Interested in learning more about the Zuckerman Fellowship?
By Moises (Mo) Navas MPA/MBA (MIT Sloan) 2026
The Zuckerman Fellowship—offered through the Center for Public Leadership (CPL)—equips people from the fields of medicine, law, and business to provide leadership for the common good. The fellowship provides financial support for one year of a graduate program at select Harvard schools, a comprehensive co-curricular leadership development program, and engagement with mentors and highly accomplished leaders.
Moises (Mo) Navas MPA/MBA (MIT Sloan) 2026 reflects on his time as a 2024-2025 Zuckerman Fellow in the post below.
—
Finding a new mission after military service
When I transitioned out of the Marine Corps, I knew I wasn’t done serving—I just needed a new mission. The Zuckerman Fellowship at Harvard Kennedy School helped me find it.
Coming to Harvard Kennedy School and MIT Sloan after years in uniform was both exciting and daunting. Before this experience, I had led Marines, deployed across continents, and faced real-world crises—but stepping into classrooms filled with policy experts, scientists, and social entrepreneurs pushed me in entirely new ways. The fellowship gave me not just a bridge between those worlds, but also a launchpad.
Launching impactful ventures
Many people know that I am a Gold Star Brother, meaning I lost a sibling in combat. Losing my brother, Major M. A. Navas, changed my life. But, from that loss, I knew I had to make meaning of my brother’s sacrifice.
I launched and refined my nonprofit, , to support the children of special operators. The Zuckerman Fellowship gave me the push, the space, and the community to take bold ideas and make them real.
Later, with fellow Harvard students Nick Maynes, Ryan Holte, and Louis McCullagh, I co-founded , a dual-use tech accelerator at the . This new national security innovation accelerator helps startups working on critical national security challenges bring their innovations to life.
These weren’t just passion projects; they became platforms for impact. The Zuckerman Fellowship was a launchpad not just for ideas, but for healing, leadership, and mission. It reminded me that building in someone’s name is one of the most powerful ways to honor them and shape the future.
A community built on public leadership
The Zuckerman community is comprised of people who want to serve others, and not just succeed for themselves. It’s rare to find a group that combines this level of intellectual depth, humility, and moral clarity.
Beyond this, the other fellows and I became so close that my daughter ended up becoming good friends with another Zuckerman’s daughter! Seeing friendships go beyond just students has also made the experience so impactful.
Field experience: New Mexico, tribal nations, and the nuclear world
In January, we traveled to New Mexico for the CPL field experience, which turned out to be an unforgettable journey that challenged my understanding of leadership, stewardship, and national security.
We took a train to open plains and snow-dusted mesas, which gave me time to reflect on the American story. The landscape was massive—physically and symbolically. The geography showed me just how expansive the American story is, and how many communities and issues often sit just outside our policy field of view. Once on the ground, we met with tribal leaders, local officials, and national security experts. We visited communities living in the long shadow of the nuclear weapons complex, comprised of people whose daily realities are shaped by decisions made in Washington, D.C., and elsewhere—often without their opinions being heard.
The experience was sobering. It showed me how fragile and interconnected the global nuclear order is with local trust, environmental justice, and historical memory. This experience reminded me how important it is for future leaders to stay grounded, forward-looking, and engaged with the people most affected by our systems.
“This experience reminded me how important it is for future leaders to stay grounded, forward-looking, and engaged with the people most affected by our systems.”
Mo Navas MPA/MBA (MIT Sloan) 2026
One of the most meaningful parts of this trip was learning alongside fellows from other CPL programs. Although we came from public health, business, education, and medicine, we were all there to gain knowledge from various viewpoints. It felt like a cross-disciplinary coalition of service—each of us sharpening the others’ skills.
Advice for prospective Zuckerman Fellowship applicants
Application tips:
- You don’t need to be perfect, just purposeful. The Fellowship values authenticity and commitment over polish.
- If your story feels unconventional, apply anyway. Some of the most impactful fellows didn’t take the traditional path.
- This is a place for builders. Whether you’re building policy, nonprofits, or startups, if you care about impact, you’ll belong.
- Lead with your “why.” You don’t need to have it all figured out, but be honest about what drives you.
Once you’re here:
- The greatest growth often comes from relationships, not just classes.
- Avoid being transactional.
- Don’t judge others based on titles or connections.
- Take time to listen and learn from everyone.
- Look at their eyes, not your Outlook calendar.
- Real growth comes from meaningful, often unexpected, connections.
Read Next Post
View All Blog Posts
