Leadership Lafayette
Leadership Lafayette is the flagship program of the Leadership Institute of Acadiana and boasts many of the region’s most distinguished leaders as program graduates. The intensive experience is designed to inform, educate, and connect the emerging and experienced leaders of the Lafayette region to some of our community’s biggest assets, most daunting challenges, and most interesting people.
Thank you for your interest in Leadership Lafayette! Sign up to be notified when applications are available.
What is Leadership Lafayette?
Leadership Lafayette is the flagship program of the Leadership Institute of Acadiana and boasts many of the region’s most distinguished leaders as program graduates. The intensive experience is designed to inform, educate, and connect the emerging and experienced leaders of the Lafayette region to some of our community’s biggest assets, most daunting challenges, and most interesting people.
Leadership Lafayette was started by the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce and has graduated over 900 leaders in the past 36 years. The Leadership Institute has since become an independent organization but continues to develop community leaders in partnership with One Acadiana.
What Do Graduates and Their Organizations Get Out of the Program?
For Graduates
Graduates leave the program as part of an alumni network of over 900 leaders who are better informed of community history and present-day realities. They also emerge better connected to the people, organizations, and service opportunities that can together, make positive and meaningful changes in the county.
For Organizations
When graduates activate the knowledge and connections gained through Leadership Lafayette, the community and businesses benefit from improved understanding, services, and relationships. Organizations supportive of their staff member’s participation gain additional visibility and recognition as being committed to the improvement of the Lafayette community.
Who is a good fit for Leadership Lafayette?
Leaders within the community who seek to expand and further develop their leadership skills, explore different experiences and points of view, and build relationships with others equally committed to improving the Lafayette community.
In addition, applicants must be willing and able to commit to the mandatory retreat and the time necessary to complete the program.
Interested in Leadership Lafayette?
Sign up to be notified when applications are available.
Leadership Lafayette: Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost?
Tuition for Leadership Lafayette is $2,500.
Selection to Leadership Lafayette is made without regard to an applicant’s financial circumstances. To ensure qualified and diverse representation in the Leadership Lafayette offers limited tuition assistance for up to $1,000 of the tuition cost. Tuition assistance requests are to be submitted at the time of application.
What are the selection requirements?
The Selection Committee places a premium on identifying those most likely to utilize the Leadership Lafayette experience for the long-term benefit of the community. The Selection Committee is made up of a diverse group of Leadership Lafayette graduates who remain anonymous during the process. When the committee selects each group of 30+ participants, it is with an eye towards diversity to ensure broad representation from a variety of occupational, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds, as well as geographic areas and community interests.
Confidential applications allow the Selection Committee to gauge applicants’ prior involvement in the community.
How often does it take place?
The annual Leadership Lafayette program runs from January through November. The program orientation occurs in January; the usual 2-day retreat occurs in February; and the monthly sessions occur in March through November. The program concludes with a graduation in November.
Applications are typically available beginning in September and the deadline for submission is in November.
Questions?
Contact us for questions or more information about the Leadership Lafayette program.