CityBox Fellowship Program™
CityBox Fellowship Program™
Where Emerging Leaders Step Into Real-World Influence
The CityBox Fellowship Program™ is a selective leadership development experience designed for ambitious emerging professionals, university students, recent graduates, aspiring entrepreneurs, and future leaders seeking meaningful exposure to business, leadership, communication, relationship-building, and modern professional ecosystems.
This is not a traditional internship.
It is an opportunity to gain real-world access to founders, CEOs, executives, entrepreneurs, civic leaders, innovators, and industry professionals while developing the confidence, communication skills, executive presence, and professional relationships that often take years to build.
Through CityBox Magazine™, CityBox Index™, private leadership convenings, strategic partnerships, executive networking experiences, and curated community engagement opportunities, Fellows gain unique exposure to the people, conversations, and relationships shaping today's cities and industries.
CityBox Fellowship is where emerging leaders gain access to rooms, relationships, opportunities, and experiences that accelerate confidence, professional growth, and leadership development.
The Origin Of The Fellowship
The CityBox Fellowship Program traces its roots to the original Co-CEO Internship Program created by CityBox Founder Maryan Aiken in 2015.
What began as an opportunity inspired by her two young sons helping build an emerging media platform evolved into a leadership development initiative focused on providing emerging professionals with access, responsibility, mentorship, and real-world business experience.
During the launch of an ambitious media project, Maryan's sons became active contributors to the business. One helped build the website. The other became a sounding board, offering feedback and operational observations.
That experience sparked a simple but powerful idea:
Young people often rise to the level of responsibility they are given.
Since then, Fellows have participated in leadership events, luxury brand activations, executive networking experiences, strategic partnerships, community initiatives, media projects, and business development opportunities while building meaningful relationships across multiple industries.
Many former Fellows have gone on to successful careers in business, communications, marketing, technology, cybersecurity, entrepreneurship, design, and leadership.
Why The Fellowship Exists
The CityBox Fellowship Program was founded on a simple belief:
Opportunity Changes Lives.
Not everyone has access to founders, CEOs, executives, entrepreneurs, and influential professionals early in their careers.
Yet those relationships, conversations, and experiences often shape future confidence, career paths, and leadership potential.
CityBox was built to create meaningful connections between today's leaders and tomorrow's leaders.
Our Fellows are not placed on the sidelines.
They are invited into the room.
They learn through participation, observation, contribution, and real-world experience.
Through executive networking, leadership conversations, community engagement, strategic introductions, and professional development opportunities, Fellows gain exposure to environments that help accelerate personal and professional growth.
We believe leadership is learned through experience, relationships, and responsibility.
The CityBox Fellowship Program exists to provide all three.
What Makes The Fellowship Different
What Makes The Fellowship Different
CityBox Fellows are not observers.
They are active participants within the CityBox ecosystem.
Fellows gain exposure to:
• Executive networking and relationship building
• Business development and strategic outreach
• Leadership conversations and professional communication
• Brand partnerships and sponsorship initiatives
• Luxury, business, and community events
• Personal branding and professional visibility
• Entrepreneurship and business growth strategies
• Community leadership and civic engagement
• Event hosting and public speaking opportunities
• Modern media and leadership ecosystems
• Relationship-centered business development
• Executive etiquette and professional confidence
• Community-building and ecosystem development
Real-World Professional Exposure
CityBox Fellows may have opportunities to:
• Attend private leadership convenings
• Meet founders, CEOs, executives, entrepreneurs, and community leaders
• Participate in networking and relationship-building experiences
• Support CityBox Magazine, CityBox Index, and leadership initiatives
• Serve as event ambassadors and co-hosts
• Welcome and engage guests during CityBox events
• Introduce speakers, guests, sponsors, and strategic partners
• Assist with community engagement and market development initiatives
• Participate in business development activities and professional outreach
• Gain exposure to strategic partnerships, sponsorships, and community leadership
The Fellowship is intentionally designed to help participants develop confidence, professionalism, communication skills, executive presence, and relationship-building abilities that support long-term personal and professional growth.
A Day In The Life Of A CityBox Fellow
A CityBox Fellow may find themselves:
• Welcoming guests at a private leadership convening
• Speaking before a room of executives and community leaders
• Meeting founders, CEOs, physicians, attorneys, architects, and entrepreneurs
• Assisting with event coordination and guest experiences
• Participating in executive networking conversations
• Learning directly from keynote speakers and industry leaders
• Supporting strategic partnerships and sponsorship initiatives
• Building professional relationships that may influence future career opportunities
No two experiences are exactly alike.
The common thread is meaningful exposure to leadership, business, community engagement, and professional development.
Fellowship Positions
Business Development Associate Fellow (BDA)
Business Development Associate Fellows support relationship development, strategic outreach, market expansion efforts, and professional introductions within the CityBox ecosystem.
BDAs are introduced during CityBox events and often serve as ambassadors of the organization.
Responsibilities may include:
• Building relationships with prospective members and community leaders
• Supporting outreach and engagement initiatives
• Welcoming and assisting guests during CityBox events
• Facilitating introductions and networking opportunities
• Participating in leadership and professional development experiences
• Supporting CityBox membership and growth initiatives
The role is designed to provide meaningful real-world experience while contributing to the continued growth of the CityBox ecosystem.
The CityBox Leadership Pathway™
The Fellowship Program is designed to provide a pathway for growth, development, and leadership within the CityBox ecosystem.
While every participant's journey is unique, Fellows may have opportunities to grow into expanded leadership responsibilities over time.
Potential Pathways Include:
CityBox Fellow
↓
Business Development Associate Fellow (BDA)
↓
Senior Fellow
↓
Market Operations Coordinator
↓
Market Operations Manager
↓
Regional Operations Leadership
The skills developed through the Fellowship extend beyond CityBox and support future careers in business, communications, marketing, entrepreneurship, technology, leadership, community engagement, and professional services.
Our goal is not simply to create better professionals.
Our goal is to help develop future leaders.
Fellowship Alumni & Success Stories
Since its early beginnings, the Fellowship Program has provided emerging professionals with opportunities to gain real-world experience, develop confidence, build relationships, and expand their professional networks.
Former Fellows have gone on to careers in:
• Business Leadership
• Communications & Marketing
• Technology & Cybersecurity
• Data Science
• Entrepreneurship
• Interior Design
• Community Leadership
• Professional Services
Many credit their experience within the CityBox ecosystem as an important part of their professional development, leadership growth, and confidence-building journey.
The relationships built, conversations experienced, and opportunities encountered through CityBox often extend far beyond the Fellowship itself.
This is not simply a program.
It is a community of emerging and established leaders connected through a shared belief in growth, relationships, and opportunity.
Who Should Apply
We seek individuals who are:
• 21 years of age or older
• Professionally curious and growth-oriented
• Strong communicators and relationship builders
• Entrepreneurial and self-motivated
• Interested in business, leadership, communications, marketing, media, partnerships, or community engagement
• Comfortable engaging with professionals and executives
• Eager to learn, contribute, and grow
University students, recent graduates, career changers, and emerging professionals are encouraged to apply.
Independent Contractor Notice
CityBox Fellows and Business Development Associates participate as independent contractors and are not employees of CityBox Media Holdings LLC or its affiliated entities.
Compensation opportunities, where applicable, are performance-based and governed through independent contractor agreements.
Participation in the Fellowship does not guarantee future employment, compensation, leadership positions, business opportunities, sponsorships, partnerships, or professional outcomes.
Fellows do not make editorial decisions, negotiate contracts, determine pricing, provide legal or financial advice, verify credentials, or represent themselves as executive decision-makers on behalf of CityBox.ent themselves as executive decision-makers on behalf of CityBox.
More Than A Fellowship
CityBox was built on a simple belief:
Meaningful Relationships Create Opportunities.
The CityBox Fellowship Program exists to help emerging leaders gain access, build confidence, expand their professional networks, and develop the skills necessary to thrive in business, leadership, and life.
Because sometimes one conversation, one introduction, one opportunity, or one room can change the trajectory of a career.
And sometimes the future leader standing in that room simply needs someone willing to open the door.
CityBox Fellowship Program™
CityBox Fellowship Program™ is where emerging leaders gain access to rooms, relationships, opportunities, and experiences that accelerate confidence, professional growth, and leadership development.