The The Leadership Development Program
The The Leadership Development Program
Invest in yourself by joining a network of empowered women who support the development of Central Ohio Latinas.
Empowering Latinas Leadership Academy is a six-month program that brings together Latinas in a variety of career stages for a unique professional development experience, combining professional mentorship with culturally relevant workshops and civic engagement.
Annually, approximately 10-15 individuals are selected from a competitive pool of applicants. The result is a class of Latina professionals who are ready to hone their leadership skills and talents and become active and influential leaders within the Latino community and beyond.
Going into its 18th cycle, ELLA is the only program of its kind in the state of Ohio. Corporations and organizations at the state and local levels have recognized us as a leading resource for the development of Latina talent.
Application will be open September 10, 2026 - October 31, 2026
The Mentorship
Each participant is paired with a professional mentor for the duration of the program. Mentee-mentor pairings are made on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, the needs of the mentee as expressed through the application, shared personality traits, mutual background experiences, mentoring style of the mentor, and shared interests.
The goal of the mentor relationship is for it to be successful and beneficial to both the mentee and the mentor. Each mentoring relationship will establish the goal for their relationship. Ideally, each participant will achieve one or two short-term career goals during the program with guidance from a seasoned professional.
The Retreat
Following a mentor-mentee mixer to kick off the program, participants come together for a mandatory overnight retreat.
The retreat is an opportunity to step away from the day-to-day, get to know the women in their cycle, and start building the relationships that will shape their ELLA experience. Through a mix of activities, conversations, and reflection, participants begin developing their cycle identity while setting the tone for the personal and professional growth ahead.
The Sessions
The retreat is followed by 10 evening workshops led by professionals and experts from across the community.
Workshop topics evolve with each cycle to reflect the needs, goals, and experiences of the women in the program. Sessions have covered everything from public speaking and personal branding to financial wellness, leadership styles, networking, salary negotiation, board readiness, and community stewardship.
Each session is designed to give participants practical tools, new perspectives, and opportunities to learn from people who have been there before.
The Community Impact Project
The program concludes with a community impact project that puts participants’ leadership skills into action.
Participants are divided into smaller groups based on shared interests or passions and work together to develop a project that addresses a need within the Latino community. Along the way, they learn more about local organizations, resources, and the challenges facing our community while gaining hands-on experience in leadership, teamwork, project management, and problem-solving.
Each group presents its project at an open-to-the-public event, giving participants the opportunity to share what they’ve learned and the impact they hope to make.
Mentee
So you are interested in applying to be in Cycle 18…
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To be considered for the upcoming cycle, applicants must:
Be a Latina woman, age 25 or older.
Have at least five years of professional work experience.
Be able to communicate and participate comfortably in English, as the program is conducted in English.
Be able to attend and actively participate in the required in-person sessions, including the retreat.
Be willing and able to commit additional time to monthly mentor meetings and the Community Impact Capstone Project.
Demonstrate a genuine interest in personal, professional, and leadership development.
ELLA welcomes applicants from a variety of professional backgrounds, industries, career stages, and educational experiences. You do not need to hold a management or leadership position to participate. What matters most is your willingness to learn, contribute, and grow alongside your cohort.
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The program will run from January – September 2027.
All sessions including the overnight retreat are MANDATORY. Participants who miss more than one workshop/session may be asked to leave the program. Any participant who arrives after 6:30 pm or leaves before 8:00 pm is absent for that respective workshop/session.
In addition to the bi-weekly workshops/sessions, participants are involved in a community impact project and monthly mentor meetings. Time devoted to the project is outside of the regular curriculum and varies according to the project scope. Participants can expect to spend a minimum of 2-4 hours per week on average. Monthly mentor meetings are also outside of the regular curriculum and vary depending on the nature of the relationship.
We do most of our communication through emails and we ask participants to complete surveys after each session for feedback. It is mandatory to read emails in their entirety and to submit survey responses in a timely manner.
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Mentoring is a meaningful commitment. Before applying, please review the required dates and expectations to make sure you have the capacity to fully participate in Cycle 18.
January 21, 2027: Mentee/Mentor Mixer | 6-8:30pm
February 11, 2027: I Heart Mi Hermana | 6-8:30pm
March 19, 20, 21, 2027: Mentee/Mentor Retreat | Friday, Saturday, Sunday
April 1, 2027: Session 1 | 6-8:30pm
April 15, 2027: Session 2 | 6-8:30pm
April 29, 2027: Session 3 | 6-8:30pm
May 13, 2027: Session 4 | 6-8:30pm
May 22, 2027: Dress For Success
May 27, 2027: Session 5 | 6-8:30pm
June 3, 2027: Summer Networking Event (encouraged but not required)
June 10, 2027: Session 6 | 6-8:30pm
June 24, 2027: Session 7 | 6-8:30pm
July 8, 2027: Session 8 | 6-8:30pm
July 22, 2027: Session 9 | 6-8:30pm
August 5, 2027: Community Impact Project | 6-8:30pm
August 19, 2027: Mentee Reflection | 6-8:30pm
September 2, 2027: Cycle 18 Graduation| 6-8:30pm
All program sessions, including the retreat, are mandatory unless otherwise noted. Before applying, please review your calendar carefully and make sure you can commit to these dates.
Mentor
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We welcome mentors who have meaningful professional, leadership, entrepreneurial, community, or life experience they are willing to share.
A strong ELLA mentor is someone who is committed to supporting another Latina’s growth, willing to listen and share their experiences, comfortable providing thoughtful feedback, and interested in helping their mentee expand her perspective and network.
You do not need previous mentoring experience to apply. ELLA will provide guidance and support to help you feel prepared for the experience.
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The program will run January – September 2027.
While all sessions including the overnight retreat are mandatory for program participants, mentors are only required to attend six specific sessions (see Mandatory Dates below).
In addition to the required sessions, mentors must engage with their mentees for monthly mentor meetings. These meetings are outside of the regular curriculum and vary depending on the nature of the relationship; however, each mentor should, at minimum, meet with their mentee in person, for at least an hour, at four different instances throughout the duration of the program.
You and your mentee will set dates and times. However, we suggest that you move your mentoring relationship beyond just sit-down meetings. For example, you and your mentee could attend a networking event together, you could have your mentee shadow you for a day, or you could invite your mentee to a professional development workshop or speaker event.
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Mentoring is a meaningful commitment. Before applying, please review the required dates and expectations to make sure you have the capacity to fully participate in Cycle 18.
January 21, 2027: Mentee/Mentor Mixer | 6-8:30pm
February 11, 2027: I Heart Mi Hermana | 6-8:30pm
March 20, 2027: Mentee/Mentor Retreat | 8am - 3:30pm (Sunday)
June 24, 2027: Capstone Project Review / Professional Headshots | 6-8:30pm
August 5, 2027: Community Impact Project | 6-8:30pm
August 17, 2027: Mentor Celebration and Debrief | 6-8:30pm
September 2, 2027: Cycle 18 Graduation| 6-8:30pm
All program sessions, including the retreat, are mandatory unless otherwise noted. Mentors are expected to arrive on time and actively participate throughout each session.