San Diego-Yokohama Leadership Academy (SYLA) Launches on the International Day of Friendship

SAN DIEGO, California — July 30, 2026 — In honor of the United Nations International Day of Friendship, the San Diego-Yokohama Leadership Academy ( SYLA) proudly announced its launch. SYLA is the first leadership innovation ecosystem built on the Yoga for Leadership® framework and sister-city principles, grounded in the belief that lasting peace is achieved through people-to-people, city-to-city, and community-to-community connections. 

“My vision for SYLA is deeply shaped by my international and multicultural background, my childhood experience of living through 8 years of war, and years of global leadership practice and research. These experiences have reinforced my belief that peace begins with human connection, compassionate leadership, the willingness to challenge our blind spots, and the courage to build bridges across cultures.” says Dr. Leila Naderi, Founder |Co-Chair of SYLA and Founder/Author of Yoga for Leadership. “In an era when technology and AI are gradually eradicating human and social connections, and global conflicts continue to disrupt communities around the world, we must double down our commitment to compassion, empathy, and global collaboration. This is the essence of SYLA: to connect leaders & change-makers, bridge cultures, foster collaboration, and promote peace.”

“For nearly seventy years, the friendship between San Diego and Yokohama has demonstrated what is possible when people invest in one another across borders, cultures, and generations,” says Steven Sigafus, Co-Chair of SYLA and President of the San Diego-Yokohama Sister City Society. “SYLA represents the next chapter of that remarkable legacy. We are taking the foundation of international friendship and transforming it into a leadership platform that prepares people to solve challenges together, strengthen communities, and build a more peaceful and connected world.”

Save the date: The inaugural SYLA Leadership Retreat will be held on November 15, 2026, in San Diego, as part of the Yokohama Festival San Diego. Stay tuned!