Leadership Maine is a powerful, nine-month, experiential cohort that takes a leader beyond their day-to-day experience and expands their capacity to shape our state’s future.

We are now building our 2024-2025 Class. Apply today! Applications due by Friday, April 26.

Email Jan Kearce to learn more about Leadership Maine.


The Leadership Maine curriculum is designed for leaders from all sectors and all regions of Maine to learn individually and as a cohort. Participants travel together to different regions of the state to learn from each other and from host businesses/communities in real-time through on-the-ground sessions. In the process, they also hone relationship/team-building and collaboration skills. Each Leadership Maine class is given real-life challenges to address. Participants work in teams to address the assigned issue, connect with key stakeholders, organizations and groups, and develop a solution-oriented path with the goal of improving the economy. 

Leadership Maine has graduated over 1,100 leaders who are leading the way in driving economic growth throughout Maine.

Through carefully designed exercises, leaders:

  • Learn first-hand about critical issues facing our state by exploring Maine’s diverse regions, assets, economies, issues, and people through direct interaction 
  • Uncover and build upon their personal leadership strengths and opportunities for growth, and the skills to build effective teams through experience
  • Gain an increased commitment to making a difference in Maine communities
  • Develop important and lasting relationships with a diverse community of business, community, government and educational leaders.

Financial Information

MDF is dedicated to making the Leadership Maine experience accessible to all Mainers.

Program Schedule

See the full Leadership Maine Program Schedule. 

Nomination Form

Know someone who would benefit from Leadership Maine?

Leadership Maine Application

Ready to learn how to help shape Maine’s future? Apply to Leadership Maine.

Alumni Directory

Leadership Maine alumni all have one thing in common: a passion to help move Maine forward.

In order to succeed in today’s world, it is important to have a tool kit filled with the right tools. Leadership Maine enables you to do that. I learned that there is indeed only one Maine, even though we may be miles apart. Coming together as a class, we shared our leadership experiences, worked on projects and traveled the state as we saw up close some of the wonderful success stories. I returned to my career healthy, creative, and passionate with my priorities clearly in the right order.” – Karen Arel, Eta Class Alum

2019 Leadership Maine Graduation Keynote – Mike Gawtry, Fmr. Dir., Sporting Goods & Travel, L.L Bean & Tau Class Alum