NC Global Leadership is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that connects rising international leaders with professionals, institutions and communities across North Carolina. Since 1990, NCGL has designed and implemented professional programs for participants in the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP).

Through meetings with professional resources, site visits and networking opportunities, international visitors exchange ideas and develop relationships with North Carolina leaders in government, education, business and the nonprofit sector. These one-to-one connections advance citizen diplomacy, strengthen professional alliances and promote mutual understanding, “one handshake at a time.”

Formerly the Piedmont Triad Council for International Visitors, NCGL also supports globally engaged college students through scholarships and offers opportunities for community members to participate in citizen diplomacy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is purpose of NC Global Leadership?
NC Global Leaderships brings together local experts and community volunteers with emerging global leaders that have been selected by the US Department of State.

How does the State Department decide who will be a visitor to the United States?
Our foreign embassies look for emerging leaders within the country. These can be politicians, government officials, police or fire officials, journalists, educators as well as professionals working for profit and non-profit businesses, especially entrepreneurs. The past lists of attendees to this program include many current leaders, ministers, well known journalists and educators.

What does an international visitor agenda look like?
The State Department always brings the visitors first to Washington, DC to receive an overview on our government and how it works. It could includes visits to the Capital and the State Department, as well as an historical presentation on the founding of our country. The visitors then fly to about 3 or 4 locations around the country visiting local Councils, such as NC Global Leadership, to experience firsthand the diversity of our country and meet a cross section of our citizens. Before their visits with the local Councils, a program is developed which will address the visitor’s interest and purpose for their visit.

Do the international visitors require home stays as part of their visit?
Lodging for the visitors is provided by the State Department and only rarely does a visit include a home stay. Meal and incidental funds are also provided by the State Department.

The State Department encourages home hospitality such as lunch, dinner or a reception, in an American home. Home hospitality is one of the primary and best opportunities to meet our visitors. These visiting leaders greatly appreciate the opportunity to meet with the real America.  

Why do visitors come to the Triad area for their visit?
Many of the visitors are from small to medium size cities, towns and villages. Having the opportunity to meet and talk with fellow American practitioners is a wonderful learning experience. The ability to share ideas and learn varied prospectives has always been beneficial. Our NC Global Leadership experience has shown both sides of the exchange benefit from this dialogue.

What opportunities exist for NC Global Leadership members to meet the international visitors?
As a volunteer organization, opportunities exist for programming (setting up) the meetings and events for the visitors' stay, greeting and accompanying the group on visits, becoming involved in hosting a home hospitality event and attending a social activity where international visitors will be present.

How do you communicate with visitors from so many foreign countries?
Many of the visitors have English language skills. If not, the State Department provides interpreters to aid the visitors in their travel around the country.

How is NC Global Leadership organized?
NC Global Leadership is one of the approximately 85 Councils in the Global Ties U. S. network. Our local Council is a registered 503c non-profit and operates with one part-time paid employee and a host of volunteers. Our Board of Directors provides leadership on identifying visitor groups, working with the programming staff, finalizing home hospitality and arranging activities for our members. Our primary source of funding is a grant from the U. S. Department of State. NC Global Leadership, formerly the Piedmont Triad Council of International Visitors (PTCIV), has been in existence 30 years of the more than 70-year history of the national program.