Leadership Development Initiative

The information listed below is general and addresses a typical program year.

Following the Opening Retreat, the LDI cohort will typically meet monthly from approximately 1:00 – 5:00 PM on (typically) Thursday afternoons. The schedule is determined several months in advance. Credits are assigned to each session and most activities. Participants are required to earn a predetermined number of credits to complete the program. More credits are offered than required for the program’s completion, allowing participants flexibility to arrange their professional and personal schedules.

Welcome Reception and Orientation – Held in late September.

Initial Retreat – The retreat is critical to the formation of the cohort and is held on a Thursday through mid-day Friday. Applicants are strongly advised to take a look at the retreat dates on the schedule in advance of applying. The retreat location is typically within 2 hours of driving distance from downtown Pittsburgh.

Sessions – Sessions typically take place on Thursday afternoons. Session locations are typically within a 1-hour driving distance from downtown Pittsburgh. Participants are expected to attend all of the regularly scheduled sessions in their entirety and earn sufficient credits to graduate.

Click here to download the 2025-2026 tentative LDI cohort schedule.

The LDI program curriculum is centered around three main pillars:

• Leadership Skills & Tools
• Community Engagement
• Network Building

The LDI experience advances growth and learning through topics such as managing conflict, understanding behavioral tendencies, design thinking, and serving on nonprofit boards. Program participants hone skills while being exposed to avenues for civic involvement and networking across sectors and industries. Participants are also engaged in a Community Impact Project (CIP) throughout the LDI program year, where they apply these newly acquired skills in a hands-on, real-world project that brings positive change to a specific neighborhood.

The Community Impact Project (CIP) is one of the many components of the Leadership Development Initiative (LDI) Program, which provides a real-world, hands-on opportunity for leadership skill practice and development.

This living, breathing “case-study” is undertaken by the group of high-performing and developing professionals in the LDI program each year, working together with a defined regional neighborhood’s stakeholders to deliver significant value to the host neighborhood, its people, and businesses.

The development, design, and execution of the CIP provides developing leaders from our region’s corporate, public, and nonprofit sectors opportunities to hone the skills and strategies taught throughout the program year while getting to know a neighborhood at a deep level and engaging civically.

High-performing and developing professionals who are gaining influence within their organizations and looking to advance their careers and community. Our LDI participants exhibit high levels of energy, enthusiasm, a strong sense of self-reflection, dedication to community well-being, a desire for personal growth, and to be part of something larger than themselves.

• High-performing professionals who are on the path to significant influence within their organizations in business, nonprofit, government, and civic entities
• Interested in acquiring skills and knowledge that would make them stand out within their company and the community
• Looking for a leadership experience that is reality-based
• Seeking to broaden professional and personal networks
• Looking to advance their careers
• Committed to joining about 50 other high-performing professionals from every walk of life to learn and to inspire positive change in our community

In the past this has included titles such as professional associate, significant individual contributor, manager or director.

Contact us to learn more and to determine whether LDI is the right fit for you.

Click here to view a listing of the LDI XXXII cohort.

Click here for a list of our LDI Alumni by class year.

Click here for a list of our LDI Alumni by last name.

Leadership Development Initiative applications are due the first Friday in July for the cohort that starts in September. Early applications are encouraged. Incentive tuition pricing is provided for applications submitted by the first Friday in June. All parts of the application must be complete to be considered.

A selection committee reviews applications In August. Applicants accepted to the Leadership Development Initiative program are notified by mid-September.

A letter of support from the organization that employs the applicant, as well as letters of recommendation from persons familiar with the applicant’s abilities and skills (especially LPInc. Alums!) are strongly recommended at the time of application. Self-employed individuals may also apply. The selection committee strives to curate a diverse cohort based upon our applicant pool and information received.

Leadership Development Initiative tuition is currently $4,600 per participant (please note that this is subject to change in the future). Early applications are encouraged. Incentive tuition price for applications submitted by the first Friday in June is $4,300. All parts of the application must be complete to be considered.

Accepted applicants will receive an invoice which must be paid to ensure their spot in the class. Payment plans are available but must be arranged in advance with our team.

A limited number of partial scholarships are available and are primarily intended to assist participants from nonprofit organizations with limited resources. Participants seeking tuition assistance will be asked to complete a statement of financial need and are required to submit their request for assistance with their application.

Click here to request tuition assistance information. Acceptance into Leadership Pittsburgh is not influenced by the need for tuition assistance.

Click here to refer someone to one of our programs. We will then get in touch with them to share more information regarding our programs. Thank you for helping to spread the word and strengthen our mission delivery.

The Leadership Development Initiative Selection Committee heavily weighs the letters of recommendation in the application process. We strongly encourage each applicant to submit at least two, but no more than four, letters of recommendation. Successful applications in prior years tend to be accompanied by a letter of recommendation from applicant’s CEO/head of business unit in addition to recommendations from other LPInc. Alumni. Click here for a full list of LPInc. Alumni.

Recommendations are due into the Leadership Pittsburgh Inc. office by 5:00 PM on the date of the application deadline. These can be submitted along with the application or separately via the online form or by email to info@lpinc.org.