activities · 14
what they do
direct service · 4
- Deliver corporate leadership workshops Leadership & Team Development WorkshopsConducts interactive corporate series workshops designed to engage corporate leaders in leading and managing with integrity, purpose, and impact, as part of its broader leadership development offerings.
- Host public leadership conversations and eventsHosts public events such as the National Hispanic Heritage Month Spotlight conversation with community leaders, and recognizes outstanding contributors through honors like naming Arizona Leaders of the Year.
- Operate the Catalyze leadership development program Youth Civic Leadership TrainingRuns the "Catalyze" program to help Arizonans aged 14 and older take community action by fostering connections, learning from industry leaders, and exploring leadership styles. The program includes structured virtual and in-person sessions, with Class 6 scheduled from August 2026 to February 2027, and is delivered in partnership with local schools.
- Operate the Explore leadership development program Immersive Community Exposure ProgramsRuns the "Explore" program to expose participants to Arizona's diversity and how pressing issues manifest across different communities, including immersive trips to regions like Nogales, Yuma, and San Luis along the U.S.-Mexico border. The program includes a Foundations Day, eleven virtual sessions, three in-person sessions, and an optional social event, with cohorts such as Class 5 and the largest cohort to date launched in 2024–2025.
capacity building · 10
- Arizona Leaders of the Year Award Professional and Organizational Achievement AwardsNames individuals as Arizona Leaders of the Year, recognizing their contributions to leadership in the state.
- Catalyze Leadership Program Youth Civic Leadership TrainingOperates the "Catalyze" program to help Arizonans aged 14 and older take community action, fostering connections, learning from industry leaders, and exploring leadership styles. This program includes scheduled classes, such as Class 6 from August 2026 to February 2027.
- Catalyze Leadership Program Youth Civic Leadership TrainingOperates the "Catalyze" program to help Arizonans aged 14 and older take community action, fostering connections, learning from industry leaders, and exploring leadership styles. This program includes virtual and in-person sessions and partners with local schools.
- Community Engagement and RecognitionHosts spotlight conversations, such as with Sam Gomez during National Hispanic Heritage Month, and recognizes individuals as Arizona Leaders of the Year.
- Corporate Leadership Workshops Leadership & Team Development WorkshopsConducts interactive corporate series workshops to engage corporate leaders in leading and managing with integrity, purpose, and impact.
- Corporate Series Workshops Leadership & Team Development WorkshopsConducts interactive corporate series workshops to engage corporate leaders in leading and managing with integrity, purpose, and impact.
- Explore Leadership Program Immersive Community Exposure ProgramsOperates the "Explore" program to expose participants to Arizona's diversity and how pressing issues manifest in different communities through statewide journeys and immersive trips to various regions like Nogales, Yuma, and San Luis, engaging with local leaders.
- Explore Leadership Program Immersive Community Exposure ProgramsOperates the "Explore" program to expose participants to Arizona's diversity and how pressing issues manifest in different communities. This includes immersive trips to locations like Nogales, Yuma, and San Luis to provide firsthand insight into regional economic, cultural, and community connections, as well as Foundations Days focused on Arizona history, water policy, and leadership.
- General Leadership Development ProgramsConducts leadership development programs that include eleven virtual sessions and three in-person sessions, plus an optional in-person social event, expanding access to leadership development opportunities across Arizona.
- National Hispanic Heritage Month Spotlight Community Art & Storytelling EventsHosts spotlight conversations, such as with Sam Gomez, Executive Director of The Sagrado Galleria, to highlight community leaders and their work.
strategies · 11
how they think
Theories of action extracted from this org's own source material. Click any to see the full field of orgs running the same approach.
- Experiential and Issue-Based Learning experiential_learningThe organization broadens understanding and fosters holistic leadership by providing immersive and experiential learning opportunities that educate participants on critical issues facing Arizona, including regional connections and challenges, and equip them to take action.
- Experiential and Issue-Based Learning experiential_learningThe organization broadens understanding and fosters holistic leadership by providing immersive experiences and educating participants on critical issues facing Arizona, including regional connections and challenges, to equip them to take action and drive meaningful change.
- Experiential and immersive systems learning experiential learningLeadership development is grounded in experiential learning that immerses participants in Arizona’s interconnected systems—especially border communities and regional challenges—to foster holistic, place-based understanding and policy perspectives.
- Historically and culturally informed approach historically informed approachThe organization draws inspiration from Arizona’s history and cultural narratives to inform leadership development and future-focused initiatives, reinforcing identity, continuity, and context in its work.
- Hybrid, community-engaged leadership model hybrid learningCombines virtual and in-person learning formats to increase accessibility while grounding leadership development in direct community engagement and understanding of local systems and challenges.
- Inclusive and Accessible Leadership Development inclusive_leadership_developmentThe organization prioritizes diversity, equity, and inclusion in its leadership development programs by valuing individual differences, seeking leaders beyond traditional markers, increasing representation of those traditionally overlooked, and removing financial barriers through sliding scale tuition and scholarships.
- Inclusive and Equitable Leadership Development inclusive_leadership_developmentThe organization is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in its leadership development programs, valuing individual differences, prioritizing broad representation, and actively seeking leaders beyond traditional markers to include those traditionally overlooked, while also ensuring financial accessibility through sliding scale tuition and scholarships.
- Inclusive and accessible leadership programming inclusive leadership developmentThe organization prioritizes inclusion by recruiting leaders beyond traditional markers like titles or career length, ensuring representation of historically overlooked groups, and removing financial barriers through sliding scale tuition, scholarships, and wage replacement.
- Issue-based and action-oriented leadership development issue-based leadership developmentPrograms are designed to educate leaders on critical issues facing Arizona and equip them with tools and networks to take strategic action, aligning learning with real-world impact through the "strategic learning" and "strategic doing" model.
- Principles-Based Leadership Development principles_based_leadership_developmentThe organization develops leaders by utilizing its proprietary "Principles of Doing®" leadership framework, which emphasizes action, draws on historical Arizona leaders' values, and focuses on equity, trust, and real-world results to empower Arizonans to address pressing state issues.
- Principles-based leadership development using "Principles of Doing®" principles-based leadership developmentThe organization uses a proprietary leadership framework called "Principles of Doing®" that emphasizes action, equity, trust, and real-world results, drawing on historical Arizona leaders' values to develop and activate leaders who can address pressing state issues.
named programs · 4
what they call their work
Arizona Leaders of the Year
Annual recognition program honoring individuals for their dedication to community engagement and servant leadership across Arizona.
Catalyze
Leadership development program designed to expand access to leadership training for individuals addressing Arizona’s most pressing issues.
Change Labs Pitch Your Hustle
Entrepreneurship competition supporting Native American entrepreneurs across Arizona.
Explore
Immersive leadership program that takes participants on statewide journeys to understand Arizona’s diverse communities, economies, and challenges, with a focus on border regions, tribal lands, and urban centers.
relationships · 30
who they work with
- ARINAC Partner — Eleazar Coronado of ARINAC welcomed Valley Leadership's Explore Class 5 and provided an overview of the maquiladora industry.
- ARSOBO Partner — Valley Leadership's Explore Class 5 visited ARSOBO to learn about their work providing prosthetics and hearing devices.
- ASU Kyl Center for Water Policy Partner — Sarah Porter provided an overview of Arizona's water policy landscape.
- Arizona Anti-Trafficking Network Partner — Organization represented by board member John Meza
- Arizona Head Start Association Partner — Organization represented by board member Jessica Rivera-García
- Arizona Western College Partner — Collaborates to prepare the next generation of agricultural leaders through hands-on learning and innovation.
- BoxieGo Partner — Partners with BoxieGo to manage return logistics and receive returned items.
- Central Arizona Project Partner — Strategic Learning Partner
- Central Arizona Project Partner — Terry Goddard shared insights on water governance in Arizona.
- Chamberlain Distributing Partner — Valley Leadership's Explore Class 5 visited Chamberlain Distributing to observe produce flow.
- Change Labs Partner — Supported Change Labs's Pitch Your Hustle competition for Native entrepreneurs through its Explore alumni.
- Chicano Art Collective Partner — Engages with local artists to shape the cultural identity of San Luis.
- Frame Consulting Partner — Organization led by board member Kate Stuart
- Ginkgo Consulting Partner — Organization led by Board President Koran Hardimon
- Greater Nogales Port Authority Partner — Local leaders from the Greater Nogales Port Authority met with Valley Leadership's Explore Class 5.
- Impact Maker™ Partner — Participants make a plan for how they'll make a difference as part of Impact Maker™ work.
- Local First Arizona Partner — Organization led by Board Secretary Ginger Sykes Torres
- Maricopa County Community College District Partner — Organization represented by board member Janice Falkenberg
- Neighborhood Comedy Theatre Partner — Led an interactive team-building session using improv games.
- San Juan Bosco Shelter Partner — Valley Leadership's Explore Class 5 visited the San Juan Bosco Shelter to learn about migration and asylum seekers.
- South Mountain Community College Partner — Dr. Summer Cherland provided a presentation on Arizona history.
- South32 Partner — Simon Charter of South32 shared insights on the mine's Community Benefits Plan with Valley Leadership's Explore Class 5.
- Startup Unidos Partner — Featured founder Stephanie Bermudez in honor of Women's History Month, highlighting her work in building cross-border innovation ecosystems.
- Startup Unidos Partner — Stephanie Bermudez of Startup Unidos presented to Valley Leadership's Explore Class 5.
- The Sagrado Galleria Partner — Featured Executive Director Sam Gomez in a National Hispanic Heritage Month Spotlight.
- U.S. Bank Partner — Organization led by Board Treasurer Joshua Shade
- University of Arizona’s Yuma Center of Excellence for Desert Agriculture Partner — Engages in research and exploration of agricultural practices along the U.S.-Mexico border.
- WellBeings Partner — Organization led by Board Vice President Greg Lim
- Wittner Museum Partner — Valley Leadership's Explore Class 5 visited the Wittner Museum.
- Yuma Port Authority Partner — Provides insights into regional trade and infrastructure development.