The World Trade Center Institute’s prestigious Bowe Fellowship provides a unique opportunity for leaders with at least 10 years of business experience to prepare for C-suite roles. The fellowship features workshops led by subject matter experts who share strategic insights, leadership skills, and global perspectives necessary to navigate complex business environments. There are ample opportunities to network with a diverse group of like-minded professionals to expand professional networks and share best practices.
Top Reasons to Participate
Bowe Fellows value the connections they make, often outside of their industry or area of expertise. One-third of fellows received promotions within a year of program participation, and 84% are promoted within five years. They also end up feeling stronger and more confident about their place in the work world.
What to Expect
The Bowe Fellows meet once a month for 10 months for four-hour learning and networking sessions. Each session is led by a hand-picked subject matter expert(s) who brings real-world experience. At these sessions you will:
Draw attention to the positive impact of Mid-Atlantic companies, government agencies, academic institutions, and nonprofit organizations locally and globally
Be part of a sought-after network of like-minded global business leaders
Position yourself for a higher-level leadership role at your business
Increase visibility for your business
Hear directly from business leaders about challenges and opportunities related to global supply chains, the global economy, working with different cultures, and more
Learn skills related to negotiating, communicating persuasively, being innovative, and deepening emotional intelligence
Gain access to WTCI member-only networking events
Build long-lasting working relationships with peers and industry leaders through the Bowe Fellowship Alumni Network
Learn from the Pros
The program sessions are led by business leaders and other experts from the WTCI network, all of whom are affiliated with Mid-Atlantic entities that work globally – such as Under Armour, McCormick, Stanley Black & Decker, Northrop Grumman, Abt Global, Pandora, Kongsberg, Prometric, and Jhpiego.
Bowe Fellowship Schedule
September 18 – 19, 2025

This two-day retreat will help fellows achieve greater self-awareness while bonding with their cohort. The session includes several workshops and exercises aimed at building camaraderie among the fellows by breaking down barriers and deepening knowledge of other fellows in the cohort. Fellows will also spend time defining what they want from the program individually and collectively. These exercises create a strong foundation for a meaningful overall experience over the ten-month period of the fellowship.
The serene location of Winbak Farm is a perfect setting for both self-reflection and team-building. As a part of the experience, the group will have a four-course dinner led by a gourmet Chef, tour the farm, meet its remarkable Clydesdales, and learn about the farm’s global business operations from its owner.
October 8, 2025

Leadership is about influence. Communication and personal brand building are foundational to becoming the leader that you know you can be. This highly interactive workshop, led by a master communicator and a broadcaster, will blend group exercises, storytelling, and personal brand-building exercises to help fellows clarify their leadership principles and goals and put them into practice. The session will expand fellows’ capacity to think strategically, communicate persuasively, and present confidently to gain a competitive advantage and engage and influence audiences.
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November 12, 2025

The session focuses on implementing a systematic process that maximizes internal and external deals and helps maintain an ongoing relationship long after “the deal is done.” The training is based on The Power of Nice by Shapiro Negotiations Institute’s founder Ron Shapiro, and Persuade: The 4-Step Process to Influence People and Decisions by Jeff Cochran. The workshop will be grounded in scientific research shedding light on the decision-making process, real-world examples, and practical exercises to illustrate the concepts that can be applied in virtually any situation. At the end of the session, fellows will be better equipped to negotiate more confidently, work towards “WIN-win” outcomes and understand and use the three Ps in negotiations (Prepare, Probe, Propose). The current cohort will also get the opportunity to hear from peers who have completed the program before them. The discussion will revolve around their Bowe Fellowship experience and practical insights into making the best of it, for their personal and professional growth.
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December 3, 2025

Having a strong grasp of the business environment through multiple angles is becoming increasingly important to navigate today’s complex and ever-changing world. This thought-provoking session will review several global macro trends and the resulting risks and opportunities affecting global business – globalization/nationalism; demographic dynamics; climate change; technology innovation; and resource scarcity. A Senior Executive in the defense industry will share practical approaches to navigating these trends. And finally, an experienced space executive will help us uncover the new boundaries of low-Earth orbit (LEO) and the potential that it harnesses for business and life on Earth.
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January 21, 2026

This session builds on the global macro trends shared in the previous session. We will build a strong foundation of the global economy from the standpoint of key economic drivers, macro indicators, and global markets. Several key geographies will be discussed in more detail to provide insight into go-to-market strategies, business and labor considerations, and cultural nuances of those markets. Country experts will share lessons learned from their own experience.
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February 11, 2026

A company has a range of stakeholders – both external and internal. Global Marketing focuses on the company’s external stakeholders, such as customers and suppliers, to ensure the organization’s brand and value proposition are known and differentiated. As a leader, a key focus area is influencing internal stakeholders. This requires identifying key relationships and developing strategies to cultivate them. In this session, fellows will hear from a senior marketing executive on their approach to influencing external and internal stakeholders to drive growth in their organization. We will then hear from a leadership consultant to formalize these ideas and help fellows develop a stakeholder management and engagement plan for your key relationships.
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March 31, 2026

To create a more agile workforce that can respond to fast-shifting priorities, leaders must understand and adapt to new and emerging trends in employee engagement and expectations as well as new corporate strategies better suited for the new reality. For most executives, managing change is unlike any other managerial task they have ever encountered. While change is constant, great leaders know how to guide their teams and organizations through uncertainty with clarity and resilience. This session will provide Fellows with a better understanding of how companies manage change to build and lead successful global teams that inspire confidence, drive engagement, and turn challenges into opportunities for growth.
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April 15, 2026

Global supply chains are navigating unprecedented challenges driven by new U.S. tariffs, geopolitical tensions, and evolving trade policies. Companies in every industry are grappling with disrupted sourcing strategies, rising costs, and increased regulatory pressures. In this session, supply chain industry leaders will share how they navigate the regulatory environment and leverage AI and technology to enhance supply chain resilience, efficiency, and adaptability. These insights will highlight strategies for navigating market volatility, sustaining competitive advantages, and delivering corporate objectives amid complex global dynamics.
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May 13, 2026

During this ALL-DAY immersive experience, fellows will learn about Maryland’s major hubs of global travel, trade, and logistics – BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport and the Baltimore Port, through a visit to Tradepoint Atlantic. During this behind-the-scenes tour and presentations, fellows will learn about expansion projects at the port and airport and the state’s competitiveness as measured by people and goods activity through its transportation hubs. In the process, fellows will increase their understanding of and appreciation for the state as an attractive business destination. The day will end with a fun and relaxing crab feast at iconic Phillips Seafood Restaurant in the Baltimore Inner Harbor.
Tradepoint Atlantic Speakers:
BWI Speakers:
June 9, 2026

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September 23, 2026

Venture capital is undergoing one of the most consequential shifts in its history, driven by the extraordinary rise of artificial intelligence, unprecedented concentrations of capital, and rapidly rising valuations. In this Bowe-exclusive session, WTCI’s Board Chairman R. Todd Ruppert, who is a former venture partner at Greenspring Associates, former senior executive at T. Rowe Price, and advisor to numerous venture capital and private equity firms, will offer an insider’s perspective on where the industry stands and where it is headed. The conversation will put these trends in perspective for Bowe Fellows and will explore what the changing venture landscape means for entrepreneurs, investors, established companies, and business leaders.
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Apply to be a Bowe Fellow
Approximately 30 fellows are selected each year. Most applicants are nominated by their leadership. The program fee is $12,500 which is often covered by the nominating business. Some applicants are self-funded and in some cases partial scholarships may be available. Applicants must commit to attending all ten sessions (once a month starting in September), have the potential to grow within their business, and be willing to be active participants in the Bowe Fellowship Alumni Network. Applications are being accepted through April 30th. All nominees will be interviewed on a rolling basis. Contact us if you require an extension.
Questions about the Bowe Fellowship? Contact:
Faces of WTCI:
Sergey’s Fellowship Journey
A tumultuous youth taught him the value of foreign aid and put him on a path to helping others. Today, the networking superstar calls Maryland home and is always looking for partnerships for Catholic Relief Services and to build his personal network, making him a perfect fit for the Bowe Fellowship.
Fellowship Founders
Peter Bowe and Barbara Stewart are entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and innovators. In 2010, they founded the Bowe-Stewart Foundation with a focus on strengthening civic education and engagement and closing the opportunity gap for urban residents of Baltimore, MD and Chicago, IL.
Peter Bowe is the retired CEO of Baltimore-based Ellicott Dredges, the world’s leading manufacturer of portable dredging equipment. Among other leadership and community engagement roles, Peter served as vice chair of the WTCI Board of Directors for five years.
Barbara Stewart’s career spans leadership roles in local and federal government as well as the private sector. She was the CEO of AmeriCorps from 2018-2021 and for over a decade before that served as a Managing Director at JPMorgan Chase.




































































































































































































































































































































































