— Cohort 1 — September 24, 2026 — Lafayette, Louisiana
The Program Built for Almost There.
A 9-month executive leadership cohort for Louisiana’s next generation of business leaders. Rigorous. Exclusive. Scholarship-funded.
- 9MONTHS
- 4RESIDENCIES
- 15SEATS
— The Program
A Different Kind of Leadership education.
Most executive education programs are built for leaders who have already arrived. This one is built for the people who are almost there – the high-potential directors, operators, and emerging executives who have proven they can execute, but have not yet had access to the development that changes careers.
“This is not a seminar series. It is a 9-month operating system for the executive you are becoming.”
Four in-person residencies across Louisiana. Monthly virtual workshops. One-on-one executive coaching. Peer pods built for candor and accountability. Actionable leadership assessment built for the investor-backed middle market.
9
Months of Immersion
September 2026 through May 2027. Four in-person residencies, monthly workshops, and continuous coaching.
9
Curriculum Modules
Owner’s Mindset through the Value Creation Blueprint capstone. The full scope of executive leadership.
4
Statewide Residencies
Lafayette. Shreveport. New Orleans. Baton Rouge. You will know Louisiana’s next leaders when you finish.
— The Curriculum
Nine modules. One Transformative Year.
Sequenced from personal leadership foundations through functional excellence and into enterprise strategy – anchored to each residency and reinforced through coaching between sessions.
01
The Owner's Mindset
Shift from functional thinking to enterprise-wide accountability, risk ownership, and value creation.
02
Financial Acumen
P&L, balance sheet, cash flow, EBITDA, valuation, and the language of investors and PE operators.
03
Statewide Residencies
Boards, investor relations, risk management, fiduciary duty, and how executive teams set direction.
04
Measure What Matters
The Intel, Apple, and Google OKR playbook. Performance dashboards. Operational rigor at scale.
05
Digital Transformation & AI
AI across functions, GIS & data strategy, digital maturity, and Louisiana’s technology ecosystem.
06
Talent & Culture
Recruiting, performance management, succession planning, and culture as competitive advantage.
07
Louisiana Ecosystem & Network
LIF portfolio, LED resources, personal board of advisors, and the relationships that define careers.
08
The Chief Revenue Officer
Demand generation, brand, sales process, revenue optimization, and high-performing revenue teams.
09
High Performing Leader & Organization
Leadership synthesis. Crucible debrief. Executive presence. Your personal leadership brand.
— The Curriculum
More Than A Program. A Career Inflection Point.
Mission Alignment
One-on-one coaching anchored to your Individual Executive Development Plan. Monthly throughout the full 9 months.
Peer Pods
Groups of 7-8 leaders from different industries and functions. Cross-pollination by design. Peer accountability built to last.
Four Residencies
Lafayette. Shreveport. New Orleans. Baton Rouge. You will leave knowing leaders from every corner of Louisiana.
Subject Matter
Experts Every module co-facilitated by a practitioner - operators, investors, and executives who have built real businesses.
Executive Assessment
The Executive Assessment for investor back organizations
Value Creation Blueprint
A rigorous, investor-ready capstone presented to LIF leadership in Baton Rouge. Outstanding blueprints open real doors.
— Powered by The Executive assesment
Know exactly where you stand.
The leadership assessment was built for the investor-backed middle market. Every cohort member completes an executive assessment before the first retreat. Results determine who gets in – and for those who do, they shape every aspect of coaching and development across the 9 months.
01Execution Engine
Act fast & accurately
02interpersonal
Drive team performance
03Emotional Leverage
Shape organizational culture
04Leadership
Drive MOIC through people
05Cognitive Horsepower
Problem solve at scale
— Cohort 1 Timeline
The road to September 2026.
May 21, 2026
Intro Webinar
Program overview open to all prospective applicants across Louisiana.
June 1, 2026
Applications Open
Applications accepted through June 30. Professional background, nomination, and statement of intent required.
July 2026
Application Review
Program team reviews all submissions. Finalists identified and notified.
Late July 2026
Executive Assessment
Finalists complete. Results inform the final selection and your Executive Development Plan.
August 2026
Cohort Announced
15 selected participants notified. Cohort publicly announced. Onboarding begins.
September 24, 2026
Program Kickoff, Lafayette
Residency 1. Full cohort. Pods formed. Crucible results delivered. Nine months begin.
May 20, 2027
Capstone & Graduation, Baton Rouge
Value Creation Blueprint presentations before LIF leadership and sponsors. Cohort 1 graduates.
Applications Open June 1, 2026
One Cohort. Fifteen Seats. Is One Yours?
The most competitive leadership development program in Louisiana history. Nine months that will change the trajectory of your career.
Application Deadline: June 30, 2026
Apply for Cohort 1Watch Introduction Webinar