Can you believe that the hiring rate for Global Leadership Adventures (GLA) International Directors this year was lower than the acceptance rate at such prestigious universities as Berkeley and Cornell?

That’s right, our selection process is so competitive that hundreds of applications were received at a hiring rate of only 14%!

Why is this process so competitive? It is largely due to the fact that we look for only the best and the brightest to lead GLA students on our life-changing service-learning programs overseas.

For this reason, Directors go through an extremely meticulous hiring process that includes:

• Four rounds of interviews with different staff members to gauge the candidates’ teaching philosophy, experience facilitating students and overall commitment to GLA’s mission

• A series of scenario-based activities to better understand each candidates’ approach to safety and ability to enable group dynamics

• Validation of certifications including Wilderness First Responder, First Aid and CPR certifications

• An extensive mandatory background check to ensure suitability for working with teens

After each individual is approved by our Executive Director, Andrew Motiwalla, successful candidates are carefully placed in their respective countries for a summer of meaningful service alongside our students.

The preparation doesn’t end there. All Directors are invited to our Headquarters in San Diego for a 3-day Staff Training event. This year’s training event reaffirmed our thorough hiring process. Our current group of directors is committed to working together with their own creative styles to run the absolute best programs possible.

Photo: Orlando Arizandietar, Guatemala Director

As the summer quickly approaches, you may be wondering “Who is going to be my guide to these life-changing experiences?”. This is where Global Leadership Adventure’s (GLA’s) International Program Directors come into the picture.

A GLA Director is a globally-minded individual that is the catalyst of change for our programs. A strict set of criteria is used to hire these Directors that, according to Terra Education CEO Andrew Motiwalla, “allow them to inspire, connect and empathize with the students”.

We look for in-country Directors that:

• Possess extensive experience working with students- especially facilitating leadership training activities

• Have the proper Health & Safety certifications- such as Wilderness First Responder

• Lived and worked in several developing countries – many being returned Peace Corps Volunteers

• Are fluent in the local language – Se Habla Español for our Latin America programs

• Pass an extensive background check that confirms their suitability to work with GLA students

Each Director carries this unique blend of practical safety, leadership and organizational skills which guarantees that all of our programs create the signature GLA service-learning experience for students.

More importantly, this strict set of criteria ensures that the influence of our Directors on the students lasts long beyond the summer spent in-country.

To see more information on our current cohort of directors, please visit our Expert Staff Page.

Photo: Esther Simba, “Mama Simba”, Tanzania Director