Show/Hide more photosIgnite Louisville

Building Stronger Next-Generation Leaders.

About the Program

norton-logo-IL-presented-byIgnite Louisville prepares high-potential professionals for expanded opportunities in career and community leadership. Now offered twice a year (see program calendars), Ignite Louisville is a seven month life-changing personal and professional development experience that produces the skills, confidence, problem-solving abilities and connections essential to realizing leadership potential. Participants gain hands-on experience in civic leadership and working effectively as a team as well as heightened visibility within the community. Norton Healthcare is the presenting sponsor of Ignite Louisville. Yum! Brands sponsors the Yum! IGNITES Louisville Challenge, the service learning component of the program.

  • “What a great experience! It was a truly fun and informative journey. I feel so much better equipped to take on leadership roles and am excited about continuing to be engaged in the community.”
    Allison Brown, Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs LLP

  • “The professional development opportunities offered through the Leadership Louisville Center help our staff build the skills necessary to be better leaders and communicators both in the community and within our industry.”
    Steve Bryant, RunSwitch PR

  • “We recently supported our first Ignite Louisville participant and I highly recommend the program for staff with executive potential. As an emerging leader, he grew immensely and our organization continues to benefit. ”
    Cyndi Masters, DBS Interactive

  • “This was the most powerful and impactful leadership program that I have been involved in. I absolutely loved this program. I was apprehensive about the time commitment, but quickly fell in love with the project, the program days, and I had phenomenal teammates. This is seven months I’ll never forget.”
    Wes Syndor – MSD

  • “My experience with Ignite Louisville is one I will always remember and the tools and knowledge I gained I will forever use and build upon. I honestly found that every single program day was incredibly important and impactful.”
    Bryn Cowgill, – KentuckyOne Health

  • “The best and most surprising outcome from my experience in Ignite Louisville was this new circle of great friends. The program is designed to pull together teams of people with unique personalities and diverse professional expertise. We all grew to respect, leverage and learn from each other’s strengths.”
    Liz Zummach, – Humana Inc.

How Individuals Benefit

• Gain leadership lessons that can only be learned outside your comfort zone.
• Unforgettable experiences and relationships that pay dividends personally and professionally.
• Public recognition as a rising leader armed with professional development training from the region’s top corporations, including Norton Healthcare, Yum! Brands, Inc., Brown-Forman Corporation, Humana, as well as the U.S. Army.
• Strong credentials as someone with demonstrated ability to take on leadership challenges and serve on civic boards and committees.

How Organizations Benefit

• Better, stronger leaders, regardless of the size of your organization.
• Valuable business connections with the region’s top corporations, including access to invaluable internal training programs of these organizations.
• Local recognition as an organization dedicated to growing the next generation of leaders in our community.
• Learn more about how your organization benefits.

How Nonprofit Agencies Benefit

Learn how your organization can benefit from the Ignite Louisville program.
Submit a proposal to partner with an Ignite Louisville team from July 20-September 1, 2017
See the results achieved for six nonprofits as part of the Fall 2017 Yum! IGNITES Louisville Challenge.

Time commitment

Ignite Louisville is offered two times annually, from April-October and October-April.  Both programs include a two-day opening retreat followed by one full day per month for six months, plus time spent working with a nonprofit partner in the Yum! IGNITES Challenge service-learning project.  See program calendars for the classes that begin in Fall 2017 and Spring 2018.

Program calendars for upcoming classes

Program days are from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (except noted below)

Class beginning October 2017:

October 26-27, 2017 (Mandatory overnight Opening Retreat)
November 15, 2017 (Early start at 7:30 a.m.)
December 13, 2017
January 17, 2018
February 14, 2018
March 14, 2018
April 18, 2018  (Graduation 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.)

Class beginning April 2018:

April 23-24, 2018 (Mandatory overnight Opening Retreat)
May 23, 2018
June 13, 2018
July 11, 2018
August 8, 2018
September 12, 2018
October 10, 2018 (Graduation 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.)

Who should apply

The Ignite Louisville program is designed for next generation leaders who are on the path to significant leadership positions within their companies and organizations. The ideal Ignite Louisville candidate is an individual who is engaged, involved and ready to make a positive impact both in their career and in their community. Applicants are typically between the ages of 25-45, with the average applicant in his or her mid-thirties. Leaders above and below this mean are invited to contact us and we can help you decide if Ignite Louisville is right for you. Join our email list to be notified about important dates regarding the Ignite Louisville program.

How to Apply

The online application considers education, career, community service, responses to essay questions, recommendations and approval from your employer/supervisor.

The next application period will be in January 2018. The online application will be linked on this page.

Questions?

See Frequently Asked Questions about Ignite Louisville. For more information, contact Angella Wilson or call (502) 561-5221.

Sponsors

Presenting sponsor Norton Healthcare
Sponsor of Yum! IGNITES Louisville Challenge Yum! Brands Inc