Leadership Charleston
Cultivating, Inspiring and Challenging Our Region's Leaders
Are you ready to expand your horizons and deepen your understanding of the forces shaping Charleston? Leadership Charleston is your gateway to immersive learning on the critical issues influencing our region and its businesses. By joining this program, participants gain firsthand insight into Charleston’s unique challenges and opportunities directly from the leaders who drive change.
2026 Applications Are Open Now Through June 30
Apply NowReady to Elevate Your Impact?
Leadership Charleston is designed for established professionals seeking to enhance their impact and deepen their understanding of our region’s interconnected sectors. Through a series of in-depth, hands-on sessions, participants explore key areas that shape Charleston’s business environment, including government, infrastructure, economic development, workforce challenges, military, criminal justice and more. Guided by regional experts, each session goes beyond theory to provide real-world insights into the issues influencing Charleston’s future.
A hallmark of Leadership Charleston is its powerful connections, bringing together professionals from diverse industries and backgrounds to foster one of the most valuable professional networks in our region. Alumni from over 50 previous classes have leveraged their newfound knowledge and connections to advance their careers and become some of Charleston’s most impactful leaders across business, community and public service.
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Leadership Charleston Information
Curriculum:
Previous class topics have included:
- Local & State Government
- Infrastructure & Transit
- Non-Profits & Community Impact
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Talent & Workforce Development
- Economic Development
- Military & Homeland Security
- Criminal Justice
In addition to attending monthly sessions, participants are required to attend two community meetings, participate in a police ride-along and complete volunteer hours during the class duration.
Program Timeframe:
2026 Class Runs: August 27, 2025 - June 18, 2026
- Orientation: August 27 - 28, 2025, Wild Dunes Resort
- Session 1: October 16, 2025
- Session 2: November 20, 2025
- Session 3: December 17, 2025
- Session 4: January 15, 2026
- Session 5: February TBD, 2026
- Session 6: March 19, 2026
- Session 7: April 16, 2026
- Session 8: May 21, 2026
- Session 9 & Graduation: June 18, 2026
Attendance is mandatory for the August 27-28 orientation sessions.
Ideal Candidates:
- 10+ years into their career
- Serve in a leadership or executive role
- Interested in gaining insights into the opportunities and challenges that face the Charleston region
- Desire to lead within an organization and community
Application Process & Tuition:
2026 Leadership Charleston applications will be open from May 5 - June 30, 2025.
Application Process:
- Space is limited to ensure quality of programming.
- A $50 application fee is required to apply for Leadership Charleston. Once the application fee is received, a confirmation email and link to the full application will be emailed.
- An endorsement letter from your organization's chief executive or local area executive must be submitted with your final application. This can be attached within the application or emailed to tgordon@charlestonchamber.org with the subject line: Leadership Charleston Letter of Endorsement.
- A committee, comprised of Leadership Charleston alumni and Chamber staff, evaluates all applicants through an anonymous review process.
- Class members are selected based on their application responses, so be sure to provide thoughtful and thorough answers.
Class of 2026 Tuition Cost: $3,800
Tuition fee payments are final and are not refundable once the applicant has accepted their spot in the class.
2026 Applications Are Open Now Through June 30
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