When you join Leadership Ohio, you're not just joining an organization. You're joining a movement that accelerates your learning, amplifies your influence, and connects you with like-minded change-makers to make an even bigger impact.

A leader with knowledge is a powerful thing. That’s why Leadership Ohio was established. Founded in 1992, this organization was designed to educate civic-minded people like yourself with a deeper understanding of Ohio and its current issues— and to help you chart a new path of service.

Our Approach

The Leadership Ohio experience is typically comprised of eight 1 ½ day sessions. Spring through fall, we transverse the state—engaging with some of the most influential business, community, and elected officials in Ohio.

Our experiences are in-depth and often unexpected interactions and explorations of critical questions, challenges and opportunities facing Ohio and its people. We uniquely blend experiences and dialogue with influential leaders, dreamers, movers and shakers, often with an eye toward disrupting outdated mindsets and challenging the status quo. Our approach produces a class of leaders with statewide knowledge, perspective and connections, who are inspired to a higher level of service. Leadership Ohio graduates are a highly select body of leaders with a very unique state-wide grounding.

In any given year, our Fellows may spend the day behind the walls of a women’s reformatory exploring the issue of restored citizenship with inmates, Warden, and staff. Next, our Fellows may grapple with our nation’s fractured civic discourse - with the Ohio Secretary of State - exploring “How might we regain our ability to engage in respectful and civil conversations as a bedrock of democracy?” Later, Fellows may be immersed in a homeless drop-in center, unpacking issues of affordable housing and humanity alongside city residents who were experiencing homelessness. From artificial intelligence to human trafficking to business innovations in the Appalachian foothills, the list of touchpoints and experiences is unique and powerful. No other journey would put you at the same table as an Ohio Supreme Court Justice and a seven-time mission commander/U.S. Air Force Colonel in the same way it brings you face-to-face, for instance, with a formerly incarcerated citizen now helping to restore the citizenship of others, or a survivor of human trafficking.

What are the benefits of participation?

Leadership Ohio provides the knowledge and awareness you need to begin to create positive solutions in Ohio where there is need. You won’t find a more rewarding opportunity to explore your leadership in our fast-changing world—and contribute to a more promising future for Ohio, our democracy, your organization and your community.

• Meet and interact with some of the most influential business, community and elected officials in the state;

• Explore challenges and opportunities facing Ohio and its people;

• Learn about various issues with a recognized group of experts, officials, educators and insiders;

• Meet, network and create with other leaders who are dedicated to public service and are interested in making Ohio the best place to live and work, and,

• Discover new inspiration: begin to shape how you will impact your world in the future.

Do you fit our profile?

Leadership Ohio is not a traditional leadership program.

The mission of Leadership Ohio is to create transformative statewide civic leadership development experiences that influence leaders to best serve their workplace, community, and the Great State of Ohio. 

To be clear, we draw a distinction between “leader” and “leadership” development. Aspects of human and social capital are central to this distinction. 

Day (2000) asserts that leader development emphasizes human capital – the skills and abilities of individuals associated with formal leadership roles. Leadership development focuses on resources that are embedded in relationships – bearing more resemblance to social capital. Day notes, “The primary emphasis in leadership development is on building and using interpersonal competence.” According to Day, interpersonal competence has two distinct skill sets: (a) social awareness which includes empathy, political awareness, and service orientation and (b) social skills, which includes the ability to collaborate, manage conflict, and catalyze change. This is where Leadership Ohio places its focus.

Our leaders represent all regions in Ohio. They are a diverse body of top talent that are a part of various professions, backgrounds, experiences, and generations. We’re looking for:

• Senior level leaders with significant achievements in career, community or civic spheres, and, high-potential individuals seeking to chart a new civic path;

• Individuals with an authentic concern about the future of Ohio and a personal commitment to help shape that future, and,

• Individuals with a willingness to commit the time and energy necessary to complete the program and achieve their own idea of program success.

Are you ready to begin the journey?

Visit Apply Today to learn about our nomination and application process.

Have questions? Email lisaduty@leadershipohio.org or request a brief phone call.