Kirk Watson (Essential 5 – 1984) finished his Leadership Austin program 35 years ago, but he is still impacted by the experience every day. He continues working on the issues he learned about in the class and collaborating with the people he met through his cohort. In fact, he credits his time in Leadership Austin with pointing him in the direction of public service that led to him running for mayor in Austin (he served from 1997 to 2001) and ultimately for the Texas Senate (he has represented the 14th District since 2006).
Kirk is a tireless advocate for Leadership Austin. He has served on the board of directors twice, is always available when we ask for guidance regarding issues and topics for curriculum, and recommends applicants to our programs. In fact, his chief of staff is in the current Essential class.
Hear from Kirk about what his Leadership Austin experience was like, and why he supports our work:
Thank you, Senator Watson! If you’re ready to apply for one of our programs, get started! Applications are accepted April 1 through June 30 every year. Review the application and start working on your essays and letters of recommendation. Subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media to learn about cohort information sessions, application writing workshops and application review sessions.
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