The Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders (EWCL) program is a multidisciplinary, capacity-building, leadership training initiative geared towards early to mid-career wildlife conservation professionals. It addresses the need to build a cadre of highly qualified and motivated individuals who are capable of designing and executing effective international wildlife conservation programs. EWCL empowers these individuals by equipping them, over a two-year period, with hands-on experience and a set of key skills and tools that is rarely offered collectively in academia or other professional development programs. Thus, EWCL effectively shortens and tapers the learning curve for budding conservation leaders. In addition, participants are offered a unique opportunity to engage with an extensive network of peers, leading conservation practitioners and decision makers, enriching their career growth opportunities and improving wildlife conservation campaigns through collaborative action. Though based in the US, courses have included participants from around the world, and from a wide range of professional backgrounds, creating a richly diverse environment for learning.