LEADERSHIP Philadelphia, the first community leadership organization in the country, marked its 50th anniversary during the 2009-2010 year. To celebrate that milestone, LEADERSHIP Philadelphia launched a research study in 2006 to facilitate a conversation about leadership and connection in the Philadelphia region.

What: The Connector Project
Launched by LEADERSHIP Philadelphia to:

  • Jump start a conversation about good leadership in greater Philadelphia
  • Identify area leaders across sectors who exemplify trusted leadership
  • Interview these leaders in order to study what makes them successful
  • Develop a curriculum based on the leaders’ competencies
  • Launch the curriculum in Philadelphia-area school systems
  • Convene and connect these leaders

Who: Trusted Leaders
101 Philadelphia-area leaders who:

  • May or may not already be in the public eye
  • Know how to get things done
  • Demonstrate concern for the “common good” in actions and attitudes
  • Are trusted by their fellow citizens

How: NetForm Technology

  • Gathered 4,300 nominations of trusted leaders with the help of area media
  • Names (and email addresses) came from varied sources, including LEADERSHIP Philadelphia fellows, names submitted by public via non-paid media outreach, and through email hubs (e.g., Urban League, Chamber of Commerce, PA. Economy League, Young Involved Philadelphians).
  • All people named as trusted leaders were invited to answer a series of questions about “trusted leadership” in order to figure out what they do to get things done and consider common good
  • Outcomes included a competency model, a “map” of trusted leaders – a type of high-level MRI of connection and leadership in the area, and a youth connector curriculum, developed with Philadelphia Youth Network (current pilot 100 students)

When: Round II

  • Nomination solicitation: April/May 2008
  • Connector survey, interviews, and analysis conducted July– September 2008
  • Netform analysis of next generation connectors in October 2008
  • Results made public in October

Where: Geographic Scope of Study
Leaders are sought from the nine-county Philadelphia area:

  • Pennsylvania: Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery counties
  • New Jersey: Camden, Burlington, Gloucester, Salem counties

Why: Overarching Goals

  • To shine a light on a type of leader who works across sectors for the common good, and create a curriculum to teach this to adults and adolescents. Building connections strengthens the economy. This effort was undertaken to celebrate LEADERSHIP’s 50th anniversary in 2009-2010. Results will be shared with similar organizations throughout the country.