50 years of Leadership Dallas: ‘I know I am part of a true community’

By Amber Dyer, Coordinator, Communications & Marketing

To celebrate 50 years of Leadership Dallas (LD), presented by Grant Thornton, the Dallas Regional Chamber’s premier leadership development program, we are highlighting a series of alumni to learn more about the LD experience.

Monica Latin, Managing Partner at Carrington Coleman, noted that LD was thorough and well-rounded, fostering innovative thinking among its members.

“It pokes and prods into all of the corners of our community and raises thought-provoking questions about what we can all do to make our region a better place to live, work, and play,” said Latin. “Then, it inspires and challenges class members to do it, and so many of my classmates have answered the call.”

Latin applied for the program after noticing that several people she admired were LD graduates. After she joined the LD Class of 2009, her leadership journey evolved.

“Before I was an LD class member, I had been practicing law for about 15 years and been a partner for about seven,” she said. “I was deeply involved in community activities and had held some leadership positions inside and outside the firm. Since that time, I continued to gain additional leadership experience, particularly in my law firm, becoming Managing Partner in 2020. Those are the mile markers. But the soft side of my leadership journey – learning from experience and mistakes, collecting advice and tools for the toolkit–really took off after participating in LD.”

LD also allowed Latin to develop lasting connections with fellow alumni.

“We’re everywhere – I cannot attend a community or charitable event without running into one of us,” she said. “I know I am part of a true community of people I absolutely enjoy being with. We lean on each other for advice and assistance, both personal and professional, or just a good laugh. LD also connected me to so many others throughout the region. I feel like any connection or assistance I need is rarely more than a phone call or two away.”

Latin compares going through LD to studying abroad and recommends it to those that want to elevate their community engagement and develop lasting relationships with fellow changemakers.

“It’s a tremendous experience that’s hard to completely describe to someone who hasn’t done it. The quality of programming and access to some of the most dynamic and influential leaders in the region are reason enough, but there’s something about the composition of each class, and how the different activities help build relationships among everyone, that creates a special camaraderie and bond among classmates.”

To learn more about LD, visit our website or attend an upcoming information session.

Register here to join us for LD’s 50th Celebration, presented by PNC Bank, on Friday, June 6.

To join the 51st Class of LD, presented by Grant Thorton, apply here.