The Leadership Charleston Class of 2027 is officially underway, bringing together a new group of leaders who will spend the coming months building a deeper understanding of the Charleston region, strengthening their leadership and learning from one another along the way.

That work began at Wild Dunes Resort, where the class gathered for a two-day orientation designed to do more than introduce the program. It gave participants space to step outside their day-to-day roles, begin forming relationships and get a better sense of the different experiences and perspectives represented across the class.

Those differences became part of the learning almost immediately.

Through a CliftonStrengths session led by Maren Trochmann, PhD, of the Riley Center for Livable Communities, participants explored how they tend to lead, communicate and contribute to a team. The exercise also offered an early reminder that strong leadership rarely looks the same from one person to the next.

That idea carried into SIMSOC, a simulated society experience led by Leadership On the Move. Working in four regions with different circumstances and competing priorities, the class had to make decisions, adapt as conditions changed and navigate the realities of building something alongside people who did not always see the situation the same way.

By the end of the exercise, the value was less about the simulation itself and more about what it revealed. Participants had seen how their classmates approached pressure, disagreement and uncertainty, and they had begun to understand how different perspectives can influence the way a group moves forward.

The conversation that followed helped bring those lessons into sharper focus. Class members reflected on what happened, what surprised them and what they learned from one another, creating an early foundation for the candid discussions and trusted relationships that are central to the Leadership Charleston experience.

Over the months ahead, the Class of 2027 will continue building on that foundation as they explore the issues, people and organizations shaping the Charleston region. They will also bring that broader perspective back to their own workplaces, strengthening the way they lead teams, approach challenges and contribute to their organizations.

Meet the Leadership Charleston Class of 2027

This year’s class represents a wide range of industries, organizations and experiences from across the Charleston region.

Together, they make up the Leadership Charleston Class of 2027: