FAQ

FAQs?

What is the Luminarian Fellowship and why are we doing this?

The Luminarian Fellowship is an exclusive collaboration between the leading Silicon Valley University, Innovera, and a growing network of global organizations. It is designed to prepare the next generation of corporate innovation leaders to confront the complex challenges of today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, driven by transformative technologies like artificial intelligence (AI). This invitation-only Fellowship equips executives and leaders with the knowledge, skills, and network to make innovation management a structured business discipline, ensuring they can successfully adapt to new market realities. We believe that our Fellowship format blends the unique insights received from a rich academic offering with the networking benefits of a conference and the long-lasting community of participating in an exclusive club—which cannot be found elsewhere, and only through the Luminarian Fellowship. We believe this format will help propel innovation and entrepreneurship to drive sustainable outcomes.

What does the Fellowship offer me as a participant?

Throughout the year-long Fellowship, participants will gain access to an exclusive network of innovative leaders and advisors, unique content, and educational materials designed for the Fellowship by the leading Silicon Valley University, as well as a Certificate of Completion issued by the same University following the successful completion of the Fellowship. As part of the Certification process, Fellows will be required to use innovation frameworks to assess their organization's innovation maturity or “readiness.” This work will form the basis of an innovation action plan to identify innovation opportunities and reduce friction within the candidate’s organization to drive innovation results. Fellows will also participate in exclusive global summits held in Silicon Valley, Berlin, Bangkok, and Dubai. Fellows will take applicable frameworks and resources to ensure professional growth from an individual and corporate or team perspective throughout the year-long program, which will amplify and differentiate them from other global leaders.

What’s in it for your company or organization?

The Luminarian Fellowship equips global innovation leaders with individual and team leadership skills and networks to provide long-lasting leadership that directly benefits the companies or organizations that sponsor their candidacy in the program. Leaders will apply specific frameworks and thought leadership principles that will directly impact the trajectory of the business and streamline pipeline, qualification, and selection processes as leaders and teams consider innovation investments. Companies will also benefit from the collaborative nature of the cohort, brand affiliation with the Luminarian Fellowship, its partnerships with the leading Silicon Valley university, and our growing network of media and sponsorship partners. Fellows will provide insights about organizational innovation maturity, which will, in essence, provide a roadmap so the organization will have an actionable innovation roadmap.

What if my plans change and I cannot attend?

We understand that, as a busy professional, plans could change at the last minute. We will consider a replacement individual from your company who meets the Fellowship criteria. If a replacement isn’t possible, we will refund based on the following criteria:

Full Refund: Within 3 months of the program start date
50% Refund: Within 1 month of the program start date
No Refund, Credit Issued for another cohort: After program start date.

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Am I responsible for global travel credentials and paperwork?

Yes, each individual participating as a Fellow, Advisor, or Speaker is responsible for ensuring all travel credentials, such as visas, passports, etc. (if applicable), are current. The Luminarian Fellowship will not be responsible for these requirements. The Fellowship will communicate needs to each participant to ensure ample planning time should there be specific credential needs.

I’m interested, but need to consider my current professional commitments and schedule. What is the time commitment for the Luminarian Fellowship?

The Fellowship is a year-long program that is a combination of four quarterly global summits and monthly virtual sessions. We will also create periodic social and professional development opportunities throughout the year, which will be designed to enrich the learning, connection, and expansion experience for Fellows.

Each global summit, listed below, lasts 2.5 days. We request that all Fellows participate during the entire timeframe for maximum benefit individually and for the most enriching cohort experience. And, to receive the Certificate of Completion associated with the Luminarian Fellowship—issued by the leading Silicon Valley university—Fellowship participants are required to participate in 90% of Fellowship activities.

Global Summit locations and dates are as follows:

Palo Alto (Silicon Valley),California, USA: April 3–5, 2025
Bangkok, Thailand: June 19–21, 2025
Berlin, Germany: September 11–13,2025
Dubai, UAE: December 11–13, 2025

As a Fellow, what accountabilities and key milestones will I be responsible for within theprogram?

Over the course of the year, Fellows will actively engage in collaborative cohort discussions and work towards completing the innovation maturity assessment of their organization. The Fellowship is intentionally designed as an immersive experience, enabling participants to immediately apply the provided materials and frameworks for tangible impact. Additionally, Fellows will establish personalized milestones to monitor their skill development throughout each phase of the program while also achieving key networking and cohort engagement goals. The pre-work required for Fellowship participation will include an intake ‘readiness’ assessment to determine how mature the sponsoring organization’s innovation program is and the action plan the Fellow will take to further develop it throughout the year-long program.

How is the Luminarian Fellowship different from other leadership programs?

The Luminarian Fellowship is tailored specifically for C-level executives and other leaders, focusing on structured innovation management and cross-industry leadership. Unlike typical corporate training programs, the Luminarian Fellowship offers a sequence of exclusive content offerings, including:

In-person summits located in four key global locations in the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, and MENA;
Tailored skill development relevant to today’s market and transferable between industries;
A cultivated network of global peers with ongoing touchpoints;
Ongoing access to Fellowship Advisors and Coaching post-year-long program.

Most importantly, the learning journey will combine the insights of an academic program with the networking of a conference and the tight-knit community of a private club, none of which are available in the market today. Everything will drive toward how innovation can build resilience for you and your organization

Who is eligible to apply for the Luminarian Fellowship?

The Fellowship team is looking for a diverse set of individuals with a proven track record of improving the state of business innovation or growth within a variety of organizations. Applicants are encouraged to apply with professional backgrounds from a variety of disciplines. We will review applications from leaders in public, private, civil society, social enterprise, academia, media, the arts, sports, and cultural leadership roles.

Above all, we seek individuals who are passionate about the work they lead, are known leaders in their field, champion growth and innovation within their business, and want to contribute to shaping the future of leadership along with a cohort of global leaders.

The candidate link to apply is located here: https://www.luminarians.ai/invitation

What is included in the Fellowship Program fee structure? Do the Fellowship program fees cover Travel & Expenses?

Our global summits are intended to foster collaboration amongst cohort participants. As a result, hotel accommodations and all food expenses while at our summits are part of the benefit of each Summit. Additionally, the Fellowship program fee covers all learning and certification fees associated with completion of the Fellowship.

Does the Fellowship cover flights to each Global Summit?

The Fellowship fee does not cover airfare or entrance visa issue process, as we know that travel plans are unique with arrival and departure needs.

What does the Fellowship cost?

The year-long Luminarian Fellowship program fees are $100,000.00 USD. Early admission and payment before January 31, 2025, is $85,000.00 USD.

How is payment made?

As a year-long executive development program, the Luminarian Fellowship is predominantly funded by training and HR benefits departments for the companies our Fellows are employed by. Generally, the Fellowship will issue an invoice against a purchase order. Program fees must be paid in full prior to the program start date. We will work with candidates to explore alternative payment structures if needed.

What are the application deadlines and fees?

The Fellowship offers an early bird membership of $85,000 if the contract is signed by January 31, 2025. After this date, the membership is $100,000. Applications remain open until March 15, 2025, and each applicant undergoes a review process to ensure alignment with the program’s values and objectives. For more information, contact us at luminarians@innovera.ai.

As a Fellow, will I receive any certification or recognition upon completing the Fellowship?

Yes, in addition to the personal and professional visibility, participants who complete the Fellowship will receive a certificate from the leading Silicon Valley University. This certification represents excellence in executive leadership and innovation management, which is highly regarded within the global business community.

I have questions about my candidacy and process? Who do I contact?

At any time throughout your candidacy, you may reach out to one of our program directors:
Paul Marca, paul@innovera.ai ; Zamir Shukho, zamir@innovera.ai.