Cincy Lead
Cincy Lead is a leadership development program for early-mid career advancing leaders who wish to focus on building their leadership skills and professional networks.
What is Cincy Lead?
Cincy Lead is our leadership development program designed for early- to mid-career advancing leaders who want to strengthen their leadership skills and build meaningful professional networks. In 2026, our Cincy Lead program will expand to offer two tailored pathways that support professionals at different stages of their careers.
- Cincy Lead: Next Gen – a 5-course leadership experience for new professionals looking to build foundational leadership skills, grow their networks, and make an impact in Cincinnati’s community.
- Cincy Lead: Level Up – a 5-course leadership development program for established professionals seeking to expand their leadership capacity, sharpen their strategic influence, and reconnect with the purpose behind their work.
Program Objectives
The program is designed to equip leaders with the skills and tools to accelerate their leadership in their organization and with their teams. Participants will also expand their personal and professional network while sharing experiences and best practices.
Participants will:
Cincy Lead: Next Gen prepares new professionals to navigate the workplace confidently by strengthening essential people skills and building strong foundations for career growth.
Cincy Lead: Level up helps established professionals refresh and strengthen their soft skills so they can lead diverse teams effectively in a rapidly changing workplace.
Target Participants
Early to mid-career advancing leaders
Curriculum
Example topics include:
- Building Your Professional Foundation
- Communicating with Confidence
- Cultural Intelligence (CQ) in Action
- Balance, Boundaries & Advancement
- Brand & Connections
Class 8 Program Timeframe
All sessions are held 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
Cincy Lead: Level Up
April – June 2026
Session 1: Leading Up, Down & Across
Session 2: The Art of Difficult Conversations
Session 3: Strategic Networking: Leveraging Connections for Impact
Session 4: Centered Leadership: Focus, Energy & Renewal
Session 5: Leading Through Strengths & Perspectives
Cincy Lead: Next Gen
September – November 2026
Session 1: Building Your Professional Foundation
Session 2: Communicating with Confidence
Session 3: Cultural Intelligence (CQ) in Action
Session 4: Balance, Boundaries & Advancement
Session 5: Brand & Connections
Registrations
Registration for Cincy Lead: Level Up opens Jan 19 and closes March 16
Registration for Cincy Lead: Next Gen opens June 29 and closes August 24
Registration Fee
$50 (non-refundable). Registrants will be asked to pay via credit card at the end of the online registration process.
Questions? Contact Kendra Perkins at kperkins@cincinnatichamber.com
Pricing
$750 for Chamber Members
$1,000 for non Chamber Members
*Partial scholarships may be available for those with financial need, and can be requested within the registration. Payment plan options are also available.
What past participants had to say...
There were several speakers throughout the sessions that really gave us pointers and different ideas on how to be a leader.
Adam Behm
I really enjoy this program because everybody’s so authentic. We talk about our issues and personalities, and how we make improvements. I definitely learned a lot, and also [was] able to network with other upcoming leaders in the Greater Cincinnati area.
Lei Zhao
Being one of the younger professionals in Cincy LEAD, it was really neat to learn from people who have been in different industries for 20 to 30 years and get to learn their struggles through the years.
Saijal Andreadis
Discover the Right Leadership Center Program for You
The Leadership Center at the Cincinnati Regional Chamber offers leadership development programs that are built to grow and strengthen the regional talent base by developing civic-minded leaders. If you’re an individual looking to apply or a talent leader interested in sending employees through our programs, let us help you find the programs best suited for your goals.