Emerge FAQs

Emerge helps aspiring leaders and young professionals identify “the leader within” while developing skills and building relationships that lead to high impact. Emerge participants will strengthen their network and increase the diversity of their circle of influence in order to collaborate and benefit Greater Austin. The program is the beginning of the path toward learning more about your leadership style, investing in your personal growth and increasing your impact in the community.

Participation in the Emerge program offers the unique opportunity to join with other community-minded aspiring leaders and young professionals during which you will learn a great deal about yourself and how to make an impact in Greater Austin. In addition, you will make lifetime friendships with individuals representing the diversity of the region.

At the end of the program graduates say that their Leadership Austin experience has been life changing—professionally and personally. Alumni have:

• a broader and more profound understanding of their own leadership journey
• a deeper appreciation for the passion that drives them to lead
• an increased awareness of their values and how to align their behavior with those values
• a greater understanding of team processes and their role in leading teams to high performance
• a heightened confidence in discussing the community issues about which they are passionate
• the skills needed to contribute to advancing community issues
• a greatly expanded network of colleagues to serve as resources in their endeavors

Emerge participants are aspiring leaders and young professionals who believe they have something to contribute: a point of view and passion for the community. There are no age requirements. People in Emerge are at the beginning of their leadership journeys, whatever that means to them – for some that happens at 22, for others it’s at 52. The age range for Emerge cohorts is typically 26-40. Ideal candidates for Emerge are:

• Highly motivated to serve their community, and have a passion for making a difference
• Seeking to cultivate relationships with a network of other community leaders

In addition, the following qualifications must be met by September 1, 2024:

• Applicant cannot be a filed candidate for public office.

Those who have previously applied to the Emerge class are strongly encouraged to reapply.

Many Emerge program alumni were selected to participate after more than one application. Emerge plays a crucial role in developing the leadership skills of emerging leaders so that they can work more effectively with our community’s diverse constituencies. Because this curriculum can only be successful when the class composition reflects the diversity of Greater Austin, the Selection Committee selects individuals for each class to reflect the region’s geographic, ethnic, and professional diversity.

Therefore, the Selection Committee reviews the class composition as a whole when selecting candidates.

The Emerge program application is designed to lead you through a process to reflect on your civic and community leadership experiences and future goals. Make sure to follow instructions and submit your application materials in advance of the deadline. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.

The selection committee will be looking for the following to be illustrated in your application:

• A record of the most significant volunteer role, leadership and/or achievement in community/civic/business activities.
• A strong interest in and the potential for creating positive change for the common good of the entire Greater Austin community.
• The desire to foster collaboration.
• High standards of personal quality and integrity.

Your full application will include the following (see Application Overview):

• Completed application form
• One letter of recommendation (submit with your application)
• An updated resume
• A head shot photo (head and shoulders, neutral background at least 300 dpi resolutions are preferred)
• A Scholarship Request Form (if applicable)
• The $40 application fee (previous applicants can have their application fee waived see FAQ #4)

We strongly encourage applicants to consider attending an application review session before submitting which you can find under the Recruiting Information Sessions.

Applicants must provide one letter of recommendation. The best person to write a letter of recommendation is someone who knows you well, can speak to your commitment to the community and the ways in which you’ve begun to demonstrate leadership, and can write a heartfelt, first-hand testimonial on your behalf.

Leadership Austin is more interested in the content of the letter than the status of the person writing the recommendation letter. Examples of potential references may include colleagues, friends, clergy, or educators. We suggest staying in touch with the individual writing your letter of recommendation to ensure they are able to submit the letters by the application deadline.

A diverse and anonymous Selection Committee is appointed by the Leadership Austin Board of Directors’ Executive Committee each year in order to ensure that participants in the Emerge program represent the diversity of the Greater Austin community.

The Emerge program consists of a full-day opening retreat and nine half-day (afternoon) sessions over the course of nine months (September through May).  Selected applicants will be expected to meet all of the following commitments for the Emerge program of:

• Full-day, opening retreat (September 6, 2024)
• 9 half-day sessions once a month (review class dates, attendance policy, and other class policies)
• All classes will be 100% in-person*
  *Leadership Austin aligns with Austin Public Health guidelines and will adjust if circumstances change. 

In addition, class members will be invited to participate in activities outside of class to build stronger relationships with their classmates.

*Note: In recruiting materials you will see 10 session dates. We hold a contingency date on your calendars in case one of the regular sessions is cancelled due to weather.

Attendance at the opening retreat, in its entirety, is mandatory. Individuals who arrive late or who are absent from the opening retreat will be dropped from the class. There is an allowance for a limited number of excused absence hours for the remaining class days. Review class dates, attendance policy, and other class policies.

Emerge class members and alumni include individuals of many cultural traditions. Every effort is made to take these cultural observances into account when building the class schedule; however, this is not possible in every instance.

Applications are welcome from individuals living within the six-county (Travis, Williamson, Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell and Hays) area who are committed to civic and community leadership roles. Because the Emerge program curriculum frames its programming on leadership skills and community relationships in the context of regional impact, it is valuable to have participants representing all areas.

Tuition for the Emerge program is $1,500. Payment plans are available for class members who wish to pay tuition over time. Many employers also consider this program as professional development and we can provide additional information as you have that conversation. See FAQ #12 for scholarship information.

A core value of Leadership Austin is equity. In line with this value, tuition will not be a barrier to participation in the Emerge program. Selection for Emerge is made without regard to an applicant’s financial circumstances. Scholarship assistance requests are considered only after the Emerge selection process is complete and will in no way impact consideration of your application.

Applicants requesting assistance are asked to take full advantage of available employer training dollars, community organization support and their own personal capacity. Scholarship assistance requests must be submitted with the Emerge application and we are not able to consider requests after the application deadline.

Notification will be emailed to all Emerge applicants in late August.

Attend one of the Emerge recruitment events to talk with alumni, board members, and staff about the program and their personal experiences.

More questions? Please contact us and we’d be happy to answer them!