Program Summary

Leading Edge offers emerging leaders the opportunity to strengthen their leadership capabilities, create connections with community leaders and move beyond volunteerism into board service through our partnership with Boardbuild.

The Leadership Class addresses vital issues impacting Fort Worth by engaging established leaders. The program features a series of sector-focused days to broaden perspectives about how Fort Worth operates. Through the program’s Issues Initiative projects participants collaborate to connect their networks and resources to address key community challenges.

Leader Prime helps CEOs new to Fort Worth (or new in their role) make more productive decisions because of their orientation to the culture, leaders and trends in Fort Worth. In addition, CEOs will be given opportunities for civic connections that will give them a greater personal and professional impact on the community.

Leadership Skills/ Competencies

Kouzes and Posner’s Leadership Practice Inventory (LPI) Competencies (based on The Leadership Challenge). Through a combination of lecture and experience-based training, the competencies are practiced and developed.

The LPI competencies are:

• Model the Way
• Inspire a Shared Vision
• Challenge the Process
• Enable Others to Act
• Encourage the Heart

The Community Trusteeship Competencies: Listen, Care and Lead form the foundation for skill development. In addition, we provide opportunities to develop in the areas of:

• Adaptive Leadership
• Collaboration/Team-building
• Relationship Building
• Networking
• Project Management
• Presentation / Communication Skills

The Community Trusteeship Competencies

• Listen
• Care
• Lead

Schedule

January – June (Virtual in 2021)

Fridays, once or twice per month 11:30am – 5:00pm

January – June

(Virtual in 2021)

Thursdays, twice per month

9:30am – 5:00pm

Two mandatory retreats:

• 2-day retreat at the beginning of the program.

Dates vary – typically 1Q of each year.

The Program Experience

• Introduces leadership practices shared by successful community leaders
• Identifies personal leadership strengths & development opportunities
• Explores processes relevant to “how Fort Worth works” (collaboration, advocacy, board governance)
• Provides multiple opportunities to make connections with community leaders
•  Provides training and placement opportunities for non-profit board service via BoardBuild

• Exposes established leaders to the diverse needs and issues in the community
• Creates connections between leaders related to those issues, and develops relationships to move projects forward
• Enhances community leadership capabilities through group processes
•  Aligns personal passions and resources with vital issues to be addressed through Issues Initiatives

• Offers extensive information on pertinent issues impacting the business environment
• Provides connections to significant leaders and the roles they play
• Opens doors for personal and professional community engagement
•  Offers opportunities to appreciate Fort Worth’s history, culture and current trends

Target Audience

Emerging leaders (typically in their mid-20s to under 40) seeking to establish their engagement as a Community Trustee in the FW community at a Board level.

Established leaders, with key decision-maker board-level experience, who would like to become more engaged in the Fort Worth community at a Community Trustee level.

CEOs/top decision-makers and spouses, new to Fort Worth and/or their professional roles seeking to learn more about how Fort Worth works and how they can contribute as Community Trustees.

The LFW Selection Committee seeks individuals who....

• Are leaders in their chosen profession, most often at the “Director” level and above
• Have a strong record of achievement in community/civic activities
•  Have significant volunteer leadership, ideally at the board level, experience with community/civic organizations

• Are the top business leaders in their companies
• Are new to the Fort Worth community or to their professional roles
• Have a desire to connect with key decision makers and influencers in the community
•  Have a desire to become more engaged in the FW community

Class Size

40-45

40-45

 15-25

Tuition

$2,200 – applications accepted through

September 30, 2021

$2,750 – applications accepted through June 25, 2021

$4000 – candidate