Marshall Seminars

Leadership Programs at GMF is proud to announce the return of the Marshall Seminar—a global convening of our 4,000-strong alumni network and a hallmark of our commitment to bold transatlantic leadership in an age of global complexity.

Announcements

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2025 Marshall Seminar

GMF's Marshall Seminars address leadership issues for which no consensus has emerged regarding solutions. They convene GMF’s high-powered network to explore strategies and best practices through a transatlantic lens and identify opportunities for transatlantic collaboration. Set in the cities that best showcase the dynamics of the issues being examined, the seminars provide an inspirational setting for creative thinking and mapping out transformative action. With generous support from the Kresge Foundation, the 2025 Marshall Seminar will take place on October 9-11 in Detroit, Michigan. This year's theme is Evolving an Enduring Transatlantic Partnership for the 21st Century.

Register Here

Call for Proposals: 2025 Marshall Seminar Marshall Sparks

Marshall Sparks are TED-style talks given by alumni on your ideas on Democracy, Leadership, and Transatlantic Cooperation.

Submission deadline September 8, 2025, at 11:59 pm (EST)

As part of the 2025 Marshall Seminar on October 9-11, 2025, in Detroit, Michigan, we are launching a new platform for alumni to share bold ideas and lived insights that reflect the spirit of democratic resilience, global leadership, and citizen engagement.

Marshall Sparks are short, TED-style talks to spotlight alumni voices that challenge conventional thinking on democracy and transatlantic cooperation, explore emerging solutions, and illuminate how individual leadership and collective action can shape our transatlantic future. We invite you to submit a proposal for a 10 or 15-minute talk that draws from your personal experience, professional expertise, or civic innovation, rooted in the values of the Marshall Fund and your unique perspective as a GMF fellow. Talks should inspire, provoke thought, and offer practical or visionary takeaways for a global community of changemakers.

Whether you work at the systems level or on the ground, your voice matters today. Join us in advancing the dialogue on democracy, inclusivity, identity, and civic renewal.

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Review Process

We will feature up to 10 Marshall Sparks Talks throughout the program.
The Transatlantic Advancement Committee, comprised of alumni and GMF staff, will work together to evaluate the proposals.
You will be notified of a decision on or before September 22, 2025.
All Marshall Sparks talks will be held in person at the venue
We cannot accept proposals for virtual presentations.

What Are We Looking For

Your 1–2 page proposal should briefly address the following:

1. Talk Overview

Title (10 words or less)
Brief description) (500-character limit)
3 Intended takeaways for attendees (what do you hope they’ll learn, feel, or do?)

2. Relevance & Impact - Your talk should include one or more of the following:

Intended audience: (i.e., policy, business, civil society, etc.)
A bold or thought-provoking idea
A real-world example of impact, systems change, or community building
Tools and ideas that can help us in our own lives (tech/etc)
A story of partnership, transatlantic values, or tangible solutions
Reflections on leadership, democracy in action, transatlantic experiences in the context of the fellowship’s values

3. Connection to Key Themes

Please indicate how your talk aligns more with the themes of the Marshall Seminar or introduces a relevant new theme/concept for discussion.

About the Format

TED-style talks are 15-minute, visually engaging presentations (slides optional but encouraged). Talks will be grouped by theme and featured at the beginning of each session to help set the stage.

Sample Themes

While not required, these topics may help spark ideas:

Evolving an Enduring Transatlantic Partnership for the 21^st Century
Reviving the Transatlantic Spark
Demographic / Population Shifts
Economic Indicators / Forecasts (e.g., GDP per capita, life expectancy, wealth concentration, global debt, etc.)
Geopolitical Issues / Indexes (e.g., emerging powers/superpowers, trends toward democracy or authoritarianism, shifting alliances/interests, etc.)
Emerging Technology and Impacts (AI, Communications, Quantum Computing, Biology, etc.
Between Allies and Agendas: Unity or Illusion? Rethinking the Transatlantic Bond”
Europe: Concept, Continent, or Community?
Europe Without Britain?
Exit wounds of Brexit
The UK’s Post-Brexit Identity in Europe
Ukraine, Security, and the Meaning of European Integration
Borders, Belonging, and the Future of Ukraine
Ukraine’s Place in the European Order
Migration, Identity, and the Future of the Transatlantic West
What Defines a Rightful Claim to Belong in the West?
Why Africa and South America Must Be Part of the Transatlantic Conversation
The West Reconsidered
Exploring the Roots and Ramifications of U.S. Foreign Policy Drift
Tariffs, Tensions, and the Future of U.S.-EU Economic Relations
Transatlantic Trade in a World Turning Inward
Is the U.S.-Europe Trade Relationship Entering a New Protectionist Phase?
Reviving Growth in an Era of Economic Uncertainty
Innovation, Investment, and Inclusive Growth in Uncertain Times
Got a different idea? Pitch it!

How to Submit

Please email your proposal (PDF or Word format) to [email protected] by September 8, 2025. Your proposal should include:

Your name, current role, and fellowship cohort
Your completed talk overview and responses to the above prompts
Optional: any links to related work, videos, or previous talks - can include a submission video no more

Questions?

Contact us at [email protected]. We’re happy to talk through ideas or help shape your submission.

Marshall Seminars

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What are Marshall Seminars?

Marshall Seminars are immersive, two- to three-day gatherings that convene members of GMF’s transatlantic network to tackle leadership challenges for which there are no easy answers. These high-impact experiences bring together GMF alumni in dynamic cities that embody the issues under discussion—providing both the context and the inspiration for forward-thinking solutions.

Each seminar is designed to push boundaries: exploring emerging trends, sharing best practices, and uncovering new paths for transatlantic collaboration. Through honest dialogue and collective intelligence, participants gain tools to lead transformative change in their communities and sectors.

Who can participate?

Marshall Seminars are open exclusively to alumni of GMF’s prestigious leadership programs, including:

Marshall Memorial Fellowship
Manfred Wörner Seminar
Transatlantic Inclusion Leaders Network
Policy Designers Network
Leadership Lab
Transatlantic Forum for Migration and Integration
Asmus Policy Entrepreneurs Fellowship
APSA Congressional Fellowship
New Länder Fellowship

Whether you as an alum are shaping policy, leading civil society, driving innovation, or charting new ground in your field, the Marshall Seminars offer a rare space to reconnect, rethink, and reimagine transatlantic leadership.

Participation and Selection

Participation in each Marshall Seminar is limited to ensure meaningful exchange and collaboration.

By joining the Alumni Leadership Council, you gain priority access to register for the Marshall Seminar. Regular registration for the Marshall Seminar will open on a first-come, first-serve basis on July 15.

Register Here

Costs and Coverage

The registration fee for the 2025 Marshall Seminar is $500 and covers your accommodation, a welcome reception, meals, and photography. Alumni are responsible for their travel arrangements to and from the seminar.

Do you have any panel or speaker suggestions? Reach out to the Leadership Programs Team here: