The Intercultural Leadership Program Enters it’s 19th Year

Now in its 19th year, the Intercultural Leadership Program (ILP) has grown from a one-person effort in 2007 into a thriving initiative supported by Penn partners, student leaders, and alumni. ILP continues to equip students with the skills to lead with empathy, cross-cultural understanding, and a global perspective. Over nearly two decades, the program has created a vibrant community of learners and leaders who embrace difference, build bridges, and cultivate intercultural friendship.

This year’s edition was especially meaningful, as ILP expanded for the first time into a three-day retreat at the St. Raphaela Center. Throughout the weekend, participants engaged in team-building activities, cultural simulations, and deep conversations about identity and values. One of the highlights was the Cultural Showcase, where students shared traditions, talents, and stories in a joyful celebration of diversity and connection. Each moment reflected the spirit of curiosity, trust, and openness that has defined ILP since its beginning.

The success of the program rests on the dedication of our student leaders, whose energy, creativity, and care guided participants through each session. Their leadership ensured that the 19th year of ILP was not only impactful but also unforgettable. We are equally grateful to our participants, whose willingness to share their perspectives created a supportive community that will continue to resonate long beyond the weekend.

As ILP celebrates its 19th year, we also look ahead with excitement to the future. Next year will mark the program’s 20th edition—a milestone moment that we hope will welcome back many of this year’s participants as student leaders. Here’s to nineteen years of growth, discovery, and intercultural leadership, and to many more years of connection still to come.