Leadership Florida Cornerstone Class

At Leadership Florida, our mission is to continually discover and convene committed individuals, enhancing and recharging their leadership skills by introducing them to a powerful community through whom they find knowledge and inspiration. We engage Floridians by providing essential information and a meaningful forum for their opinions and create opportunities for shared experiences that are inviting, inspiring, and of lasting value.

One of the many ways we work to accomplish our mission is through our Cornerstone Class program. For our upcoming class, 55 leaders aged 40 and older will be chosen to participate in a stimulating and thought-provoking nine-month educational program that consists of a series of two and three-day sessions held in cities throughout the state, the culmination of which is the equivalent of a sixth session where you will join fellow Leadership Florida members at our Annual Meeting. These sessions include programming on issues critical to Florida, refining well-developed leadership skills via sessions with leading experts, and relevant information on Florida's history, demography, challenges, and opportunities.

One of the program's most rewarding and lasting benefits is the chance to spend valuable time interacting with other leaders from various professions, philosophies, and geographies who represent Florida's diverse population. The program sessions provide ample experiences designed to facilitate the deepening of relationships among the Class members and thus extend the network of relationships that form the fabric of our statewide leadership.

Graduating from our classes does not signify the end, but the beginning of a lifetime of opportunity as a Leadership Florida membership network member. Leadership Florida convenes regular regional and statewide meetings to facilitate continuing issues-oriented education, advanced leadership training, networking, and the opportunity for members to work together toward shared goals.

The over 3,900 graduates of Leadership Florida programs are men and women who serve as chief executive officers of some of Florida's top corporations, mayors, and other elected officials, executives of pivotal non-profit groups, and leading academicians. They are also farmers, managers of high-tech consortiums, rural hospital administrators, and head Florida's most important agencies. They own small businesses and even include law enforcement officers in communities throughout our state. They are committed to local and state communities through their collective service on over 5,000 boards of companies and organizations throughout Florida.

Cornerstone Class 44 Session Dates

October 23-25, 2026: River Ranch
December 16-18, 2026: Jacksonville
January 13-15, 2027: Tallahassee
March 10-12, 2027: Fort Lauderdale
April 14-16, 2027: Miami
June 3-6, 2027: Annual Meeting

SELECTION CRITERIA

The Leadership Florida Selection Committee, comprised of Leadership Florida graduates from throughout the state, seeks to identify those individuals most likely to utilize their leadership abilities for the long-term benefit of Florida and individuals who are committed to making Florida a better place in which to live and prosper. Through the application process, including discussions with references, the committee strives to select participants who will provide the Class with broad professional, geographic, ethnic, and gender representation.

AGE REQUIREMENTS

Leadership Florida Connect and Cornerstone Program applicants must meet specific age requirements. The Leadership Florida Education Program has no age requirements.

Applicants must be 40 years of age or older to be eligible for the Cornerstone Class Program.

Applicants aged 25-39 are eligible for the Leadership Florida Connect Program.

The specified age is as of September 1 for the upcoming class year.  For example, for the 2027-2028 Program Year, the specified date is September 1, 2027.

PARTICIPATION

Participants are required to attend each session in its entirety to graduate with their class. Leadership Florida strictly enforces this policy.

TUITION AND PAYMENT POLICY

Tuition covers all of your registration fees, activities, local transportation, and most meals for the entire Leadership Florida Class program. The annual meeting registration fee and your first year of membership dues are also covered under your tuition.

Tuition does not include travel or hotel room fees for any of the sessions, including the Leadership Florida Annual Meeting.