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MAGNIFY YOUR IMPACT WITH FOCUS LOUISVILLE

Focus Louisville is the ideal leadership program for professionals seeking to broaden their network, understand the challenges that face our community, and collaborate with like-minded individuals to create an everlasting impact in our city.

Register for an upcoming Focus Louisville Session

March 13-15, 2025

June 12-14, 2025

September 18-20, 2025

Nominate a Candidate

For Professionals of all Levels and Industries

Whether you’re new to town, or you’ve lived here all your life, we invite you to become immersed in the community while you build meaningful connections and discover your sense of belonging.

2 ½ Day Program

Offers you a chance to meet the people, explore the places, and experience the leadership that makes our city extraordinary. It’s often the first step in engagement with the Leadership Louisville Center.

Hear from Influential Leaders

Build connections with the region’s top leaders and hear how they are actively making a difference in our community.

Lasting and Impactful Connections

Forge relationships with likeminded people and the influencers shaping our community.

Deeper Knowledge of the Community

Gain a deeper understanding of our city’s history, infrastructure, and leadership. Participation strengthens your application for our competitive cohort programs.

Tuition

Focus Louisville program tuition is $900, which includes meals and materials. Organizations can save with group registrations. Limited tuition assistance is available for those in need.

TESTIMONIALS

“As a transplant to Louisville, I was looking for ways to learn more about the city, network and open new doors. Focus Louisville provided all that and then some. The knowledge gained has helped keep me grounded and more aware of how I can get plugged into Louisville. It was a catalyst to help me engage in community efforts. I can honestly say the experience was time and money well spent.”

John M. Anderson
EOS Worldwide

“Attending Focus Louisville was such an eye-opening experience for me. With me not being a Louisville native, I was unsure what the program would entail. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting new people and making connections and discussing different ways we could impact the city of Louisville. We had great presenters that are passionate about Louisville and making it a better place. What stood out to me the most was learning more about the inattention that the West Louisville community has to endure. By the end of the program, I was truly inspired and wanted to share what I had learned with my colleagues, friends, and family. For the first time since I moved to Louisville I felt as though I was able to “see” it and the wonderful things that it has to offer but also, understanding that our job is not finished. I want to use my resources and knowledge to enhance the city of Louisville. Before going to the program, I thought I was doing my part, but there is so much more to be done. I am grateful for my enlightening experience that Focus Louisville allowed me to be a part of. I cannot wait to be a part of the change!”

Emanual Arnold
Director of Operations, OneWest Corporation

“I entered Focus Louisville intent on making connections in the business community and learning more about the city I’ve called home for more than a decade. The program more than delivered on my expectations, and was great on a personal and professional level.”

Shea Van Hoy
Editor, Louisville Business First

Frequently asked questions

Ideal Focus Louisville candidates are:

Professionals of all levels and industries including executives, young professionals, managers, business owners, nonprofit directors, and senior business leaders at major corporations.
Individuals who are seeking more civic engagement, wanting to expand networks personally and professionally, and are ready to take their place as a community leader.

This program is 2 ½ days, lasting from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and 8 a.m. – noon on Saturday. To get the most out of the program, participants are expected to attend the program in its entirety, so please check your calendar to ensure the dates work for your schedule prior to submitting your registration.

If you miss more than a half-day of the session, you will not receive a Focus Louisville certificate of completion and your tuition will be forfeited. In cases where you cannot provide advanced notice, day-of notification is helpful so staff will know who to expect.

Tuition for Focus Louisville is $900. This includes meals and materials. Tuition is non-refundable.

Limited tuition assistance is available based on need. To request tuition support for Focus Louisville, complete this form. Tuition support will only be considered before registration. Have questions about tuition support? Contact Sara Bowman at sbowman@leadershiplouisville.org or call (502) 753-1492 for more information.

Organizations can save when registering a group of people for one or more Focus Louisville sessions through our Leadership Pathways program. Contact Paul Bolton, pbolton@leadershiplouisville.org, to learn more about our Pathways program and save on group registrations.

Focus Louisville allows participants to experience Louisville through an entirely new lens. Participants will obtain a deeper understanding of Louisville’s extraordinary history, culture, business and economy, arts and government. Gain inspiration through a hands-on-learning experience of Louisville’s past, present, and potential future. Create new friendships, new ideas and new perspectives from a diverse group of people within our community. Participation will strengthen your application for Leadership Louisville Center’s competitive selection cohort programs.

Focus Louisville graduates approximately 200 individuals per year. There are four classes, each comprised of around 50 participants.