Canadian Leadership Academy

A Global Online High School Focussed on Leadership and Technology. Learn from big thinkers at NASA, Google and Harvard - earn a Canadian Diploma. For Grade 8-12.

We find 100 top minds, in each of the biggest 100 cities across the world.

Together you will solve the most pressing problems and create big ideas: Climate Change, Ethical Economics, Wellbeing Systems, Mindful Technology, Compassionate Currency, Sustainable Fashion, Elevated Art and Film & more. All while going to high school.

Learn from the best minds.

Get a future focussed education, while you earn an accredited Canadian diploma. Take the basic literacies like maths, english, art and science. But also take unique classes on Leadership and Technology taught by thinkers from influential companies.

Classes built for the world you graduate into.

📚 Global Leadership – Systems thinking, ethical innovation, future economies.

🤖 Expoenential Technology – Design, art, digital responsibility, artificial intelligence.

🧠 Emotional Intelligence – Mindfulness, mindsets and emotional wellbeing.

A Partnership with a track record

We partner with Ontario Virtual School to give you access to 170+ courses that help you earn a Canadian Diploma - direct students of their courses have gone on to world class universities. Our unique Leadership, Tech and EQ courses help you develop future skills, a portfolio and contribute to your final diploma.

WHY CLA NOW

  • 🌎 The world needs new leaders to reinvent society for the AI era.

  • 🦾 You need to graduate with a portfolio versus a transcript, showing what you can build versus what you know.

  • 🎛 You need an innovative education but also a robust curriculum to open doors to universities everywhere.

Built with in person community in mind

We recruit globally, but create connections locally - so you can meet other smart minds, build projects together, do sports and socialize. Having friends matters, hanging out with them in person matters even more. Even if you travel to another country during high school, we hope you’ll find your CLA community there.

WHO IS THIS FOR

  • 💼 Executive Expats

  • 🏄‍♂️ Remote Professionals

  • 🏡 Brilliant Homeschoolers

  • 🚀 Big Thinking Local Families

A Week at CLA

  • Live Online classes: Leadership, Tech and EQ from 9am-12pm.

  • Self-paced core academics: Afternoons focus on Math, English, Languages from 1-2pm.

  • In-person meetups: Projects, sport, fun—twice a week from 2-4pm.

  • Fridays Rest: Relax, catch up, socially connect.

What our summer alumni think

Nianka Kouakou. BA Architectecure, European Universitty of Lefke.

This helped me envision my future in an extremely multifaceted way.

Rozina Khoja. BSc Science Pre-Med, University of British Columbia.

I met amazing friends, volunteered and designed my life path in Vancouver!

Talal Mansoor. BSc Engineering, University of Pretoria

Learnt the best skill I've developed: contemporary problem solving.

Jozi Nupen. BA Economics and Law, University of Cape Town

I found it super impactful how deeply & humanly we connected.

What our influential parents think

Zibusiso Kganyago. Director, Tsogo Sun.

My son has become more open to his creativity through the programs

Neil Pryce. Ex Barclays, Markets COO

My boys learnt a lot about teamwork on Sameer’s Silicon Valley Trip.

Khumo Morolo. Director, Allan Gray

I am happy with the confidence my daughter has gained through the year.

Malebogo Mpugwa. Global CHRO De Beers

Sameer has brought much needed opportunities to our children.

Founding Team

  • Sameer Rawjee

    FOUNDER

    Former Google, O School Ventures, Penguin Author. Proponent for Holistic Education.

    Universtity of Toronto, BA Business and Design.

  • Kobus Du Toit

    LEARNING DIRECTOR

    Former Nova Pioneer, Mindstudio, School of Humanity. Proponent for Life Design.

    Delft University, MSc Engineering and Policy.

  • Victor Udoewa

    VENTURES STUDIO

    Former NASA, CDC, 18F. Proponent for Radical Participatory Design.

    Harvard University, BSc Engineering.

CLA Founder

Sameer is the founder of Life Design at Google and O School, where he has helped 400+ teens prepare for the future.

Via online programs, global travel and live workshops - with students from the US, Canada, China, Japan, Nigeria and SA - his team has been building great education for almost a decade. They have partnered with Meta and Tik Tok, joined Africa’s most prestigious schools, spoken to Private Wealth families at Investec and featured in the Sunday Times. Sameer is a University of Toronto Alum and Penguin Author.

Invited by Investec bank, $5B bank to talk on Future of Education.

Conversation with Nick Binedell, Harvard Professor, on Diverse Intelligences.

Origin Story

Canadian Leadership Academy started as a global program inside Google HQ called Life Design - helping over 10 000 Google employees, from 100+ countries, find their purpose and impact the world.

It has also been taught at INSEAD, Trinity College and the London Business School. Now we bring the same program to young people in the format of a high school, designed with the rigorous Canadian Diploma.

In the Press

Conversation with Dean at Henely Business School.

Sameer Rawjee with Dean at Henley Business School Africa on Culture. Listen Here

Conversation with Investec Bank CHRO.

Head of HR @ Investec with Sameer Rawjee on what to expect from AI Next. Listen Here

Conversation with Futurist and Author Craig Wing.

As part of Penguin Books Podcast Launch, we talk about Future Economies in the AI Era. Listen Here

Conversation with HBS Professor.

Watch Sameer’s Conversation with Harvard Professor Nick Binnedel on education’s future. Watch here.