Applications for the Leadership Columbia Class of 2025 have closed. Applications for the Class of 2026 will open in January 2025.
Leadership Columbia is the region's signature leadership program offered through the Columbia Chamber. Since its inception in 1972, Leadership Columbia has nurtured and engaged the leadership skills of current and potential leaders by providing diverse opportunities for professional development, community involvement, and networking.
The 10-month program includes a required two-day retreat, nine monthly day-long sessions, a collaborative class project, and a variety of enrichment activities all designed to educate participants on critical issues facing the community while providing opportunities for deeper involvement in and around the greater Columbia region. Through hands-on experiences, Leadership Columbia participants fully explore topics including: education; politics and government; arts and culture; economic development; health and human services; criminal justice and law enforcement; military affairs; recreation; and the environment and tourism.
Each year approximately 60 professionals are selected to participate in the class based on community involvement, capacity for leadership, commitment to improving the Midlands, and an interest in enhancing their leadership skills. The selection process is competitive, with candidates completing an online application and an in-person interview that are evaluated by a panel of Leadership Columbia alumni. Upon graduation, class participants are invited and encouraged to join the more than 2,000 alumni serving the Midlands and communities all over the United States.
The presenting sponsor for Leadership Columbia is BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina. We are grateful for the support and commitment that BlueCross BlueShield makes to this program.
For questions about Leadership Columbia or Leadership Columbia Alumni Association, please email Mary Beth Sanderson.
Leadership Columbia Program Guide
