Leadership Lexington

PRESENTED BY:

2025-2026
Applications are open now

ABOUT THE PROGRAM:
Leadership Lexington has been operating as the premiere leadership development program for professionals in the greater Lexington area for more than 40 years. With a competitive application and selection process, the program allows just fifty class members annually.

Leadership Lexington consists of ten, informative day-sessions which are organized and hosted by local leaders. These day sessions help to broaden perspectives and provide an increased understanding of community dynamics, signature industries, and public issues. Each class completes up to four community-based projects during the duration of the program. Projects are pitched and selected by the program participants at an immersive opening retreat.

MISSION: The program gives participants the opportunity to better understand our city and to prepare for the challenges it faces by meeting with and learning from today’s leaders. Leadership Lexington is an educational opportunity that broadens perspectives and allows participants to gain increased understanding of community dynamics and public issues.

2024-25 Class Roster

Class Projects

2024-25 Steering Committee

Alumni

Applications for the 2025-2026 Leadership Lexington Class are open now!

APPLY NOW

For more information about the Leadership Lexington program check out the FAQs below or contact Tyra Harbut, Director of Leadership Development, at (859) 226-1610.

Who is eligible to apply?

Individuals who work in the Greater Lexington area are eligible to apply, and the program is open to both Commerce Lexington members, as well as non-members for an additional cost.

What is the time commitment to participate?

Leadership Lexington is an eleven-month program that starts with an overnight Orientation Retreat in August. The program then consists of one full-day session, once a month from September until June. The overnight Orientation Retreat is mandatory.

Class participants are required to attend 80% of the day sessions in order to ‘graduate’ from the program.

Each year the class will complete up to four community projects. Project work is typically completed outside of the day sessions, which makes the Leadership Lexington experience a significant time commitment.

What is the timeline for applications?

Applications for the 2025-2026 leadership class open on April 15 and close on May 19. Applicants will be notified by the end of June on acceptance.

APPLY NOW

What goes into the selection process?

Once the application window closes, a Steering Committee comprised of Leadership Lexington Alumni score the applications. The program is incredibly competitive. Multiple steering committee members score each application based on applicant background, leadership experience, reason for participation, personal insights, and letters of support. Once all applications are scored, the committee compiles the applications in order of highest to lowest score and discuss any discrepancies in scoring. The class is selected by a combination of the scores given and the discussion that follows.

The makeup of each year’s class is intended to reflect the cultural diversity of our city.

How much does it cost?

Commerce Lexington Member Rate: $2,500
Non-member Rate: $2,500 plus an additional fee.

Contact us for more information.

MEMBER TESTIMONIAL:
"Leadership Lexington is by far the best program that I have ever participated in! The friends and connections that I have made are life-long and so rewarding! I'm very thankful for the continued opportunities to remain active with the program. Thank you!"

- Bradley Stevenson (Immanuel Baptist Church)

Hear more about the impact Leadership Lexington from past participants.

MEMBER TESTIMONIAL:
"Participating in Leadership Lexington was truly a life-changing experience for me. I thought that I knew my city, having lived here for about 15 years, but I learned so much about the industries and organizations that make Lexington a great place to live and work. Going through the program even inspired me to pursue a career change from professional services marketing to the nonprofit sector, because I wanted to do more to give back to our community. Not only that, it also connected me with amazing people from different professions and sectors that I might not have met otherwise. Leadership Lexington is one of the most impactful things I've done to better myself both personally and professionally. I can't recommend it enough!"

- Lauren Parsons
Director of Strategic Initiatives & Communications
Blue Grass Community Foundation

Leadership Lexington Application Tutorial
Learn from Selection Committee members about what they are looking for when they score Leadership Lexington applications. This video will provide guidance for you on each section of the application as well as answering general questions we often receive from applicants.

230428 Leadership Lex Final from Mahan Multimedia on Vimeo.

2024-25 PROGRAM SPONSORS:

PRESENTED BY:

PLATINUM SPONSORS:

ORIENTATION SPONSOR:

BREAKFAST SPONSOR:

MEDIA SPONSOR:

HISTORY SPONSOR:

NAME BADGE SPONSOR:

GOLD SPONSORS:

Attention Leadership Lexington Alums: Help Us Stay Connected to You
The Leadership Lexington Alumni Association is ramping up! In order to make this association a success, we need all alums to submit updated contact information. If you are a graduate of Leadership Lexington, please send your updated information via e-mail to Dawn Flickinger.

Find out more at www.leadershiplexingtonalumni.com.