Pictured: The 2025 Gulf Coast Leadership Institute class celebrated graduation after completing the program that develops emerging and experienced leaders across the region. Photo courtesy of Gulf Coast Community Foundation.

Thriving communities do not happen by accident. They are shaped, patiently and persistently, by people who are willing to grow into the responsibility of leadership.

At Gulf Coast Community Foundation, we have the privilege of working alongside leaders every day. We see firsthand how self-aware, disciplined and values-driven leadership influences everything from housing stability to environmental stewardship to the vitality of our arts and education systems. As our community grows more complex, the need for leaders who are grounded in their strengths and intentional in their impact has never been greater.

Throughout my leadership journey, I’ve grown through structured programs, executive coaching, and meaningful mentoring relationships. Each offered something different, from foundational principles and honest feedback to opportunities that pushed me beyond my comfort zone. One lesson has stood out across all these experiences: effective leadership is rooted in authentic, trust‑based relationships. Whether with the team I lead, the peers I collaborate with, or the board I serve, trust is what ultimately determines the impact of my leadership.

For nearly two decades, Gulf Coast has invested in that kind of leadership through the Gulf Coast Leadership Institute (GCLI).

In partnership with the nationally recognized Leadership Development Institute at Eckerd College, participants engage in a rigorous, assessment-based experience designed to deepen self-awareness, build trust, and strengthen effectiveness. Through in-person, experiential small and large group sessions, participants receive structured feedback, examine their leadership behaviors and practice new approaches in real time.

GCLI is immersive and often challenging. It asks participants to listen carefully, reflect honestly and stretch beyond familiar patterns. The cohort experience is an essential part of that growth. Leaders move through the program together, offering candid feedback, practicing new skills and building trust that often continues long after the program concludes.

The application process is competitive, and Gulf Coast provides the program at no cost because we believe leadership development should be accessible to those ready to serve. In return, participants commit to applying what they learn in ways that strengthen the organizations and communities they are part of. The goal is not simply connection. It is meaningful growth. It is equipping aspiring, emerging and experienced leaders who reflect the diversity of our community to lead with greater intention and effectiveness.

Since launching the program, more than 425 leaders have completed the experience, representing businesses, healthcare organizations, education institutes, local government and the nonprofit sector. Alumni continue to serve in meaningful roles across our community, including our current Board Chair, Anand Pallegar. Many graduates have stepped into expanded responsibilities within the organizations they lead. Yet the most meaningful outcome is not a change in title. It is the way they approach their work. They navigate conflict with greater clarity, build stronger teams and make decisions with a deeper awareness of how their leadership influences those around them.

For Gulf Coast, investing in leadership is not ancillary to our mission. It is central to it. Grants and endowments fuel important work, but people drive lasting change. When leaders grow in self-awareness and skill, the organizations they serve grow stronger. When organizations grow stronger, the entire community benefits.

Applications for the 2026 cohort open February 25 . If you know someone who is ready to do the hard and meaningful work of becoming a more effective leader, I encourage you to invite them to apply. Communities are shaped by the quality of their leadership. We are proud to invest in the people willing to do that work.

Phillip Lanham is the President and CEO of Gulf Coast Community Foundation.

Pictured: The 2025 Gulf Coast Leadership Institute class celebrated graduation after completing the program that develops emerging and experienced leaders across the region. Photo courtesy of Gulf Coast Community Foundation.