Meet the 2023 JA Worldwide Fellows

January 18, 2023

We’re thrilled to announce the fourth cohort of the JA Worldwide Fellows Program. Launched in 2018, the global staff development initiative deepens leadership, mentorship, and strategic skills through virtual leadership training sessions, in-person development opportunities, and transformational coaching sessions.

The newest cohort of JA Worldwide Fellows will participate in a variety of high-impact initiatives over the course of their 12-month fellowship, including the launch of JA Worldwide’s global onboarding initiative, the planning and launch of the 2023 JA Worldwide Global Leadership Conference, design and participation in the Women in Global Leadership Development Conference, and much more.

After a competitive year of applications from 24 JA locations, JA Worldwide selected eight Fellows, representing all six regions. This is also our first all-women cohort!

Meet the 2023 Fellows:

Fatma Alhashli
Social Services Specialist, INJAZ Oman

Amanda Cornélio
Operations Analyst, JA Brazil

Paula Patrice Dela Cruz
National Project Manager, JA Philippines

Phetsile Masilela
Executive Director, JA Eswatini

Deirdre O'Connor Mitchell
Chief Operations Officer, JA of Greater Boston

Rachael Mwagale
Executive Director, JA Uganda

Vanessa Underwood
Sr. Director of Finance & Administration, JA Canada

Rasa Valaityte
Program Manager, JA Lithuania

The JA Worldwide Fellows Program is a powerful learning opportunity designed to support the development of our high-potential JA leaders across the globe. Our goal is both to develop leaders within the network and encourage local JA locations to deepen their commitment to investing in staff. By the end of the program, Fellows will have . . .

  • Developed deep expertise in servant-based leadership; learned to empower their teams, coach colleagues, and create psychological safety; and drastically improved communication

  • Developed a deep understanding of who they are at their best and how to summon their best selves with ease

  • Dramatic improvement in productivity, motivation, and alignment to their personal purpose

  • Collaborated on a regional or global project of strategic importance to the success of JA globally

  • Deepened skills, including fundraising, education pedagogy, operations management, communications and marketing, design thinking, digital expertise, and more

In addition to the Fellows, we’re looking forward to rolling out even more new learning opportunities and credentials for JA staff—like the microlearning credential with Rumie—throughout 2023!

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