More Than a Program, A Perspective: Leadership West Virginia

If you’ve been around me (or tried to schedule a meeting with me) in the last seven months, you’ve probably noticed my calendar has been a little…extra. And that’s saying something, considering I’m usually on the go. The reason? A not-so-little program called Leadership West Virginia. I call it “little” jokingly, of course, it’s actually a powerhouse that’s graduated more than 1,600 leaders across the state and just added 55 more graduates with the Class of 2025 (aka the best class ever).

I applied last November after hearing countless friends rave about how the program changed their lives. And, never one to miss out on something impactful, I decided it was my turn. In March 2025, I was honored to be accepted into this year’s class alongside 55 incredible leaders from across West Virginia.

What Is Leadership West Virginia

If you’re not familiar with Leadership West Virginia, it’s an innovative program designed to grow, connect and mobilize leaders who are passionate about moving our state forward. Through a series of in-person educational and professional development sessions held all across West Virginia, participants get a front-row seat to the challenges and opportunities that shape our communities.

Each class is made up of a diverse group of people from different industries, ages, backgrounds and corners of the state, which makes every session a fresh perspective and a new conversation. The program includes seven two-day sessions throughout the year, which is no small commitment, especially for a working mom like me. But I’m not the only one juggling life to make it happen. Every person in our class has leaned on family, co-workers and friends along the way. So to all of them, a heartfelt thank-you. It was absolutely worth it.

Leadership Is Learned

If you asked me my biggest takeaway from Leadership West Virginia, it’s this: leaders aren’t born, they’re built. I wasn’t the kid raising my hand or running the show. I was shy, happy to follow and much more comfortable in the background than in the spotlight. But over time, I found my voice. I discovered that leadership isn’t about being the loudest person in the room; it’s about using your perspective, your skills and your passion to make a difference. Not just in your industry, but in your community.

Some of my classmates may have stepped into their leadership roles earlier than I did, but I think we all grew as leaders in the same way — by taking a step back, really seeing the world around us and figuring out where we can help move it forward. From lawyers to engineers, bankers to educators, and fundraisers to creatives, we all share one goal: to lead by example, find common ground and help make West Virginia a better place for everyone.

But don’t get me wrong, leadership isn’t for everyone, and that’s exactly how it should be. If the world were made up of only leaders, there’d be no one left to lead. Those who choose a different path aren’t left behind; they’re the ones who keep things moving. They support, create and contribute in ways that are just as meaningful.

Leadership isn’t about being part of some exclusive club; it’s simply one way of showing up in the world. Every person has their own path, their own purpose and their own way of making an impact. None of them are wrong; they’re just different. And that’s what makes our communities stronger.

The Power Of Connection

My second big takeaway? Leadership takes relationships. Over the past seven months, I’ve made so many new connections, even right here in Charleston, where I live. It’s funny how you can live and work in the same place for years without crossing paths with someone, and then suddenly, you see them everywhere. I’ve met classmates I somehow never knew before this program, and now we’re bumping into each other in all the same spots we’ve both been going to for years.

But that’s the real beauty of Leadership West Virginia: the connections. Being linked with leaders across the state matters because that’s how real change happens. It’s how a vacant seat on a nonprofit board gets filled, how organizations collaborate to fund something meaningful and how different industries share their expertise to make a collective impact.

For me, it’s also been about the personal connections, like grabbing a drink with the two classmates who also work in advertising and realizing we face the same daily challenges. Those moments remind me that I’m not alone. Whether big or small, these relationships make us better leaders.

Connecting with people from so many different backgrounds has made me more empathetic, more inspired and more committed to creating meaningful change. In fact, it even inspired me to take on a new role as the Marketing Specialist for Rainbow Pride of West Virginia, a community I care deeply about and one I hope to help grow and thrive here in our state.

Lessons That Last A Lifetime

In the end, seven sessions taught me more about our state and its communities than I have learned in my twenty years of living here. While I may be a transplant, like many of my classmates, we’re just as committed to West Virginia as those who were born and raised here.

I could talk for days about the mock trial that opened my eyes to the judicial system, the university tours, the educational programs and the manufacturing facilities I never knew existed, or about revisiting familiar places alongside people seeing them for the first time. But what stands out most is that Leadership West Virginia isn’t just about educating leaders — it’s about connecting them. It’s a network of people who believe in this state, who want to see it thrive and who share a lifelong passion for moving it forward.

And yes, I’m both happy and a little sad to have celebrated graduation. Happy to find a bit more normalcy in my schedule (or at least as normal as it ever gets), but sad to know that for two days each month, I won’t be fully immersed in growing as a leader alongside my classmates. Still, leadership doesn’t end; once you find it, it sticks with you. I know this program and the incredible people I’ve met through it will keep pushing me, inspiring me and holding me accountable to being the kind of leader DR and our state deserve.