Announcing the 2023-24 Class of Leadership St. Louis
FOCUS St. Louis has selected 62 outstanding individuals from the private, public and nonprofit sectors for the 48th Leadership St. Louis (LSL) class. These participants join a prestigious group of more than 2,600 leaders who have graduated from the LSL program since its inception in 1976. Leadership St. Louis is a highly respected program for experienced leaders who have demonstrated…
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Announcing the 2024-25 Class of Leadership St. Louis
FOCUS St. Louis has selected 58 outstanding individuals from the private, public and nonprofit sectors for the 49th Leadership St. Louis (LSL) class. These participants join a prestigious group of more than 2,700 leaders who have graduated from the LSL program since its inception in 1976. Leadership St. Louis is a highly respected program for experienced leaders who have demonstrated…
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Podcast – Wendy Richardson
Podcast\n\n FOCUS on Leadership\n\n EPISODE 8\n\n Finding Joy\n\n Wendy Richardson\n\n Recently retired after a 25-year career with Mastercard, FOCUS Leadership St. Louis alum Wendy Richardson is reflecting back on the lessons she’s learned, the advice she would share with others, and how she finds joy in every day. In this episode, FOCUS Director of Leadership Programs Shalia Ford sits down…
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Podcast – Anna Crosslin
Podcast\n\n FOCUS on Leadership\n\n EPISODE 6\n\n A Legacy of Leadership\n\n Anna Crosslin\n\n Few people have made their mark in the St. Louis region like our next podcast guest. In this episode of FOCUS on Leadership, we had the privilege of sitting down to talk with FOCUS Leadership St. Louis alum and current Executive-In-Residence Anna Crosslin, who led the International Institute…
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Podcast – Keisha Mabry Haymore
Podcast\n\n FOCUS on Leadership\n\n EPISODE 5\n\n The Power of Connecting\n\n Keisha Mabry Haymore\n\n Networking doesn’t have to be boring or transactional. In this episode of the FOCUS on Leadership podcast, we talk with FOCUS Emerging Leaders alum Keisha Mabry Haymore, speaker, author, coach and founder of Heydays Creative & Collaborative Workspace, about her unique approach to building a powerful and…
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Podcast – Andwele Jolly
Podcast\n\n FOCUS on Leadership\n\n EPISODE 4\n\n Creating a Culture of Curiosity\n\n Andwele M. Jolly, DPT, MBA, MHA\n\n As leaders, how do we create and cultivate a spirit of curiosity in all we do? In this episode of the FOCUS on Leadership podcast, we talk with FOCUS Leadership St. Louis alum Andwele Jolly, President & CEO of the St. Louis Integrated…
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2025-26 Cohort of Leadership St. Louis Announced
FOCUS St. Louis has selected 58 outstanding individuals from the private, public and nonprofit sectors for the 50th cohort of Leadership St. Louis (LSL). These participants join a prestigious group of more than 2,800 leaders who have graduated from the LSL program since its inception in 1976. Leadership St. Louis is a highly respected program for experienced leaders who have…
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Announcing Our Fall 2025 Emerging Leaders
FOCUS St. Louis has selected 31 talented early-career professionals for the Fall 2025 cohort of Emerging Leaders. During this four-month civic leadership program, participants explore their personal, professional and civic leadership styles, gain a deeper understanding of the St. Louis region, and expand their network. Since its launch in 2012, FOCUS Emerging Leaders has trained more than 700 young professionals…
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Podcast – Dr. Frances Levine
Podcast\n\n FOCUS on Leadership\n\n EPISODE 10\n\n The Power of Stories\n\n Dr. Frances Levine\n\n Whose story are we telling and why does it matter? In this episode of the FOCUS on Leadership podcast, we had the privilege to sit down with historian and author (and former FOCUS board member) Dr. Frances Levine. We explore the roots of her early interest in…
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Community Agreement
about focus\n\n Community Agreement\n\n Community agreements are essential for fostering civil discussions and creating a safe and respectful environment at FOCUS St. Louis program seminars and policy forums. To that end, below are the expectations that we have for everyone attending our programming: Respectful Communication: We commit to communicating with respect and courtesy, valuing the diversity of opinions and experiences…
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Celebrating Black History Month 2024
Looking for a way to commemorate Black History Month? Check out some of these local virtual events. Feb. 1 History of Black Fashion Missouri History Museum Learn More Feb. 3 Black History Month Movie Screening Transfiguration Lutheran Church Learn More Feb. 8 Ayesha Rascoe, “HBCU Made: A Celebration of the Black College” St. Louis County Library Learn More Feb. 13…
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Leadership St. Louis
…understanding of the St. Louis region, explore collaborative civic leadership and build connections across sectors, you may be a great fit for Leadership St. Louis. Like all FOCUS leadership programs, Leadership St. Louis welcomes applicants from all backgrounds, industries and sectors.\n\n Watch Our Video\n\n Watch Our Video\n\n What to Expect\n\n Leadership St. Louis is a nine-month program, with one or…
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Guide to Casting an Informed Vote
By Joani Alsop, FOCUS Director of Learning I’ve adopted principles to help me meet my responsibilities as a U.S. citizen to participate in our democracy. I’ve also found research links that have been helpful in navigating the sea of biased information to help me better understand the candidates and issues on my ballot, and to think critically about the impact…
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Meet Our Spring 2022 Cohort of Women In Leadership
FOCUS St. Louis® is pleased to announce the 28 outstanding individuals selected for the spring 2022 cohort of Women In Leadership. The Women In Leadership program, held each fall and spring, offers professionals the opportunity to refine their leadership competencies, gain a deeper understanding of the St. Louis region, and connect with other women from diverse backgrounds. Through interviews and…
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Introducing Our Fall 2022 Cohort of Women In Leadership
FOCUS St. Louis is pleased to announce the 26 outstanding individuals selected for the fall 2022 cohort of Women In Leadership. The Women In Leadership program, held each fall and spring, offers professionals the opportunity to refine their leadership competencies, gain a deeper understanding of the St. Louis region, and connect with women from diverse backgrounds. Through interviews and field…
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Congratulations to Our 2022-23 Youth Leadership St. Louis Graduates!
…problem-solving, teamwork and public speaking. Here was what some of the students had to say about their experience: “FOCUS has done a great job teaching me to be comfortable outside of my comfort zone. Every exercise we did encouraged me to be confident and trust myself when put on the spot. FOCUS taught me that it is okay to be…
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Introducing Our Fall 2023 Cohort of Women In Leadership
FOCUS St. Louis is pleased to announce the 31 outstanding individuals selected for the spring 2023 cohort of Women In Leadership. The Women In Leadership program, held each fall and spring, offers professionals the opportunity to refine their leadership competencies, gain a deeper understanding of the St. Louis region, and connect with women from diverse backgrounds. Through interviews and field…
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Meet Our Spring 2024 Cohort of Women In Leadership
FOCUS St. Louis is pleased to announce the 30 outstanding individuals selected for the spring 2024 cohort of Women In Leadership. The Women In Leadership program, held each fall and spring, offers professionals the opportunity to refine their leadership competencies, gain a deeper understanding of the St. Louis region, and connect with women from diverse backgrounds. Through interviews and field…
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BoardBridge Application – Nonprofit Organizations
FOCUS BoardBridge\n\n Nonprofit Application\n\n Applications for the spring 2026 round will close on April 17, or earlier if capacity is reached. If your organization is new to the BoardBridge program, it is required that a member of your staff or board participate in the virtual orientation session, set for April 30 from 12-1 p.m., before being matched. (The sign-up link…
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Podcast – Ruth Kim
Podcast\n\n FOCUS on Leadership\n\n EPISODE 7\n\n Overcoming Imposter Syndrome\n\n Ruth Kim\n\n Too often, we hold ourselves back with feelings that we don’t belong or don’t measure up. In this episode of the FOCUS on Leadership podcast, we sit down with Ruth Kim, past General Counsel, SVP and Senior Partner for FleishmanHillard, to explore her strategies for tackling imposter syndrome and…
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Podcast – Marcy Bursac
Podcast\n\n FOCUS on Leadership\n\n EPISODE 2\n\n Saying Yes\n\n Marcy Bursac\n\n How do we as leaders continue to learn, grow and evolve? In this episode, we talk with FOCUS Women In Leadership alum Marcy Bursac about her unique leadership journey from nonprofit professional to software developer to author, podcaster and pageant queen. She shares how her experience as an adoptive mother…
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Introducing Our Spring 2025 Cohort of Women In Leadership
FOCUS St. Louis is pleased to announce the 33 outstanding individuals selected for the spring 2025 cohort of Women In Leadership. The Women In Leadership program, held each fall and spring, offers professionals the opportunity to refine their leadership competencies, gain a deeper understanding of the St. Louis region, and connect with women from diverse backgrounds. Through interviews and field…
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Podcast – Mary Elizabeth Grimes
Podcast\n\n FOCUS on Leadership\n\n EPISODE 9\n\n Following Your Purpose\n\n Mary Elizabeth Grimes\n\n As President of Marian Middle School since 2013, Mary Elizabeth Grimes is responsible for stewarding over 200 students from 5th grade through post-secondary education and beyond. In this episode of the FOCUS on Leadership podcast, she shares her thoughts on the power of education and the joy she…
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Podcast – Dr. Yusef Scoggin
Podcast\n\n FOCUS on Leadership\n\n EPISODE 11\n\n Collective Impact\n\n Dr. Yusef Scoggin\n\n In this episode, we sit down with FOCUS Leadership St. Louis grad Dr. Yusef Scoggin, Executive Director of Delmar DivINe, to explore his career evolution and vision for our region. From his early experiences in medicine to leading a regional nonprofit hub, Dr. Scoggin reflects on the importance of…
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