Earlier this year, Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton welcomed the inaugural class of Presidential Leadership Scholars, a program for already established leaders (business, academic and political) and in partnership with the presidential libraries of Bush and Clinton as well as the two other Texas libraries -- that of George H.W. Bush and Lyndon B. Johnson.
The centers and foundations culled approximately 900 applicants down to a class of 60, who, on March 26 at the Clinton Presidential Center, attended a reception and dinner. The students came from all over the map, from nearby Jackson, Miss., to far-flung Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. Over the weekend they visited and listened to Clinton, former senior White House officials and Cabinet secretaries, and executive leadership coach Terry Pearce.
The stated goal of the program is to "help participants develop the skills needed to become highly effective leaders," but one of the members of the class is regional bank president and former Arkansas House Speaker Davy Carter, who himself could direct leadership instruction. Secondary benefits of the program include networking.
These four presidential centers marshal "an unprecedented assembly of leaders across four presidential administrations, spanning over 45 years," said Bruce Lindsey, chairman of the Clinton Foundation's board of directors, in a news release. The program is "designed to foster the next generation of leaders."
The sessions are spread out over six months and require no significant time away from full-time work. The previous "module" was at the George W. Bush library. One later this month will be at his father's library at Texas A&M University in College Station.
High Profile on 04/05/2015