Advisory / Practice 04

Young Leaders Program

Senior mentorship for the next generation. History, philosophy, and the discipline of judgment under pressure.

The Young Leaders Program exists because we believe the slow-formed capabilities — historical literacy, moral seriousness, the ability to think for an hour without a screen — are now scarce and structurally undersupplied. The program is small, taught directly by senior practitioners, and built around primary sources rather than briefing decks.

Who this is for

Three kinds of candidates.

  • Mid-career professionals

    Roughly ages 28–40. Already responsible for outcomes, but seeking a broader frame than their training has provided.

  • Next-generation principals

    Heirs and heirs-apparent of family offices and family businesses preparing to take responsibility.

  • Early-career public servants

    By nomination only. A small number of seats are reserved each year for young foreign-service and defense officials.

Curriculum

Four pillars.

  • History

    A reading sequence on twentieth-century statecraft. The point is not to memorize dates but to recognize when you have seen this situation before.

  • Philosophy

    Selected readings in Western and Chinese political philosophy. We disagree with each other in front of you. That is the point.

  • Strategy

    Case-driven sessions on real decisions taken in the US–Taiwan–China arena, walked through with the people who took them.

  • Practice

    A written paper at the end of the year. The senior fellows mark it. We are not gentle.

Format

A year-long cohort.

  • Apply

    A short essay and one reference. Rolling review.

  • Convene

    Six weekend convenings across the year. Mix of New York and Taipei.

  • Continue

    Alumni become part of the wider SouthRock network. The relationship outlasts the program.

Apply for the next cohort.

Begin an application →