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Leadership Carmel

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Develop Yourself. Shape Your Community. Leave a Legacy.

Leadership Carmel, a program of the Carmel Chamber of Commerce Foundation, is dedicated to developing and inspiring community-minded business and civic leaders.

Through a 9-month professional development program, participants gain a behind-the-scenes understanding of regional issues impacting the economy, culminating in a collaborative community betterment project that drives meaningful change.

Interested in Joining the 2025-2026 Program?

Why Join Leadership Carmel

Leadership Carmel is an immersive 9-month leadership development program for emerging and current leaders who are passionate about growing their skills, building their network, and making a positive impact on the Carmel-by-the-Sea community.

You’ll graduate with lifelong connections, sharper leadership skills, and a deeper understanding of our community’s opportunities and challenges.

What You'll Gain

Professional and Personal Growth

  • Strengthen your leadership skills, critical thinking, and ability to lead through change.
  • Deepen your understanding of how emotions, beliefs, and behaviors impact leadership success.
  • Recognize the difference between management and leadership and that leadership is not related to title, authority level and that anyone can lead from anywhere at any time.
  • Recognize and properly respond to Leadership challenges and Leadership opportunities.
  • Broaden and deepen thinking by adding critical mindsets.
  • Deeper understanding of how reflection can be used to make more meaningful insights.
  • Improve communications skills and how to design and conduct effective difficult conversations.
  • Understand and leverage personal thinking preferences.

A Powerful Network

  • Build lasting relationships with fellow class members, alumni, and influential community leaders.

  • Gain access to an Alumni Association of engaged leaders who continue to support and collaborate beyond graduation.

Community Knowledge and Impact

  • Explore local and regional issues through first-hand conversations with decision-makers and innovators.

  • Identify ways to volunteer, advocate, and shape positive change in Carmel-by-the-Sea.

What Employers Gain

 

  • A more effective, engaged, and innovative leader.
  • A team member with deeper and more agile thinking, problem solving, and more effectively leveraging interdependencies.
  • Expanded access to a trusted, local professional network.
  • A small investment in an employee repays itself in long-lasting leadership growth, effectiveness, and higher trustworthiness.
  • A workforce multiplier without hiring new people or sending them to expensive offsite courses or programs.

What Carmel-by-the-Sea Gains

  • Annual Class Legacy Projects that create lasting improvements for our community.

  • A growing network of engaged civic leaders, volunteers, and changemakers.

  • Innovative solutions to emerging community challenges.

Program Details

Program Dates
October 2025 – June 2026

Time Commitment

  • Two-Day Orientation Retreat: Friday and Saturday, October 3–4, 2025

  • Monthly Full-Day Sessions: One Friday each month, 9 AM – 5 PM (November through June)

  • Two-on-One Coaching Meetings: Between monthly sessions

  • Two Public Meetings: Attend outside of class

  • Legacy Project Meetings: Additional time commitment outside of sessions

  • Graduation Ceremony: June 2026

Attendance at all sessions is required.

Program Format

  • Monthly Full-Day Sessions: Each session is divided into two parts — the morning focuses on leadership skills development in the classroom, and the afternoon features panels, tours, and discussions with community leaders about Carmel’s present and future.

  • Legacy Project: Collaborate with your class to select and complete a community improvement project.

Tuition Cost

  • General Tuition: $2,000

  • Carmel Chamber Member Tuition: $1,700

  • Tuition Payment Deadline: September 26, 2025

  • Scholarships: A limited number of partial scholarships are available. Request consideration in writing when you apply.

Tuition includes all program materials and the 2-day retreat. Lunches and transportation are not included.

Who Should Apply?

Leadership Carmel is perfect for anyone who:

  • Seeks to develop and improve leadership skills and capacity

  • Desires to increase their role and influence in community affairs

  • Wants to expand their knowledge of Carmel-by-the-Sea

  • Hopes to build relationships with influential community members

Applicants are selected from diverse industries, backgrounds, and career stages, united by a passion for community engagement and leadership development.

How Do I Apply?

Application Deadline: August 16, 2025
Tuition Payment Deadline: September 26, 2025

Steps to Apply

  1. Complete the Leadership Carmel Application (2025-2026).

  2. Schedule and complete an interview with the Program Directors, a Carmel Chamber Board Member, and Alumni Representatives.

  3. Submit all materials by mail, email, or hand-delivery to:

Contact
Jeanne Frew, Co-Director, Leadership Carmel
25565 Boots Road, Monterey, CA 93940
jeanne@carmelleadership.org
(831) 236-1223 (call or text)

Program Mission

The mission of Leadership Carmel is to empower emerging and established leaders by building leadership capacity, inspiring civic engagement, and cultivating a deeper understanding of our unique community.

Through leadership development, community immersion, and collaborative legacy projects, Leadership Carmel shapes leaders who think critically, act ethically, and serve boldly.

Graduation Classes & Legacy Projects

Class of 2021

Leadership-Carmel-2021-098

Class of 2023

ceremony-698

Class of 2024

Leadership Carmel C:O 23-24
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