Washington, D.C., April 21, 2026 — IREX is pleased to welcome the 2026 cohort of the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Fellowship Program to the United States. The YLAI Fellowship Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by IREX. The 2026 YLAI Program brings together 240 business leaders from the Western Hemisphere for a six-month hybrid exchange that includes an online entrepreneurship curriculum and an in-person placement with a U.S. business. 

YLAI advances U.S. economic and strategic interests in the Western Hemisphere by strengthening commercial ties between American businesses and entrepreneurs with companies expanding trade and innovation across the Americas. Following the virtual YLAI Entrepreneurial Leadership Curriculum, participants arrive in Houston, Texas today for a two-day Opening Orientation. Participants will then embark on a four-week professional placement in various U.S. cities such as Phoenix, Arizona, Atlanta, Georgia, and Kansas City, Missouri to collaborate with U.S. businesses while participating in networking and professional development activities.

Accomplished in their careers and dedicated to serving their communities, YLAI participants are business owners and professionals selected through a merit-based process. Participants work in various industries, including technology, agriculture, hospitality and tourism, and marketing. Throughout the program, participants will develop lasting connections and strengthen business ties between the United States and the Americas. 

Following the professional placements, participants will convene in Washington, D.C. for the 2026 YLAI Closing Forum. This year participants, partners, and other members of the program will celebrate the YLAI Program’s 10th anniversary and reflect on the successes from the past 10 years. Upon their return home, participants continue to build on the skills and connections developed during their time in the United States through ongoing professional development, networking, and opportunities as YLAI Alumni. U.S. business Placement Organizations may also apply for the reciprocal outbound exchange, a continued project-based collaboration where U.S. colleagues travel to their YLAI Alumni collaborator’s home country to undertake impactful projects.

About the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA)

ECA designs and implements educational, professional, and cultural exchange and other programs that create and sustain the mutual understanding with other countries necessary to advancing United States foreign policy goals. ECA programs cultivate people-to-people ties among current and future global leaders that build enduring networks and personal relationships and promote U.S. national security and values. For more information, visit: https://eca.state.gov.

About IREX 

IREX partners with communities and institutions in the United States and around the world to cultivate leaders, create employment opportunities, and expand access to education, delivering measurable, cost-effective results. For nearly 60 years, IREX has been committed to creating value for individuals and communities through practical, enduring impact. For more information, visit https://irex.org.

About the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Fellowship Program

Funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), and implemented by IREX, the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Fellowship Program is the flagship program for emerging entrepreneurs and business leaders from the Western Hemisphere. For more information, visit YLAI, visit https://YLAI.state.gov.