Leadership South Dakota

Leadership South Dakota

Building the next generation of South Dakota leaders.

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Mission & Vision Statement

Leadership South Dakota inspires leaders for a stronger South Dakota by connecting leaders who will invest in themselves, engage communities and elevate South Dakota.

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Benefits of Leadership South Dakota

Our core values of “Discover, Connect, and Do” reflect what we want each partifcipant to do during and after the program. Leadership South Dakota builds leadership, critical thinking and public speaking skills through instruction and experiences you won’t get anywhere else. Learn how Leadership South Dakota provides class members with the knowledge and skills that prepare you to become the next generation of leaders in the state.

Participant Benefits

Get the training and insights to lead at any level while networking with other rising professionals.

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Employer Benefits

Increase your company’s community visibility, and expand your employee’s leadership skills.

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Community Benefits

Develop positive, educated community leaders and increase cultural awareness of local issues.

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Participant Stories

Ready to see South Dakota in a whole new light? Hear how class graduates benefited from their experiences and saw sides of our state they never thought existed.

Lindsie Bartley
Cathy McLeer
Heath Johnson
Jacki Miskimins

Upcoming Schedule

Take a look at the upcoming schedule for the current Leadership South Dakota class. We have several unique events planned across the entire state.

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Rural South Dakota

January 2025

Visit Yankton, Vermillion, a Hutterite Colony and rural communities to learn about success stories in the area.

Yankton, SD
Jan 15 - 17
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Emerging Success Stories

February 2025

Better understand Native American history and culture of the state’s nine reservations by listening to the emerging success stories.

Mission, SD
Feb 12 - 14
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Health & Finance

March 2025

In Sioux Falls, we’ll hear about the country’s largest rural health care systems and the financial industries as a hub for the entire United States.

Sioux Falls, SD
Mar 12 - 14
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Testimonials

Everyone benefits from our program, from the participants to the CEOs who hire them. Hear what these people have to say about Leadership South Dakota.

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    “Leadership SD has provided me with the opportunity to not only develop a cohort of friends of up-and-coming leaders throughout the state, but also has opened my eyes to the wealth of opportunity available in all industries in our state.”

    Dr. Pam Lange

    Director of Development and Grant Management

    BHSSC

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    “I came into the program looking forward to the professional development aspects, and while those have been excellent, the opportunities made available to me as a leader to network, diagnose real SD problems and create solutions with my peers is what I carry back to my office, and team, after each and every session.”

    Suzanne Stluka

    Food & Families Program Director

    SDSU Extension

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    “From the foothills of Crazy Horse Monument to the factory floors of Brookings’ premier manufacturers, and everywhere in between, Leadership SD provides unprecedented access to some of our state’s greatest resources: past, present, and future.”

    Brian Sandvig

    Valley Queen Cheese Factory, Inc

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    "Leadership South Dakota promises to provide its participants with the opportunity to see places that few people have seen, meet people that most people want to meet and learn skills that will help them lead in the future. First Premier Bank is a proud sponsor of this program."

    Dana Dykhouse

    CEO

    First PREMIER Bank

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    "The Bush Foundation is delighted to support Leadership South Dakota. The future of the state rests in the hands of its people. We believe that getting more people better equipped and better networked to lead change is one of the most critical strategies for ensuring our region’s strength and prosperity."

    Jen Ford Reedy

    President

    Bush Foundation

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    “Leadership South Dakota will be an opportunity for emerging leaders to learn how South Dakotans have overcome challenges in the past and see first hand the hurdles we face today... We also hope they will emerge from the seven sessions with a deeper desire to use their talents and resources to find innovative solutions to challenges within our borders.”

    Stephanie Judson

    President

    South Dakota Community Foundation

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    "Sanford Health is excited to support the Leadership South Dakota Program. Personally, I can’t think of a better way to invest in our communities and state than to assist in building the “bench” of future leadership. Leadership South Dakota will provide that opportunity to individuals across our state who aspire to make a difference and I look forward to being part of this important effort. "

    Mike Begemen

    Executive Chief of Staff & V.P. Public Affairs

    Sanford Health

Leadership SD Sponsors

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