Leadership Pensacola

The concept of the “born leader” is a myth. The ability to take charge is not enough to move a business, an organization or the community forward. Rather, a leader’s success depends upon developing qualities of leadership, combined with a broad awareness of key issues, which will make a positive impact on the future.

 

Leadership Pensacola (LeaP), a program of the Pensacola Chamber Foundation, aims to develop community-minded leaders during its 10-month-long program. LeaP is designed to help participants acquire an understanding of the issues facing the Pensacola area and to gain the leadership skills necessary to resolve them. Candidates sought come from a cross-section of the community – men and women from different political, career, educational, social and cultural backgrounds.

 

Participants accepted into LeaP are involved in a balanced combination of retreats, day-long seminars and community projects. The program is refined annually by a committed group of LeaP alumni. Area decision-makers offer their time and expertise while tours and interactive exercises are built into each day.

 

The objective of the Leadership Pensacola program is to:

• Identify and cultivate current and future community leaders from the various geographic, ethnic, occupational and economic backgrounds of the Pensacola area.

• Provide participants an in-depth, balanced understanding of issues, problems and opportunities confronting the Pensacola area

• Develop a synergistic environment to enhance leadership skills among participants, thereby providing a common ground for working together on community needs.

• Foster a high level of civic and community concern and involvement by participants.

• Provide opportunities for building community cohesiveness.

• Develop the resources for community placement of graduates and to assist in placing LeaP graduates in positions of community leadership and involvement.​

 

Leadership Pensacola was founded in the fall of 1982 with the first graduating class in 1983. The Greater Pensacola Chamber established the program with a goal of ensuring the community’s pool of talented leaders would be continually renewed. They understood that the future health of any community is linked to committed, educated leadership which must be equipped to make vigorous, well-informed and responsible decisions.

 

To date more than 1,500 people have completed the Leadership Pensacola program and have acquired the skills, passion and connections to work effectively as community trustees. Whether serving on a board, filling an elected office, or mentoring a homeless teen, they are building a stronger Pensacola region for current and future generations.