Thank you for your interest in MEC's Leadership Mississippi!
Leadership Mississippi welcomes applicants of all walks of life and varying business backgrounds, ranging from corporate-level executives, entrepreneurs, emerging leaders and community engagers and more. Our goal is to develop and maintain a network of Mississippians committed to improving the quality of life in our state. Ideal candidates are those who are passionate not only about their home community but about the success of our state.
Acceptance into the program is determined by a multi-step application process where the number of applicants far exceeds the number of spaces available. A diverse and selected group of judges carefully review each of the qualifying Leadership Mississippi applications. This review board is particularly interested in the extent to which the applicant has been involved in his/her community and in the applicant's interest in continuing and/or expanding involvement both at home and on a broader scale.
Upon successful completion of your application, you should receive a confirmation e-mail. A $50 non refundable application fee will be required before an application can be considered. Tuition for Leadership Mississippi 2025 is $3,500. Should further information be requested or required from you, you will receive a follow-up email. You will be notified when final decisions have been made.
Thank you and best of luck!
The Leadership Mississippi Team
Applications Open
October 1
Application Deadline
November 15 (11:59 p.m. CST)
Acceptance and Decline Letters Issued
December 17, 2024
Tuition Deadline
January 15, 2025
Press Release/Class Announcement Launch
February 12, 2025
Application Structure
The Leadership Mississippi Program application is completed via online form submission and consists of the following six (6) sections:
- Personal Contact Information
- Employer/Sponsor Contact Information
- Past and Present Work Experience
- Community Involvement
- Leadership and Goals
- References
Survey Monkey
We use Survey Monkey for our application process. This allows applicants to edit and submit applications with ease while granting Leadership Mississippi access to its intuitive portal to collect, manage and review applications.
Financial Obligation and Assistance
Tuition –Tuition for this class year is $3,500. As part of accepting the invitation into the program cohort, each participant is required to pay this tuition. Tuition covers one night of lodging (two nights for the orientation session), accommodations, group transportation, and meals (refreshments, lunch, and dinner each program day). *Participants are responsible for their own travel to and from the host session city/location. The Leadership Mississippi Program does not currently offer tuition assistance.
Application fee - There is a $50 non-refundable application fee due at the time of application submission.
Selection Process
All applicants must complete the online application before the deadline. Any incomplete applications will be disqualified. Please know that the selection process is extensive and highly selective. Unfortunately, we have a limited number of program spots and each year receive a highly qualified pool of applicants. Note: Any applicant not selected for the upcoming class year is welcomed to apply again for the next cohort.
Once the application deadline has passed, the selection committee will review applications and the class selection will be based on the following rubric:
- Candidates must live and/or work in Mississippi.
- Significant commitment to effecting positive community and statewide change
- A robust history of civic engagement and potential for positive influence in the community, contributing greatly to both its social and business climate
- Demonstrated curiosity for deepening knowledge and action for improving regional challenges and opportunities
- Deep desire to work collaboratively with leaders from a diverse set of backgrounds, industries, cities and communities across the state
Review Process
The Leadership Mississippi Selection Committee is comprised of Leadership Mississippi alumni. This committee is responsible for selecting up to 45 participants for the program. Each year, the committee ensures the selected cohort is comprised of a diverse group of individuals, representative of ethnicity, age, gender, geography, profession, community service, and demonstrated leadership.
Participant Commitment
Once selected, an invitation to join the class will be extended to the prospective participants. By accepting the invitation, participants agree to commit to the following program policies and procedures:
Attendance – Attendance is mandatory for all Leadership Mississippi sessions. We understand that sometimes things arise unexpectedly–and we will consider these on a case-by-case basis.
Participation: Engaging with the class and with the programming is critical to not only your success–but to that of the entire program and cohort. From opening retreat to graduation, your attendance and participation will ensure that participants have an optimal experience in the program, forge meaningful connections with fellow participants, and actively contribute to the program.