FARHANA'S BRAINSTATION · COHORT 13
LEARN. LEAD.
CREATE IMPACT.
An SDG-driven leadership fellowship designed to help young people build practical career skills, leadership experience, professional networks and the confidence to create meaningful impact.
Fellows
Months
Career Tracks
Sep '26–Feb '27
Cohort 13 Timeline
About the Fellowship
A place to learn, connect and lead
The Leadership Fellowship is Farhana’s Brainstation’s flagship programme — Cohort 13, its first leadership cohort, brings together 100 young people for a six-month, remote-first journey across 14 career pathways.
It’s built around leadership development, practical career skills and SDG-focused project work — supported by mentors, speakers and partner organisations from Bangladesh and abroad. Fellows learn by doing: 14 hands-on topics, real SDG-linked project work in role-based teams, and a final showcase that ends in certification.
The Fellow Journey
Your fellowship journey
Seven steps from discovery to alumni — including the four core phases of the fellowship.
01
Step 0Awareness
Open call shared across Farhana's LinkedIn Top Voice network and partner channels.
02
Step 0.5Structured Selection
Competency-based application plus a short interview; acceptance rate published openly.
03
Phase 1Recruitment & Orientation
15–20 Sep 2026
Fellows meet their pod, all 14 role tracks are introduced, and the SDG framework is set.
04
Phase 2Career Pathway
25 Sep–25 Oct 2026
14 hands-on topics with industry mentors — featuring a GEN UAE (Dubai) expert this cohort.
05
Phase 3SDG Project
Nov 2026–Jan 2027
Three months of real, mentor-guided SDG project work in role-based teams.
06
FinalShowcase & Certification
Feb 2027
Projects presented, certificates issued, I4I winners recognised.
07
Step 5Alumni Network
Graduates return as mentors, judges and ambassadors for the next cohort.
Phase 01
15–20 Sep 2026
Selection & Orientation
Fellows are chosen through a structured application and a short interview — not open enrolment. Orientation introduces all 14 role tracks, the SDG framework the fellowship runs on, and the small "pod" each Fellow will belong to for the next six months.
Phase 02
25 Sep–25 Oct 2026
Career Pathway
One month, 14 hands-on topics, led by industry mentors and expert panels — from personal branding to SDG project design.
A GEN UAE expert based in Dubai joins the Career Pathway line-up and continues offering Fellows free career consultancy after the fellowship ends.
Phase 03
Nov 2026–Jan 2027
SDG Project Phase
Three months. Fellows work in role-based teams on a real SDG-aligned project, guided by mentors, entirely from wherever they are.
Final
Feb 2027
Showcase & Certification
Fellows present their projects, receive their graduation certificate, and the strongest teams compete for Impact for Innovation (I4I) recognition.
14 Career Pathways
Skills you can take into the real world
Every Fellow — regardless of role — completes the same curriculum before SDG project teams form in Phase 3.
Personal Branding & LinkedIn Optimization
Profile building, content strategy, professional visibility.
Assignment — Publish an optimised LinkedIn profile and one original post.
CV, Resume & Cover Letter Writing
Tailored application materials for internships and entry-level roles.
Assignment — Submit a completed CV and one tailored cover letter.
Communication & Public Speaking
Structuring a message and presenting with confidence.
Assignment — Deliver a 3-minute recorded self-introduction / pitch.
AI Tools for Work & Career
ChatGPT/Claude, prompt writing, AI-assisted research and writing.
Assignment — Complete one real task with an AI tool; submit the output and the prompt used.
Canva & Graphic Design Basics
Social media posts, presentation decks, branded templates.
Assignment — Design one social media post and one presentation slide in Canva.
Video Editing & Short-Form Content
CapCut/Premiere basics, Reels/Shorts, captions and hooks.
Assignment — Edit and submit a 30–60 second short-form video.
SDGs & Sustainable Development Fundamentals
Grounding ahead of the SDG project phase.
Assignment — Submit a one-page brief mapping a personal interest to a specific SDG.
Project Management & Time Management
Planning, prioritisation, meeting deadlines in a team.
Assignment — Build a one-week project plan/timeline for a sample task.
Content Writing & Digital Storytelling
Writing for impact across formats and platforms.
Assignment — Write and submit one short article or story (300–500 words).
Data, Research & Basic Analysis Skills
Reading data and supporting decisions with evidence.
Assignment — Submit a one-page summary of findings from a small research task.
Leadership & Team Collaboration
Leading and working within a project team.
Assignment — Complete a team-based mini-challenge and submit a short reflection.
Networking & Relationship-Building
Building the kind of network that opens doors.
Assignment — Make 3 new relevant LinkedIn connections; document the outreach messages.
Interview Prep, Job Search & Financial Basics
From application to offer, and the fundamentals of building something of your own.
Assignment — Complete one mock interview and submit a basic personal budget draft.
Workplace Professionalism & Career Resilience
Handling feedback, conflict, ambiguity, and setbacks.
Assignment — Submit a written reflection on handling a past setback or piece of feedback.
Selection for the SDG Project Phase
Fellows who attend at least 80% of the 14 sessions and submit all 14 assignments earn a Career Pathway Completion Certificate — the prerequisite for entering Phase 3. The same attendance and assignment record is what places each Fellow into the SDG project role where they'll contribute most.
Inside the Fellowship
What fellows will experience
01
LEARN
Practical career and professional skills through 14 hands-on tracks.
02
CONNECT
Meet mentors, professionals and fellow changemakers across every session.
03
BUILD
Work on real SDG-linked project work in role-based teams.
04
SHOWCASE
Present your work and achievements at the final showcase.
05
LEAD
Develop leadership and teamwork experience that outlasts the fellowship.
06
BELONG
Become part of the alumni network and give back to the next cohort.
How We Monitor It
Tracked every session, not just at the end
Skill Confidence
Pre- and post-phase self-assessment across all 14 topics.
Assignment Completion
% of the 14 assignments submitted, per Fellow.
Attendance Rate
Session-by-session attendance log.
Session Quality
Facilitator and Fellow feedback after every session.
Overall Satisfaction
End-of-phase relevance & satisfaction survey.
What Fellows Receive
12 reasons to join
A six-month experience designed to support your career, skills and growth — every benefit tagged to the SDG it serves.
IELTS Preparation
Free course, every Fellow.
Spoken English
Dedicated communication coaching.
Study-Abroad Support
End-to-end application guidance.
BBA/MBA Scholarship
Fully funded, 2–5 Fellows — partner selects the candidates.
Partner Vouchers
Discounts across the network.
Internships
Placements with partner organisations.
Practical Training
Hands-on work, not just theory.
Leadership & Network
Skills that outlast the fellowship.
Industry Visits
Direct exposure to real workplaces.
Job Fairs & Expos
Showcase and hiring-event access.
Paid Courses & Events
Sponsored access via partners.
I4I Recognition
Rewards for winning SDG projects.
Mentors & Speakers
Backed by practitioners, led by the world
The people Fellows learn from directly — mentors, speakers and partners confirmed for Cohort 13.
MENTORShahid Uddin Akbar
CEO, Bangladesh Institute of ICT in Development
MENTORRashed Mujib Noman
Managing Director, Commure Bangladesh
SPEAKERK.M Hasan Ripon
President, Trainers Association of Bangladesh
MENTORNesar Ahmed Julius
Chief of Administration and HR, Sirajganj Economic Zone Ltd.
SPEAKERSudeb Kumar Biswas
Director - Learning & Development, Quazi Consaltants
MENTORMd. Enamul Haque
Founder, EnterpriseRx Bangladesh
SPEAKERMinhazul Asif
CEO, CodemanBD
MENTORMashahed Hassan Simanta
Trainer
More mentors and speakers are confirmed on a rolling basis.
Our Network
Our partners
The organisations backing Cohort 13 — from Bangladesh and beyond.
Partners joining every week
06
Showcase & Certification
Present the work.
Earn the recognition.
In February 2027, Fellows present the projects they’ve built, receive their graduation certificate, and the strongest teams compete for the Impact for Innovation (I4I) recognition — a highlight of Cohort 13.
Every Fellow who completes the core phases walks away with practical achievements they can show — projects, assignments, certificates and a professional network.
Leadership Fellowship
Ready to become
a Fellow?
Build practical skills, connect with inspiring people, work on meaningful projects and take your next step with the Farhanas Brainstation community.
Applications for Cohort 13 close ahead of Orientation on 15 Sep 2026 — 100 seats, 14 tracks, one fellowship.