A new “Rising Leaders” program is rolling out this summer to invest in the folks who work, live, and play right here at home.
Here’s something worth celebrating, Blount County: somebody’s actually putting their money where their mouth is on the whole “future of our community” thing.
Leadership Blount is launching a brand-new initiative called Rising Leaders, and it’s built from the ground up for early career professionals who are hungry to grow… the up-and-comers who’ve got the drive but could use the tools, the confidence, and the connections to really take off. The inaugural cohort kicks off June 2, and twenty of our own have already made the cut.
Let’s get past the buzzwords for a second, because there are plenty floating around these days. Here’s the real deal:s
Twenty emerging professionals were hand-selected for this first class. Once a month, they’ll come together for six-hour sessions packed with workshops, hands-on learning, and mentorship from people who’ve already walked the walk — local business leaders, entrepreneurs, and community advocates who know this county inside and out. The journey runs six months, and it’s designed to be immersive, not a sit-and-listen snooze-fest.
The curriculum covers the stuff that actually moves the needle: leadership communication, emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, networking, civic engagement, and plain old confidence. In other words, the things they don’t always teach you in school but absolutely make or break you in the real world.
Now here’s the part that earns Leadership Blount some genuine respect. This program wasn’t cooked up in a vacuum to plant a flag and call it new.
Jackie Eul, Assistant Director of Leadership Blount, built Rising Leaders alongside representatives from the United Way of Blount County and the Blount Partnership. She was deliberate about staying in her lane and lifting up the good work already happening around the county.
“Rising Leaders is more than a professional development program — it is an investment in the future of our community,” Eul said.
The timing isn’t an accident. Community leaders and the Leadership Blount Board of Directors point out that employers today aren’t just hunting for technical skills. They want people who can adapt, who can grow inside an organization, and who are willing to keep learning. Rising Leaders is aimed squarely at building exactly that kind of professional — and keeping that talent right here in Blount County.
Thanks to the backing of businesses and employers all across the county, here’s the inaugural class — a genuinely diverse group from all corners of our local economy. Give ’em a follow, a wave, or a hearty congratulations when you see ’em around town:
Photo credit: Jessica Greer with Portraits by Jessica Louise
Whether you’re an early career professional eyeing a future cohort, a business looking to partner up, or an employer who wants to invest in your own people, Leadership Blount wants to hear from you.
Reach out to Jackie Eul, Assistant Director of Leadership Blount, at Office@leadershipblount.com.
Bottom line? Investing in our people is investing in our county. We’ll be watching this first class with high hopes… no pressure, y’all.
