Investing in St. Louis’ Future
The Fellows Experience, an initiative of Greater St. Louis, Inc., is a premier nine-month leadership development program designed to equip mid-career leaders across all sectors with the skills, networks, and civic commitment needed to create more and better jobs and opportunities in the St. Louis region. Whether you are leading within an organization, building your own business, or driving change in your community, this program strengthens your leadership capacity and deepens your connection to our region’s future.
Through immersive, high-impact sessions and intentional cross-sector collaboration, the Fellows Experience develops emerging leaders who advance opportunity across the 15-county metro.
Together, we are building a more competitive, equitable, and future-ready St. Louis.
Program Overview and Impact
Participants join an elite and growing network of over 1,200 Fellows Experience alumni nationwide, representing a robust and influential collective of changemakers shaping policy, driving innovation, and leading across sectors.
Monthly sessions each focus on a key theme, from strategic leadership and inclusive practices to civic capital and personal branding. The program also includes a Day of Service, regional engagement, assessment tools, and a closing graduation ceremony.
For many participants, the most valuable asset is the cross-sector peer network — relationships that fuel collaboration and opportunity long after the program ends.
Program Schedule and Commitment Duration: January – September 2027
Format: Sessions take place monthly in person at Greater St. Louis, Inc. and locations throughout the St. Louis region, creating space for deep relationship building and regional engagement.
Time Commitment: 7.5 hours per session + civic engagement opportunities.
The Next Cohorts: The 22nd and 23rd Cohorts of the Fellows Experience will begin in January of 2027. Learn more below about how to nominate yourself or someone else to the program.
Pathways to Participation
ORGANIZATIONS & EMPLOYERS
Nominate a talented, mid-career professional from your team.
When you invest in a Fellow, you invest in future-ready leadership. Participating employers report stronger employee retention, increased internal mobility, enhanced cross-sector insights, and better alignment with regional economic growth goals.
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Nominate yourself.
Whether you’re advancing within an organization, scaling your own business, or leading community initiatives, the Fellows Experience expands your leadership capacity, connects you with influential peers across sectors, and deepens your stake in the region’s future. You’ll return to your work more strategic, better networked, and more committed to St. Louis’ growth.
PEERS
Nominate someone whose leadership deserves recognition and development.
Peer nominations often come from colleagues, mentors, or community partners who recognize untapped potential.
Criteria and Commitment
Our Commitment
The Fellows Experience was founded on the principle that leadership potential exists across all backgrounds and experiences. We actively seek to develop professionals whose perspectives and lived experiences have been historically underrepresented in regional leadership — because diverse leadership strengthens us all.
We’re seeking mid-career professionals who demonstrate leadership impact and are ready to deepen their influence across the St. Louis region. Ideal candidates will have an established professional trajectory — whether in corporate, nonprofit, small business, creative, freelance, or community-focused work — and show genuine commitment to strengthening St. Louis.
What We’re Looking For
A track record of making things happen in your field or organization. This might mean you lead a team, you’ve built a business, you manage complex projects, you organize community, you’ve advanced within your organization, or you’re recognized as someone who gets results and influences others.
Essential Experience
Your professional journey should demonstrate meaningful leadership responsibility—typically several years of proven impact in your current sector or field.
Education and Qualifications
We value demonstrated competence and impact. A college degree is one pathway, but we welcome equally candidates whose experience, skills, and accomplishments demonstrate equivalent professional readiness.
Program Investment
All Fellows must secure program funding of $5,000 by Dec. 20, 2026, to hold their seat in the 2027 cohort. This investment can happen in several ways:
- Your employer or organization can sponsor your participation, demonstrating their commitment to your development.
- You can self-fund your participation as an investment in your own leadership growth.
- You can secure sponsorship from another organization or partner — a mentor, community organization, or business associate — who believes in your leadership development.