“Together, we are creating ripples that transform lives, communities, and the world.”
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Rizreen Siraj EXTENDED LEADERSHIP PROGRAM LEAD
Digital rights training for girls through Tech4SDGs Academy — a Social Impact Seed Fund initiative by Abdou Karim Badjie.
Dear Friends,
2024 has been a transformative year for Aspire as we have expanded our reach to 190+ countries, received 115,000+ applications, and awarded over $100,000 in financial awards. This is thanks to a small group of individual donors, 700+ global partners, and four local Foundries in Bangalore, Istanbul, Lahore, and São Paulo.
In 2025, we are launching a technology platform to expand our reach to millions of learners while fostering a vibrant global community. Designed to enhance engagement, peer connections, and impact, Aspire’s platform will also o er valuable features to keep alumni connected and benefiting as part of this growing network.
We invite you to dive into this Year-in-Review to explore the incredible journeys of Aspire participants from around the globe—stories of transformation, inspiration, and big dreams coming to life!
With Gratitude,
Karim Lakhani
Co-founder, Aspire Institute; Dorothy & Michael Hintze Professor of Business Administration; Chair, Digital, Data & Design (D^3) Institute at Harvard; Founder, Laboratory for Innovation Science at Harvard
Tarun Khanna
Co-founder, Aspire Institute; Jorge Paulo Lemann Professor; Director, Lakshmi Mi al & Family South Asia Institute, Harvard University
Meena Sonea Chief Executive O icer
Le er from the Directors
Who We Are
Foundations of Aspire: Our Mission and Goals
We believe talent is universal, but opportunity is not. At Aspire Institute, our mission is to empower first-generation, low-income college students globally to pursue their dreams—and along the way, inspire change and create an impact in their communities. By connecting learners with world-class faculty, mentorship, and a global network, we empower them to master soft skills and forge innovative pathways to economic success.
The Aspire Leaders Program (ALP)
The ALP participants have access to exceptional personal and professional development opportunities, including a leadership course designed and delivered by Harvard faculty, complemented by masterclasses led by world-class educators. The program emphasizes peer-to-peer learning, and encourages collaboration and shared growth. ALP has consistently boosted confidence, provided resources for purposeful leadership, and cultivated a global network of like-minded young leaders.
The Extended Leadership Program (ELP)
The ELP extends the leadership learning journey of the alumni by providing regional mentorship, funding for academic and professional growth, and in-country opportunities for alumni to make a local impact through volunteering and action-oriented projects.
ALP Alumni gathered for a Chai + Chat event in Nairobi, Kenya, with Harvard professors Carrie Elkins and Ingrid Monson.
ALP alumni gathered in Pakistan during a visit from CEO, Meena Sonea.
U.S. ALP alumnus Bryan Zapata participating in an ALP session.
2024 Highlights
Aspire Institute’s Country Representative in Brazil, Aline Santos, along with Jenni er Alves and a team of 10 volunteers, have built partnerships with over 50 organizations across Brazil. Their e orts have driven a significant increase in applications, rising from 200 in 2022 to over 2,600 in 2024.
Aspire Institute’s Pakistan Foundry co-hosted an event with the Center for Economic Research in Pakistan (CERP) to connect program alumni with research, analytics, and capital development experts.
Our Distinguished Speaker Series event gathered 2,000 people to hear from internationally recognized investor and entrepreneur, Marcelo Claure. Participants learned from the former Sprint CEO‘s journey from humble beginnings to becoming a global business leader.
Aspire Leaders Program alumna from Brazil, Linda Fraga, visited the Aspire Institute o ice, sharing her journey and her new role as Brand Lead & Social Media Manager at Aspire’s Global Partner Organization, One League.
At Aspire Institute’s annual sta retreat, the team focused on ‘scaling agency,’ collaborating on ways to enhance impact in 2025. Key priorities include strengthening technology, expanding global partnerships, and piloting an AI powered advanced leadership program to equip alumni for economic independence.
Aspire’s ‘Building Online Communities’ event drew a global audience of 700, exploring how online platforms and programs like the Aspire Leaders Program can foster meaningful networks for personal and professional growth.
Aspire Institute’s CEO, Meena Sonea, traveled to Pakistan, India, and Türkiye to connect with past, present, and future Aspire Leaders Program participants. Her visit focused on forging lasting partnerships and creating new opportunities to empower first-generation university students in these key regions.
spotlighting the work of our three STEAM Fellows, Nisa Turgut, Prajjwal Dhunganal, and Theophilus Barasa. During the year, they developed innovative research projects, enacting positive change in their
communities.
the Numbers
Our 2024 Programs
Countries Represented 195
115,000+ Applications in 2024 Female Representation 48% Accepted Into the Program 68,000+ By
Aspire Through the Years
Number of Applications 2017-2024
Total Amount Awarded to Alumni to Date Graduates /Alumni
200,000+
$239,000 48,000+
Global Partnerships Established
700+
83 volunteers 10 countries
Global Foundaries (Bangalore, Istanbul, Lahore, and São Paulo)
4 Aspire Volunteer Program Launched in
“I learned a lot about leadership and got to see how some of my own practices as a student leader were e ective or weren’t e ective.”
- Andrew Marvin Kanyike ALP ‘22, CAA WINNER ‘22, UGANDA
Program Impact
Evaluation Process
Average Percentage Improvement in Core Attributes (2024 ALP)
Overall pre- and post-program scores were calculated for each a ribute, and the average change across all respondents was analyzed, revealing statistically significant improvements across all a ributes. Communication skills showed the highest mean increase (11.44%), followed by intercultural competency (8.84%) and leadership propensity (8.06%)
Percentage of Participants showing Positive vs. No Impact in Core Attributes (N=7,554)
For each core a ribute, a positive change was recorded if a participant’s post-test score increased on at least one question. If all responses within a category remained unchanged or showed a net decrease, the result was classified as “no impact.”
Across all a ributes, the majority of participants reported net positive improvement. The highest was self-confidence (81%), followed closely by risk-taking propensity (80%) Additionally, 75% reported an enhanced ability to create social impact, while 74% showed improved communication skills and leadership propensity Growth mindset (67%) also saw strong improvements. Critical thinking and intercultural competency experienced notable positive shifts, with over half of participants reporting improvement.
Transformative Stories of Aspire Alumni
Aspire Leaders Program alumni are true changemakers, sparking transformation in their communities and beyond. This year, we spotlight ten inspiring Aspire alums who are making waves. Armed with the leadership, confidence, and global connections gained through Aspire, these young visionaries are taking on some of the world’s most pressing social and economic challenges—and making a real di erence.
Kamal ul Din, Pakistan
Environmental Action in Rural Communities
Turning plastic waste into creative solutions and planting trees to create a sustainable future.
“Leadership is about action, not position. Empower others to lead, and the ripples of impact will grow exponentially.”
Providing educational opportunities to marginalized Afghan youth86% of whom are girls - empowering them to break barriers and access international education opportunities.
Impact: 3,000 students empowered | 86% female participation
“Focus on what you can do with what you have right now. Small actions lead to big changes.”
Rafael Borba, Brazil
Dementia Awareness and Prevention
Impact: 70+ elderly individuals supported
Introducing innovative healthcare solutions to improve elderly care.
“Change often begins with small, consistent efforts that build momentum.”
Roshan Panigrahi, India
Inclusive Education for Visually Impaired Students
Creating accessible learning materials for underserved communities.
Impact: 150+ students supported with braille resources
“Even the smallest act of leadership can set off ripples that create waves of change.”
Connecting low-income communities with sustainable job opportunities.
Impact: Hundreds of job opportunities facilitated “Aspire offered me the chance to learn from diverse perspectives beyond my country and engage with changemakers.”
“To connect with students who are going to be in the decisionmaking chair in their own career, I find this my unique opportunity to help young people think beyond themselves and about society as a whole.”
- Can Erbil
MASTERCLASS FACULTY, BOSTON COLLEGE
Aspire
Behind the Scenes
Aspire’s impact wouldn’t be possible without the dedicated individuals working behind the scenes. Our global network of sta , faculty, and mentors.
STAFF AND INTERNS
Driving Aspire’s mission day-to-day, our team of 11 full and part-time sta , four interns, and Foundry sta in Brazil, India, Pakistan, and Türkiye ensures seamless operations and participant engagement across 195 countries.
ALUMNI VOLUNTEERS
Moderators
Alumni moderators play a crucial role in retention and engagement, facilitating peer discussions and providing support.
Community Leaders
Spread across 10 top sourcing countries, our volunteer Community Leaders strengthen Aspire’s local presence by organizing outreach and networking events.
Domain Leaders
These leaders engage industry experts to host specialized online sessions, o ering insights to alumni across diverse sectors.
PROGRAM VOLUNTEERS
Faculty & Content Experts
50+ faculty members deliver world-class master classes, equipping participants with critical leadership and professional skills.
Mentors
Our 12 mentors provided valuable professional advice in the monthly mentorship series, helping Aspire alums continue their leadership development journeys.
Our ambitious fundraising goals will enable us to scale Aspire’s impact to reach 1 million learners by 2027.
Annual Budget Growth (2021-2027)
Fundraising Goal = Gifts = Expenditures
Cost Efficiency per Student
With increased participation and program efficiencies, Aspire’s cost per student continues to decrease, maximizing the value of every donor contribution. $8,000,000
Cost Per Enrollee
Scaling in 2025
Our vision statement for creating a global wave of impact for the upcoming year.
Introduction of the Advanced Leadership Program:
A fee-based professional development program o ered in partnership with forwardthinking companies to sponsor participants in exchange for access to a pool of highly skilled Aspire alumni, creating a pipeline for hiring top-tier talent prepared for leadership in the AI-driven workplace.
To inspire 250,000 individuals worldwide to apply and join the Aspire Leaders Program.
Increase alumni engagement and activities through our Aspire Volunteer Program in our top 10 sourcing countries. Find opportunities to host monthly in-person events facilitated by the volunteer Community Leaders in these countries.
Expand our network of local partnerships and content creators from 700+ to continue presence across S. Asia, Africa, MENA, Latin America, and N. America - and expand in newer regions - Southeast Asia and Europe.
Build Technology to Scale to unify and improve the Learning Management System (LMS) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems to deliver a seamless user experience, automate manual processes, and prepare the platform for scalable growth and global adoption.
Expansion of local Foundries in top sourcing countries like Bolivia, Mexico, Nigeria, and the U.S
