change MBA

The program is similar to an MBA program in its process – we meet 5 times a year, every 6-8 weeks, for 2.5 days in-person.

Learning Experience

Your learning experiences consists of theoretical inputs and insightful case studies, but most importantly – a lot of practical application of learnings and bonding on a human level.

Check-in’s

Between the modules, we have online check-in’s to offer thought partnership to each other.

WHERE

4 modules take place in Vienna, Austria and 1 module takes place in Prague, Czechia.

Apply now!

Applications are now open for the next Europe cohort, taking place in Vienna from October 2026 to April 2027.
Apply by August 31!

Please note before applying: This edition of the Ashoka Visionary Program is in-person.
Participants are expected to travel to Vienna seven times over the course of the 7-month program to attend the on-site modules.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

You identify as one of the following groups:

Executives, current and aspiring entrepreneurs, changemakers from any sector – e.g. civil society, philanthropy, business, public sector, media, academia.

You have:

  • A track record of effectively addressing social/environmental challenges,
  • 5+ years of changemaking experience
  • Strong social and emotional intelligence, interpersonal skills, and ability to lead
  • Proven, excellent problem-solving capabilities
  • Persistence, a positive attitude and an open mindset
  • Solid command of English language

Application Process

Let’s get ready to attend 5 practice-based modules, of 12.5 days in total (Thursday – Saturday), between October 2026 and April 2027? And invest in your future to come out transformed. Learn more about your successful application process for the executive leadership program:

1

Please take the time to answer the questions, as well upload your CV and a short video message via the application form – until July 31st.

2

We will contact you within 2 weeks, and if there is a match – we will invite you for a short online interview.

3

We will communicate the admission decision upon the interview.

COSTS

  • 10.000 EUR
  • Early-bird 10% discount until April 30th
  • Tax deductible for Austrian & German residents
  • If you are an Ashoka Fellow, you are eligible to a stipend of 7.000 EUR. Please reach out!

RAISING FUNDS


We invite you to be creative in designing a financing plan for the program.

Can part of your fee be financed by your employer as part of talent development?

Can a philanthropic donor of your organization support your development in the topic of systems change and impact, so that your organization can achieve impact?

Would you be open to start a crowdfunding campaign and invite your friends and family to support your changemaker development?

Reach out to us with your ideas about funding options, and we can support you with fundraising ideas & materials.

FAQ

The Visionary Program Europe takes place in-person in Vienna, Austria from October to April. We come together every 6-8 weeks for 5 modules, 2.5 days each. 

Yes, absolutely! The only pre-condition is for you to join all the modules, which are held from Thursday noon to Saturday evening, over the period of 7 months. Additionally, we have pre-readings in preparation for the upcoming modules and some post-module exercises, which require 2-10 hours of your time between modules. 

The participation fee for Visionary Program Europe is 10.000 EUR. It is tax-deductable for the tax residents of Austria. 
Please also keep in mind that the total costs of the program also include travel costs – transportation & accommodation. 

Yes, every year we reserve 1-3 places to Ashoka Fellows from Europe. They always bring incredible enrichment to the group, while Visionary Program serves as a perfect onboarding into the Ashoka’s universe and knowledge.  

We offer a 7.000 EUR stipend to Ashoka Fellows, making the total participation fee for them 3.000 EUR. If you are an Ashoka Fellow willing to take part in the program, reach out to us directly or via your country office. 

Every year closer to the end of recruitment process, we make a decision on several partial (up to 5.000 EUR) stipends to exceptional changemakers. In order to be eligible for a partial stipend, a candidate shall demonstrate potential for strategic collaboration with Ashoka on advancing the idea of changemaking. There is a question connected to it in the registration form, so if you are interested in a stipend – please make a note in the application form and share your ideas potential collaboration in advancing changemaking.  

We invite you to be creative in designing a financing plan for the program – maybe part of the fee can be financed by your employer as part of talent development? Or by your philanthropic donor as a way to support your capacitation in the topic of systems change and impact? Or by launching a crowdfunding campaign and getting your friends and family to support you? Reach out to us with your ideas about funding options, and we can support you with fundraising ideas & materials.

Once you submit your application for Visionary Program Europe, we will review your application and you shall hear from us within 2 weeks. If there is a fit for the program, we will schedule a 30 min online interview with you and we take it from there. 

In the case of cancellation of registration within 21 days prior to commencement of the Visionary Program a cancellation fee in the amount of 30% of the tuition fees must be paid. 

If cancellation of registration does NOT occur 21 days prior the commencement, or if the Visionary Program is not pursued by the participant for any reason whatsoever, then there shall be no legal claim to a refund of the tuition fees. 

All your colleagues are welcome to apply and will be notified about their eligibility. Please note that we only have max 30 spots available per region and year. 

A couple of weeks before the Kick-Off event and the first module, you will receive the Welcome package with the biographies of the other participants. 

All 5 modules are mandatory and designed in a coherent way – building on each other and representing Ashoka’s core values and network insights. However, you can miss one module for exceptional and justified reasons. 

Yes.

Yes, the program is open to everyone. The locations are accessible. Please do reach out to us at visionaryprogram@ashoka.org, if you have a specific question! 

All participants will have access to the materials of the five modules of the program (preparation materials, module slides, post-module exercises) as well as additional resources from the Ashoka community. 

Currently we operate a Visionary Program in Europe only – with speakers and participants mainly coming from this continent. 
For sustainability reason, we invite you to apply to Visionary Program in Europe, if you live in Europe or if Europe is where your impact work takes place.