Leadership Winston-Salem

What Leadership Winston-Salem does

Leadership Winston-Salem is a 501(c)(3) community leadership development non-profit incorporated on May 29, 1984, and headquartered at 624 West 6th Street in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The organization educates and connects leaders to serve and improve the Winston-Salem and Forsyth County community through three core cohort-based programs: the nine-month Flagship program for emerging to mid-level leaders ($3,300 per participant), the invitation-only INSIGHT: Winston-Salem forum for C-Suite executives and their spouses launched in 2012, and the Leadership Legacy program launched in 2025 for individuals and couples aged 65+. A central operating component is the Action Learning Project methodology, through which 168 cohort-team consulting engagements have been delivered to local non-profits since 2006.

The business model combines tuition revenue (~50% of a $600,000 annual operating budget), multi-tiered corporate sponsorships ranging from $2,000 Bronze to $10,000 Corporate Sustainer tiers, individual donations, and an Annual Scholarship Fund (~ $17,000 disbursed per year) supported by the Thomas K. Hearn, Jr. Endowment Fund at The Winston-Salem Foundation. Delivery runs through five staff positions plus a bench of program chairs, trustees drawn from senior community leaders, and alumni volunteers; 823 employer partners have sponsored participants and 2,851+ alumni have completed programs since 1984. There is no proprietary technology platform — operations rely on website content, email/e-blasts, social media, JotForm and DVForms for enrollment, and in-person program days across the Forsyth County region.

Name

Leadership Winston-Salem

Legal name

Leadership Winston-Salem

Website

https://leadershipws.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Leadership Winston-Salem is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs cohort-based civic leadership programs (Flagship, INSIGHT, Leadership Legacy) for mid-level leaders, C-Suite executives, and retirees in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County, North Carolina, funded by tuition, corporate sponsorships, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Leadership Development

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDABAAAA

Executive Leadership & C-Suite Development

Education/Corporate Training & Professional Development/Leadership & Management Development

SECONDARYEDABANAF

Team & Group Executive Coaching (Leadership Teams)

Education/Corporate Training & Professional Development/Executive Coaching Services

SECONDARYEDABAAAM

Inclusive Leadership & Leading Diverse Teams

Education/Corporate Training & Professional Development/Leadership & Management Development

SECONDARYEDABAAAB

People Management & Supervisory Skills

Education/Corporate Training & Professional Development/Leadership & Management Development

Keywords

• Community leadership development
• Executive leadership programs
• Civic engagement training
• Action learning projects
• Nonprofit leadership education

Headquarters

HQ city

Winston Salem

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Program Fees: Tuition fees cover approximately 50% of the annual operating budget. Flagship tuition is $3,300 per person with limited need-based scholarships available (up to 50% coverage). INSIGHT tuition covers both the leader and their spouse or significant other. Leadership Legacy has a separate tuition structure.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships at multiple tiers (Bronze $2,000 through Corporate Sustainer $10,000) provide significant revenue. Additional event-specific sponsorships for Wine Down Wednesdays, Leaders & Lunch, and Celebration events. Multi-year sponsorship agreements are available at any tier.
3. Individual Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations and fundraising efforts cover the remaining ~50% of the budget beyond tuition. The organization runs a 40th anniversary campaign and maintains a Thomas K. Hearn Jr. Endowment Fund at The Winston-Salem Foundation. Scholarship funds provide partial tuition assistance to eligible participants. Wine Down Wednesdays events also serve as fundraising occasions.
4. Annual Scholarship Fund: Donations to the Annual Scholarship Fund are immediately available to defray tuition costs for current or upcoming Flagship participants who demonstrate financial need. In the past three years, approximately $17,000 has been awarded annually, helping over a dozen people per year at an average of about $1,384 per person.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Leadership Winston-Salem delivers cohort-based community leadership development programs that educate, connect, and energize leaders to serve and improve Winston-Salem and Forsyth County. The core offerings are the nine-month Flagship Program for emerging and mid-level leaders, the invitation-only INSIGHT: Winston-Salem forum for C-Suite executives and spouses, and the Leadership Legacy program for individuals and couples age 65+. Programs culminate in pro-bono Action Learning Projects in which participant teams consult for local non-profit organizations.

Product overview

Leadership Winston-Salem operates as a community leadership development organization offering three distinct programs: the Flagship Program (a nine-month intensive for emerging to mid-level leaders), INSIGHT: Winston-Salem (an invitation-only C-Suite forum for senior executives), and Leadership Legacy (a cohort-based experience for retirees). Supporting these core programs are Action Learning Projects where participants collaborate with non-profit organizations, plus scholarship and endowment funds that provide tuition assistance. The organization was founded in 1984 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation serving Winston-Salem and Forsyth County.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Flagship: The principal nine-month intensive leadership development program for mid-level leaders, incorporating collaborative activities, action learning projects, and community exploration.
• INSIGHT: Winston-Salem
• Leadership Legacy
• Leadership Connections
• CLAY: Community Leadership And Youth
• Leadership ACCESS

Products and services

• Flagship Program A nine-month intensive leadership development program for emerging and mid-level leaders in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County, featuring monthly program days, relationship-building exercises, and Action Learning Projects that explore community dynamics and deliver pro-bono consulting support to local non-profits. Tuition is $3,300 per person with need-based partial scholarships available.
• INSIGHT: Winston-Salem An invitation-only forum for senior executives (CEOs and direct reports) and their spouses or significant others, convening in the spring for seven evening sessions held every other week from February through May. Facilitates peer dialogue on community issues among established leaders in a confidential setting.
• Leadership Legacy A cohort-based experience for individuals and couples aged 65+ that provides a bite-sized introduction to Winston-Salem through six program days, behind-the-scenes tours, real community issues exposure, lunch with a community leader, and a capstone Action Learning Project.
• Action Learning Projects Collaborative team projects in which Flagship program participants work with local non-profit organizations to deliver pro-bono consulting support; LWS awards eight Action Learning Projects per year, with 168 completed since 2006 serving non-profits such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, Second Harvest Food Bank, and Habitat for Humanity Forsyth County.
• Corporate Sponsorship Program Tiered annual corporate sponsorship opportunities for organizations that want to support Leadership Winston-Salem programs, with recognition benefits (Celebration tickets, logo placement, Community Conversation tickets, social media and e-blast visibility) scaled by sponsorship level.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,851+ community leaders graduated and inducted into community stewardship since 1984
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers26 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

47 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Big Brothers Big SisterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAction Learning Project community partner recipient. Big Brothers Big Sisters has received 5 Action Learning Projects since 2006, the highest number of any partner organization, supporting the non-profit's capacity building through Flagship participant teams.
• Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest NCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAction Learning Project community partner recipient. Second Harvest Food Bank has received 5 Action Learning Projects since 2006, supporting food security initiatives in Forsyth County through student consulting teams.
• Habitat for Humanity Forsyth CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAction Learning Project community partner recipient with 4 projects completed since 2006. Flagship participant teams have provided strategic planning and capacity-building support for affordable housing initiatives.
• Winston-Salem/Forsyth County SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAction Learning Project community partner with 4 projects completed since 2006. The school district is also a Gold sponsor and has multiple alumni in the program. Flagship graduates from the district have formed lasting professional relationships used during community emergencies.
• City of Winston-SalemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGold-level sponsor and Action Learning Project recipient with 3 projects since 2006. Multiple city departments have benefited from Flagship team consulting. City employees serve as trustees and program day committee members.
• Novant HealthflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatinum sponsor and Board Chair organization. Joyce Mounce serves as Board Chair as Senior Director of Market Institute – Community Health and Wellness at Novant Health. Multiple Novant Health employees are Flagship program day committee chairs and INSIGHT trustees.
• Atrium Health Wake Forest BaptistflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate Sustainer sponsor. Rachel Zimmer serves as Flagship 2026-27 Healthcare Day Chair. Multiple Atrium Health employees participate as trustees and committee chairs. Organization benefits from Action Learning Projects.
• Wake Forest UniversityflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate Sustainer sponsor and founding partner. Dr. Thomas K. Hearn Jr., former WFU President, was the first president of Leadership Winston-Salem in 1984. Drew Hancock of WFU Center for Private Business serves as INSIGHT Trustee. WFU School of Medicine staff serve on boards and committees.
• Forsyth Technical Community CollegeflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerGold sponsor. Dr. Janet Spriggs, President of Forsyth Tech, serves as an INSIGHT Trustee. Organization has received multiple Action Learning Projects. Kenyetta Richmond, Executive Director of Holistic Success Services at Forsyth Tech, helped a Flagship participant return to school.
• Winston-Salem State UniversityflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerGold sponsor. LaMonica Sloan Wilhelmi, Deputy Chief of Staff at WSSU, serves as an INSIGHT Trustee. WSSU is a Flagship alumnus. WSSU's National Alumni Association is supported by LWS alumni including Denise A. Smith.
• TruistflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerGold-level sponsor of Leadership Winston-Salem. Provides financial support for programs and community events.
• Kate B. Reynolds Charitable TrustflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerGold sponsor and Action Learning Project recipient. Veronica Smith of KBR serves as Flagship 2026-27 Social Services Day Chair. KBR supported Veronica's own Flagship participation and Action Learning Project work.
• Womble Bond Dickinson, LLPflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerGold sponsor and Celebration Sponsor. Aulica Monroe, Partner, serves as 2nd Vice-Chair of the Board. The firm provides legal and organizational support alongside financial sponsorship.
• Flow Automotive CompaniesflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerINSIGHT Trustee Don Flow, Chairman & CEO, leads engagement. Celebration Sponsor. Employer partner supporting employees' participation. Strong alignment between automotive leadership and civic engagement programming.
• Siemens MobilityflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatinum sponsor and Bronze sponsor. Cory Phillips, Plant Leader, serves as 1st Vice-Chair of the Board. Siemens employees participate in programs and serve as trustees. Provides financial and leadership support.
• Siemens EnergyflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum sponsor providing financial support for Leadership Winston-Salem programs and events.
• Greater Winston-Salem, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBronze sponsor and INSIGHT Trustee Mark Owens, President & CEO, serves as an INSIGHT Trustee. The economic development organization collaborates on community improvement initiatives.
• Bank of AmericaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze sponsor. Brent Collins, SVP Private Client Advisor, serves as INSIGHT Trustee 2020 and Board member. Financial services leadership engagement with the organization.
• Kaleidium (Children's Museum of Winston-Salem and SciWorks)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAction Learning Project recipient (3 projects since 2006). Flagship teams have supported the children's museum's strategic planning and community engagement initiatives.
• Reynolds AmericanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSenior Manager of Community Engagement Walter Farabee (Flagship 2021) represents Reynolds American. Organization has participated in Action Learning Projects and community engagement programming.
• The Winston-Salem FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMarty Pittman of The Winston-Salem Foundation serves as Flagship 2026-27 Our Community Day Chair. LaTida Smith, President, serves as INSIGHT Trustee. Foundation manages the Thomas K. Hearn Jr. Endowment Fund for LWS scholarships.
• Family Services of Forsyth CountyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGold sponsor. Flagship alumni from the organization have served as trustees and program day chairs.
• Allegacy Federal Credit UnionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJonathan Allen, Technology Experience Analyst, is a Flagship 2023 alumnus on the Board. Nathanael Tarwasokono, President/CEO, is an INSIGHT 2025 alumnus and Board member.
• The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth Co.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKatherine Perry served as a staff member at The Arts Council before becoming Executive Director of LWS. The Arts Council has benefited from Action Learning Projects and collaborative community programming.
• Grubb PropertiesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor providing financial support for Leadership Winston-Salem programs.
• Lowes FoodsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor providing financial support for community leadership programming.
• Blanco TackaberyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor providing financial support for Leadership Winston-Salem programs.
• The ResourceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor providing financial support for Leadership Winston-Salem programs.
• Goodwill Industries of Northwest North CarolinaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGold sponsor. Suzanne Danhauer of Goodwill serves as a Board member. Organization has received Action Learning Projects and benefits from cross-sector leadership connections.
• Hospice & Palliative Care CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAction Learning Project recipient with 3 projects since 2006. Flagship teams have supported end-of-life care organization's community programming and capacity building.
• Crisis Control Ministry, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAction Learning Project recipient with 3 projects since 2006. Abbey McCall, LWS Alumni Engagement Director, previously worked at Crisis Control Ministry as Director of Community & Volunteer Relations.
• Crosby Scholars Community PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAction Learning Project recipient with 3 projects since 2006. Supports youth educational achievement and college readiness in Forsyth County.
• Duke EnergyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze sponsor providing financial support for community leadership programming.
• Northwestern MutualminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBronze sponsor providing financial support for community leadership programming.
• Samaritan MinistriesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAction Learning Project recipient with 3 projects since 2006. Flagship teams have provided consulting support for this community ministry.
• Ronald McDonald House of Winston-SalemminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAction Learning Project recipient with 3 projects since 2006. Flagship teams have supported family support services for families of seriously ill children.
• Forsyth County Department of Social ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAction Learning Project recipient with 2 projects since 2006. County government agency benefiting from student consulting support.
• Salem Academy and CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSilver sponsor. Brett Woods of Salem Academy and College serves as Flagship 2026-27 Government, Criminal Justice, and Public Safety Day Chair.
• Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the ArtsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBronze sponsor. Supports arts and innovation programming in the Winston-Salem community.
• ICON Custom BuildersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCelebration Sponsor supporting the annual LWS Celebration event.
• Omega ConstructionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPatrick Casstevens, VP of Human Resources, is on the Board as a Flagship 2025 alumnus. Celebration Sponsor.
• Stimmel Associates, PAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCelebration Sponsor supporting the annual LWS Celebration event.
• Forsyth Humane SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAction Learning Project recipient with 2 projects since 2006. Flagship teams have provided consulting support for animal welfare organization.
• Dress For Success Winston-SalemminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAction Learning Project recipient with 2 projects since 2006. Flagship teams have supported women's professional empowerment organization.
• Down Syndrome Association of Greater Winston-SalemminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAction Learning Project recipient with 2 projects since 2006 (formerly Piedmont Down Syndrome Support Network).
• Experiment in Self-RelianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAction Learning Project recipient with 2 projects since 2006. Flagship teams have supported financial empowerment organization.
• NC Museum of Art - Winston-Salem (SECCA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAction Learning Project recipient with 2 projects since 2006 (formerly Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art).

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Leadership Philadelphia: Philadelphia-based community leadership development nonprofit running cohort programs for mid-career and senior executives with cross-sector cohort design. Comparable in model, scope, and 40+ year history, though operating in a larger metro.
• Leadership Triangle: Regional NC leadership program serving the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill Triangle region. Comparable as a multi-county, multi-sector civic leadership pipeline operating cohort-based executive programs with corporate sponsorship funding.
• Leadership Greensboro: Greensboro, NC-based nonprofit offering multi-month cohort-based leadership programs for mid-career and senior executives. Directly comparable in geographic scope, program structure, and civic leadership development mission.
• Leadership Charlotte: Charlotte, NC-based community leadership development nonprofit operating a flagship cohort program for emerging leaders and a senior executives program. Closest comparable peer — same model, same state, similar city-size footprint, and parallel C-Suite programming.
• Leadership Raleigh: Raleigh, NC-based community leadership program offering flagship and senior-level cohort experiences for emerging and established leaders. Operates the same playbook as LWS in a different NC metro, with comparable employer-sponsor-driven funding model.

Others

• The Winston-Salem Foundation: Local community foundation managing charitable assets and grantmaking for Forsyth County. Holds the Thomas K. Hearn Jr. Endowment Fund for LWS and an LWS board member (President LaTida Smith) serves as an INSIGHT Trustee.
• Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust: Major Forsyth County philanthropy funding health, education, and economic mobility initiatives. Gold-level sponsor of LWS and recipient of Action Learning Projects; comparable as a civic-infrastructure funder operating in the same regional ecosystem.

Regional players

• Greater Winston-Salem, Inc. Local economic development organization for Winston-Salem and Forsyth County. Comparable as a civic infrastructure organization that convenes business, government, and nonprofit leaders — and a Bronze-level sponsor and INSIGHT trustee-organization for LWS.
• Forsyth Technical Community College: Local community college in Winston-Salem offering workforce development and continuing education programs. Comparable as a regional non-degree leadership and workforce training provider, a Gold sponsor of LWS, and an INSIGHT trustee organization.
• United Way of Forsyth County: Local United Way chapter convening corporate, nonprofit, and volunteer leaders across Forsyth County. Operates a parallel civic-convening role and donor/sponsor model to LWS in the same geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/LeadershipWS
• Xx.com/leadership_ws
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/leadership-winston-salem

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Leadership Winston-Salem