The William P. Lauder Wharton Leadership Fellows program is a 16-month leadership development and coaching role run by the McNulty Leadership Program at the Wharton School in Philadelphia. An older Wharton announcement describes it as 15 months.
Fellows train in the spring of their first MBA year, then lead the Learning Team Experience in Pre-Term, serve as MGMT 6100 teaching assistants, and coach and mentor first-year students and teams throughout their second year.
Benefits & funding
- Mandatory training in coaching, team formation and performance, emotional intelligence, crucial conversations, influence and facilitation.
- Hands-on practice as a team process consultant and mentor, plus symposia with William P. Lauder.
- The official pages list no stipend and no fee.
- Duty: all-day Friday trainings from mid-March to the end of April of year one, and a return to campus in early August for Pre-Term.
Eligibility
- First-year Wharton MBA students (the application uses a Penn email and PennKey) who will serve through their second year.
- Selectors look for a B+ or higher in MGMT6100 (stated as what they look for, not a rule).
- Must return to Philadelphia in early August and attend all spring trainings.
- The pages state no nationality, residence, age or work-experience limit.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.
Education required
Master Enrolled
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Application process
- 1Submit the online application with short essays (most capped at 500 words) by 25 November 2026. The application page says it opens 19 October 2026; the fellowships overview still says November.
- 2Add one recommendation from a Wharton peer who has seen you lead (not a Leadership Fellow, MGMT 6100 staff or Wharton faculty), due the same day.
- 3If invited, sit one first-round interview (January 2027) and a team-based evening final round (February 2027), which may include a presentation.
Program timeline
Applications open
Oct 19, 2026
Information sessions (in person; Zoom)
Oct 20, 2026 / 10-21
Application and peer recommendation deadline (previous cycle: Nov 30, 2025)
Nov 25, 2026
First-round interviews
January 2027
Team-based final interviews
February 2027