Launched in October 2010, World Action Teams, an international corporate volunteering firm, creates innovative executive development opportunities within emerging markets in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Its mission is to develop leaders who create value for society by partnering with corporations to design and deliver discovery experiences in rapidly growing global markets.

"We believe this is the future of executive development," says David Maher, executive director of World Action Teams. "Any experience you have out of the office and immersed in an emerging market is going to be transformative. Also, strategically as businesses explore these new opportunities, there's tremendous value in engaging in entrepreneurial work within emerging markets."

World Action Teams programs range from four to 28 days and are customized for each organizations leadership development needs and business goals. Participants complete hands-on, immersive work, such as skills-based service projects and needs assessments. They work with nationals to learn how to lead effectively in the emerging environment. Current project partners include business incubators for female entrepreneurs and socially minded companies supplying water to underserved communities.

The staff of World Action Teams--who have worked to design and execute leadership development programs in 48 countries around the world--help participants to make connections between their international experiences and their business strategies at home. Additionally, World Action Teams incorporates leadership assessments, such as Hogan Assessments and the Global Mindset Inventory, to encourage each leader to personally apply lessons learned.

World Action Teams programs deliver high-impact, low-cost leadership development through a learning model that has shown to improve global leadership skills, resiliency, cultural intelligence, interpersonal growth, and employee commitment, according to Harvard Business School research.

"We feel the focus on leadership development while strategically aligning the businesss strategy with the program is our niche," Maher adds.