Leadership Delaware County

LEADERSHIP DELAWARE COUNTY

Unlock Your Leadership Potential with Leadership Delaware County 2026-27

9 MONTH IN-PERSON LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Are you prepared to elevate your leadership skills and make a significant impact in your community? Leadership Delaware County invites you to embark on a transformative journey of personal and professional growth.

Our 9-month program is structured into three core modules, each carefully crafted to provide participants with immersive learning experiences, opportunities for reflection, and exposure to leaders across Delaware County.

1. Your Positive Leadership Core: Over the initial three sessions, participants delve into self-discovery, identifying their strengths, values, and personal leadership principles. Through dynamic activities and collaborative exercises, they forge connections with fellow classmates, fostering a supportive learning community. Participants also learn the art of asking powerful questions, empowering them to reframe experiences and unlock new possibilities.

2. Cultivating Collaboration & Engagement: With a solid foundation in place, participants progress to exploring strategies for enhancing teamwork and collaboration within their organizations. Through interactive sessions, they gain insights into structuring meetings and coaching sessions to amplify positive relational dynamics. Moreover, they learn techniques to ignite the positive core within their teams and organizations, fostering a culture of growth and innovation.

3. Leading for Community Impact: In the final leg of the program, participants broaden their focus to the wider Delaware County community. They engage in impactful initiatives such as hosting an Imagine Delco event, envisioning a thriving future for the county, and exploring avenues for citizen engagement. Additionally, they gain firsthand insight into state government operations through a visit to Harrisburg, further enhancing their leadership repertoire.

KEY COMPETENCIES:

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Action Learning: Our program emphasizes experiential learning, enabling participants to deepen their understanding of leadership concepts through hands-on activities and reflective practices.
Possibility Thinking: By encouraging participants to explore possibilities and leverage strengths, we empower them to drive innovative solutions and effect positive change.
Igniting Change through Inquiry: Through the art of asking powerful questions, participants develop critical thinking skills, challenging assumptions and charting new pathways forward.
Cultivating Collaboration: Effective leadership hinges on fostering collaboration and inclusivity. Participants learn to harness the power of diverse perspectives, driving collective goal achievement.
Working with Uncertainty: In an ever-evolving landscape, leaders must navigate uncertainty with confidence. Our program equips participants with the tools and strategies to make informed decisions and thrive amidst ambiguity.

WHY CHOOSE LEADERSHIP DELAWARE COUNTY?

Action-Oriented Learning: Gain practical tools and strategies that can be immediately applied in both personal and professional contexts.

Community Focus: Connect with like-minded individuals and community stakeholders, and explore opportunities to leverage your leadership skills for the greater good of Delaware County. Additionally, each session takes place at a different Delco location, providing exposure to diverse businesses and organizations.

Interactions with Delco Leaders: Learn from seasoned facilitators and guest speakers who bring a wealth of expertise in leadership development, enriching your learning journey.

Ready to Lead? Join Us Today!

Seize the opportunity to unlock your full leadership potential and become a driving force for positive change! Apply now to join Leadership Delaware County 2026-27 and embark on a journey towards personal growth, organizational success, and community impact.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

Tuition is $2,000 for Delaware County Chamber of Commerce Members and $2,300 for non-members. Tuition includes all program materials, professional headshot, attendance at the Chamber’s Annual Dinner and Small Business Awards Dinner.

Kicking off in September, the 2026-2027 Leadership Delaware County Program consists of ten mandatory sessions. Each session will be held from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM in variety of locations throughout Delaware County.

September 15, 2026
October 20, 2026
November 17, 2026
December 15, 2026
January 19, 2027

February 16, 2027
March 16, 2027
April 20, 2027
May 25, 2026
June 16, 2027 *Graduation*

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If you have questions or would like more information, contact Jaclyn Miley at 610.565.3677 or [email protected].

Established in 1989 and with more than 650 distinguished alumni, the program lays a foundation for the importance and significance of service to the community. The FDCCC Leadership alumni hold County, State and Federal elected positions, lead non-profit organizations, corporations, or are small business owners.

"A unique and compelling experience that has changed the way I view the world. I recommend Leadership Delaware county for anyone who is really interested in making a difference at work, in their community or the world.”

- Nathanial Goodson '20
Executive Director, Guardian Association of PA.

“My goal in attending this program was to enhance my strengths, develop my leadership style, and effectively cultivate my professional and personal network. I can say with resounding confidence that this program was all of that, and more!

This has been the best leadership journey I have been on, and I have been on a few. Leadership Delaware County has been a program that provided me with truly actionable insights.

The program successfully created an environment that allowed us, as participants, to be vulnerable and truly delve into ourselves to explore and discover our innate strengths and build on them.
I am grateful for the knowledge and network that Leadership DelCo has added to my repertoire."
- Jenny Goveas '23
BPO Sales Enablement Manager - Emerging Markets - Partnerships , AmeriHealth Administrators

"My experience with the Delco Chamber of Commerce Leadership program and specifically with facilitator/consultant Michelle has been very rewarding and provocative. Each month the sessions build on each other and last week was really exceptional regarding how to identify needs and match that with opportunities.

The framework was very clear and provided an easy way to vet creative ideas. The previous session on Inclusive leadership was also eye opening with the panel of experts discussing their experiences as leaders of color; describing the challenges they have faced and overcome.

I am very grateful for having the opportunity to participate in this program and would recommend it for anyone in a leadership role, or aspiring to be in a leadership role."
- Brenda Stank '23
Director, North American Business Operations, SAP

Learn more about our program alumnus by reading our Leadership Delaware County Spotlights on the Chamber Blog!

Read how they learned about the opportunity, the leaders they aspire to be and more.

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Program Facilitator: Michele Martin

Michele Martin is a Certified Career Development Instructor with over 25 years of experience in HR, leadership, workforce, and career development. She is a frequent trainer and conference presenter on coaching, resilience, and career growth and transitions. She is also the creator of The Speedy Startup, a 12-week group coaching program designed to help solopreneurs move quickly from developing their business idea to generating revenue, a program she has implemented with both adults and youth in PA. Michele has facilitated Leadership Delaware County for the past 9 years and the Chamber Foundation’s Youth Leadership Academy for 11 years. She has a B.A. in Government from Franklin and Marshall College.