Emerging Leaders

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

If you are a professional with a passion for growing your career and becoming actively engaged in the community, Emerging Leaders offers the ideal setting to expand your horizons.

Make Grand Rapids your classroom with six half-day sessions that combine tours, speakers, activities, and interdisciplinary discussions that build community connections, leadership skills, and insight into issues facing Grand Rapids. Plus, you’ll discover new opportunities to engage in the community.

Upcoming Events

This program is right for you if you are looking for:

Conversations with key community leaders
Visits to innovative community programs and initiatives
Networking with a diverse group of peers
An orientation to the city and what makes it a unique community
Personal leadership development

This professional development opportunity is particularly valuable for young and early-career professionals, as well as those with a keen interest in our community and growing professionally.

Our team intentionally creates a safe and welcoming space where all voices are heard and valued. We encourage open dialogue, active listening, and mutual respect among all participants. Our programs are designed to promote collaboration and understanding, recognizing that diverse perspectives lead to a stronger community for all.

Emerging Leaders was a wonderful mix of networking, self-discovery, learning about the city of Grand Rapids, and engaging with so many leaders! I left feeling inspired and eager to continue my journey as a leader.

Emerging Leaders reminded me why Grand Rapids is such an amazing business community. The connections I made I'll carry with me for a long, long time.

Emerging Leaders is an incredible opportunity to learn and grow. The people you meet and get to hear from give invaluable insight. It's the beginning of fulfilling relationships and helps pave way for positive change.

Emerging LEaders Roadmap

Session 1: Welcome & Building Relationships
Hear from Grand Rapids Chamber leaders and meet the cohort as you begin to expand your network.

Session 2: Finding Your Strengths
Explore your leadership style through the DiSC assessment. We will dive into how to lean into your specific strengths as you continue to develop your leadership style.

Session 3: Leading in Different Ways
Learn from industry experts how to cultivate leading in ways that go beyond your current status.

Session 4: Your Community
Hear from community leaders about the impact we can have in West Michigan.

Session 5: The Human Side of Leadership
Whether you loathe or love networking, this session will empower you to enter a professional space with purpose and confidence.

Session 6: You Are Next
The final session! The group will learn from each other’s leadership lessons, as well as future-focused conversations as we wrap up.

2026 Session Dates

Spring Cohort

All sessions are hosted bi-weekly on Tuesdays between 11:45 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Fall Cohort

All sessions are hosted bi-weekly on Tuesdays between 11:45 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Attendance at all program sessions is mandatory to achieve the full value of the program. If you cannot adjust your schedule to accommodate full participation, please consider applying at a time when you have greater flexibility. Registration will close one week prior to the first session, or when the cohort reaches capacity.

Cost and Scholarships

Tuition must be paid in full by the first class session.

$ 1,250

$ 1,750

If you have questions on payment or need to discuss setting up a payment plan, please contact Amy De Jonge, Talent and Leadership Program Manager, at amy@grandrapids.org. There are a limited number of partial scholarship funds available. Please submit the following scholarship application form NO LATER than 30 days prior to the first session to be considered.

This session is eligible for 24 SHRM PDC’s. Information on claiming your credits will be sent directly to your registered email address upon completion of the program.