Welcoming Boston’s leaders to the LeadBoston Class of 2021
LeadBoston, YW Boston’s inclusive leadership program, launched a new class year this month. Please join us in welcoming 47 members to the LeadBoston Class of 2021, our 30th anniversary LeadBoston class. On Wednesday, January 13, the class met for the first time during their virtual orientation. They reconvened a week later on January 20 for their first program day, Exploring Boston’s Neighborhoods. YW Boston’s LeadBoston program meets organizations’ demand for inclusive leadership by equipping mid- to senior-level professionals with the knowledge, skills, and network to propel their leadership, and their organization’s success, forward. By learning and working together over the next 11 months, the Class of 2021 will become more effective leaders and drive change within their organizations.
This year’s orientation and first program day looked different compared last year’s kick-off events. Completely virtual, the January meetings utilized breakout sessions and digital tools to facilitate class connection and conversation. The LeadBoston team has honed the best practices for online learning and skill-building after making the quick switch to virtual program days last March. For instance, rather than visiting Boston’s neighborhoods in person this year, the class utilized Google Street View to learn about neighborhoods less familiar to them. In addition to new tools, the 2021 program schedule includes follow-up discussion meetings and optional virtual get-togethers to foster class connection.
The Class of 2021 is made up of a diverse group of Boston-area professionals. From corporate (e.g., Reebok, Ocean Spray Cranberries) to government (the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office) and law (Mintz Levin, Holland & Knight) to nonprofit (Boston’s Children Hospital, Greater Boston Food Bank) – and many more – the diversity of industries and backgrounds represented among the class plays a key role in deepening participants’ learning experience. Class members will graduate with close working relationships throughout Boston’s professional landscape.
2021 marks the 30th anniversary of this prominent YW Boston program. We look forward to keeping our community updated about the Class of 2021 and our anniversary celebrations.
Members of the LeadBoston Class of 2021 and their employers expressed their excitement on social media:
Congrats to our Director of Programs, 𝐑𝐨𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐀𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐳 for induction into the @YWBoston Class of 2021.
As leaders think about diversity, equity & inclusion they must understand how their organizations both impact & are influenced by systems:https://t.co/n6Tcd1qOqj pic.twitter.com/Jog3hwG1xf
— Inversant (@InversantTweets) December 16, 2020
Welcome LeadBoston Class of 2021! We look forward to seeing how you advance equity and inclusion in your workplaces and beyond.
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Become a part of YW Boston’s LeadBoston program and join a network of over 1,000 inclusive leaders in Boston. During this 11-month program, participants explore and learn how to address barriers to inclusion through facilitated dialogue, expert speakers, and peer learning. Through experiential activities, participants delve into the social, political, and socioeconomic realities of Boston and explore innovative solutions to inequity. Interested in learning more? Reach out to Rachael McCoy, LeadBoston Manager, at rmccoy@ywboston.org with any questions about the program.