HISTORY OF LEADERSHIP GREATER WASHINGTON

Leadership Greater Washington was founded by 18 dedicated members of the Washington region and co-founded by the Greater Washington Board of Trade and the Junior League. Modeled after the successful community leadership programs of Atlanta and Philadelphia, Leadership Washington received initial funding and support from the Meyer Foundation, IBM, and independent community leaders.

The first class began in September 1986 under the organizational name of Leadership Washington, and in June of 2005 the organization's name was changed to Leadership Greater Washington to better reflect its already regional focus. In 1991, the Youth Leadership Greater Washington program was created to providing an interactive youth leadership development and community education program for high school sophomores and juniors in the Greater Washington region. LGW, partnered with Cook Ross, Inc. launched the Effective Leadership Institute in January of 2010, its first adult leadership development program.

In its 26th year, over 1,300 of the region's most influential leaders have been selected to participate in Leadership Greater Washington.

History of 1980s

History of 1990s

History of 2000s

History of 2010s