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Igniting Community Leadership for 40 Years

Program Information

Flagship, for Emerging to Mid-Level Leaders

Leadership Winston-Salem’s Flagship Program is designed to ignite community leaders with a mission of educating, connecting, and energizing leaders to serve and improve the community. Likened to a “community MBA,” participants benefit through active engagement, attending one Program Day each month, participating in supplemental activities, and working in Action Learning teams to address an actual dilemma faced by a local agency.

The program challenges participants to increase their personal and collective capacity to transform the community through civic engagement, servant leadership, and building social capital.

Components include:

  • Informative sessions with community leaders
  • Experiential group activities
  • Relationship building/networking opportunities
  • Opportunities for honoring all aspects of diversity
  • Action Learning Projects addressing community needs
  • Emphasis on servant leadership

Leadership Winston-Salem’s  Flagship program provide life-changing experiences, including unparalleled networking opportunities and a learning environment comprised of participants who want to positively impact the community.

This is a tuition-based program. The fee is $3,000 per person.  If you need financial support beyond what you or your employer can pay, LWS has limited funds for tuition assistance, which can cover up to one-half of the program’s cost. Tuition assistance is approved on a need-based consideration for those who request it.

What is the time commitment?

The flagship program starts in October and ends in June of the following year. Participants make a commitment to attend each class day, complete pre-work assignments, and engage as a contributor on their action learning teams for the duration of the program. LWS Alumni note that, as with any important endeavor, the results are worth the time investment. The approximate time investment is:

  • 8 hours per month for program days throughout a nine-month timeframe
  • Up to 6 hours each month in pre-work assignments and action learning team project work. (This will vary in accordance with each project team’s choices)

The success of the Leadership Winston-Salem experience depends upon the commitment of each participant to be present and fully participate in each program day as well as pre-work and action learning projects between sessions.

Flagship Monthly Program Schedule for 2025-2026:

  • Wednesday & Thursday, October 1-2, 2025 - Thomas K. Hearn Jr., Opening Retreat*
  • Wednesday, November 5, 2025 - Our Community Day
  • Thursday, November 13, 2025 - Our Community Bus Tour (1:30 PM - 5:30 PM)
  • Wednesday, December 3, 2025 - Government, Criminal Justice, and Public Safety Day
  • Thursday, January 8, 2026 - Human Relations Pre-Day (2:00 PM - 6:00PM)
  • Wednesday, January 14, 2026 - Human Relations Day
  • Wednesday, February 4, 2026 - Healthcare Day
  • Wednesday, March 4, 2026 - Arts and Innovation Day
  • Wednesday, April 8, 2026 - Education Day
  • Wednesday, May 6, 2026 - Social Services Day
  • Wednesday, June 3, 2026 - Closing Session*
  • Thursday, June 4, 2026 - Celebration*

Each program day begins at 7:15 AM and typically ends at 5:00 PM (unless otherwise noted)

*denotes mandatory attendance

 

INSIGHT, for C-Suite and Senior Level Leadership

INSIGHT: Winston-Salem is our C-Suite level forum launched in 2012 to complement our Flagship Program. Community leaders select by LWS serve as INSIGHT Trustees who plan and facilitate the evening programs through a proven model of peers dialoguing with peers.

The objectives of INSIGHT: Winston-Salem include:

  • Connecting established local leaders to build relationships with one another
  • Facilitating leadership conversations about our community issues and development
  • Fostering engagement and collaboration for community improvement

Session spotlight key aspects of our community through evening gatherings of leaders and their significant others, in venues around the city. These forums foster candid conversations and opportunities to form lasting relationships. Participants are challenged to envision what our community could be and the change required to facilitate that objective. The program results in new connections, thoughtful reflection on community issues, and a bias for action. As an organization, Leadership Winston-Salem has learned the importance of a spirit of inquiry, agility, and innovation in convening leaders around the needs of our community. Each INSIGHT program is unique and relevant, fostering diverse relationships, and challenging the status quo.

Program Specifics:

INSIGHT: Winston-Salem is exclusively for senior level executives, CEOs, and direct reports who have recently relocated, are new to their position, or would like to engage with other leaders on community challenges. This concept incorporates an opportunity for the participant to include a spouse or significant other as a way to build community relationships.

Participation in INSIGHT is by invitation only, a recommendation that  typically comes from the programs Trustees, past INSIGHT participants, and the Executive Director of Leadership Winston-Salem. Tuition covers both the leader and their significant other.

INSIGHT participants meet for seven dinner sessions held twice monthly, February through May, from 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM

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