Our Mission: To Strengthen Regional Leadership through Programs, Partnerships and Connections
Our History: Founded thirty-eight years ago as an expression of faith in the Pittsburgh region and its promise, Leadership Pittsburgh Inc. (LPI), an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is now recognized as the premier resource for community leadership in Southwestern Pennsylvania. LPI has an alumni network of more than 3,000 influential civic leaders working to maximize the potential of our community. Modeled after existing programs around the country, the Leadership Pittsburgh (LP) program was conceived by community leaders, affiliated with the Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce, to enhance the quality of regional leadership through programming focused on awareness of community issues.
Leadership Development Initiative (LDI) was added as a companion program in 1994, and, in the fall of 1998, Leadership OnBoard was developed to facilitate board placements of young professionals. In 1999, the “organization” received its independent corporation status. In January 2005, Leadership Pittsburgh Inc. and the Allegheny Conference on Community Development entered into a programming partnership that has evolved in recent years to enable some new offerings, including Executive Welcome.
Our most recent civic entrepreneurial efforts include the Community Leadership Course for Veterans. Recognizing the largely untapped leadership potential of newly returned veterans, this program aims to leverage the skills and experiences of these men and women by exposing them to new leadership networks and opportunities for service to the Southwestern Pennsylvania community. The prestigious Lead Now Pittsburgh Fellowship, launched in 2018, aims to provide transformational leadership training to 24 exemplary nonprofit leaders (invited based on a rigorous nomination/selection process) who represent great potential to impact our region.
Based on our reputation of creativity and excellence in delivery, we are often sought out to lead innovative projects that involve cross-sectional connectivity. Some of these projects include the TEDx conferences, which we introduced to the community of regional Changemakers in November of 2009 and 2011, and the public-private project entitled Experienced Dreamers in 2011/12. In 2014, we were proud to host an ideas conference entitled Unboxed: Edges of Learning.
What sets Leadership Pittsburgh Inc. apart?
- Excellent Programs: Best-in-class, diverse, exciting and motivating classes that cover basic and “master class” in community leadership
- “Brand name” faculty: Business leaders, academic researchers, policy experts, leading practitioners from the business, nonprofit and public sectors
- Top Notch Participants: Bright, ambitious, current and future leaders
- Noteworthy Networks: Involved alumni eager to connect with other leaders
LPI is proud of its graduate network of over 3,000 influential civic leaders working to maximize the potential of our community. These graduates are a rich resource for area nonprofit and public boards and commissions. You can find a listing of our graduates by clicking here for a list of our LP Alumni, here for a list of our LDI Alumni and here for our CLCV alumni.