Author: Catie George

By Amber Dyer, Coordinator, Communications

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

Byron Sanders, CEO of Arete Health, Inc., said participating in LD was a stirring experience. 

“I distinctly remember the feeling of meeting people through LD who I’d only seen on the evening news. It made me feel immediately more proximate to what was going on in the city. These people that I had looked up to from afar became more human,” said Sanders, a member of the LD Class of 2013. “I started to feel like the kinds of things that they’ve done, or the kinds of things that they’ve led, I could as well. It encouraged me to be more confident in the leadership roles that I could see myself eventually taking on in the city.” 

Sanders is from Dallas but nonetheless found LD enlightening on different aspects of the city. 

“It allowed me to better contextualize my lived experience as a native Dallasite with a broader view of history. And doing that allowed me to see how far we’ve come and the lengths we still have to go. We are constantly moving forward to create the kind of city that has accessible opportunities no matter what part of town you’re from.” 

LD’s reputation was already known to Sanders, having heard from many alumni about the program. 

“As I was becoming civically engaged beyond my immediate circle, I kept meeting people and seeing LD alums in positions of influence accomplishing meaningful work. They all raved about their experience. They all believed their class was the best class ever. I wanted to be part of that group,” he said. “LD has a sterling reputation in Dallas… There’s not a major initiative happening in the city that I’ve been involved in that didn’t have someone from LD proximate to it.” 

Sanders described his involvement with LD as transformative to both his professional network and personal perspective. 

“I’d recommend LD because it’s more than just a leadership program—it’s an experience that changes how you see yourself and your role in the city. It gives you a chance to engage directly with the people and systems shaping your community. You build relationships with a diverse group of leaders, and those connections stick with you long after the program ends,” Sanders said. “It’s about becoming part of a network of doers and changemakers who challenge and inspire you to lead in ways you didn’t even know were possible. If you want to make a real impact and feel more connected to the city you call home, Leadership Dallas is where it starts.” 

By Catie George, Director, Communications & Storytelling

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.

Rafael Anchía, Representative of District 103 in the Texas House, was already involved in the community when he joined LD but was surprised by how the program broadened his horizons.

“When I was accepted into Leadership Dallas, it opened my eyes to the different opportunities for getting involved in community beyond what I was already doing,” said Anchía, member of the LD Class of 1999. “Exploring early childhood development and other volunteer activities, Leadership Dallas exposed me to the need and the different ways to make an impact.”

LD also inspired him to run for school board, after a program hosted then-Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk.

“When the mayor called upon [the room] to run for the school board, Jon [Dahlander, Communications Director for Dallas Independent School Board and LD classmate] pulled at my jacket and said, ‘You need to run’,” said Anchía. “That was followed by a meeting with Mayor Kirk wherein he committed to supporting me to run in the newly vacant District 7 School Board seat.”

Anchía relied on his LD classmates throughout his campaign.

“My Leadership Dallas classmates were a powerful resource not only for fundraising but for campaign volunteers. I’ll never forget how my Leadership Dallas classmates rallied around me to support my candidacy. With all their support and volunteer efforts, I secured my seat without a runoff in a five-person race.”

Anchía encourages others to get involved in LD, even if they are already involved in the community.

“If you’re looking to get involved in the community more broadly and want a deeper understanding of the opportunities and challenges that our city faces, there is no better way to than through Leadership Dallas.”

By Catie George, Director, Communications & Storytelling 

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

Hussain Manjee, President and Chief Success Officer of DHD Films and DRC Board Member, had already been involved with the DRC for some time before joining LD. 

“As a long-standing member of the DRC and a two-term Board Member, I was well-acquainted with the LD program. In 2023, I decided to take the leap, and applying to the program turned out to be one of the better decisions of my life,” said Manjee. “As a proud member of the Class of 2024, I cherished my LD journey, and today, I am honored to give back as a class advisor for the Class of 2025.” 

Manjee’s experience with LD evolved from participant to mentor, giving him a unique perspective on the program’s consistent quality.  

“I initially believed the Class of 2024 was uniquely special due to its incredible energy, but my involvement with the Class of 2025 has shown me that every cohort has its own sparks and fireworks,” he said. “The LD program’s carefully curated content, skilled facilitators, and rigorous candidate selection process create a truly exceptional experience. For any executive or aspiring leader looking to immerse themselves in the Dallas-Fort Worth community and elevate their impact, LD is a program I wholeheartedly recommend.” 

Manjee’s LD experience allowed him to learn more about and become involved in Southern Dallas County. 

“I realized there were pressing challenges in North Texas that required my attention and leadership. I was inspired to focus on making a local impact, and LD provided the perfect platform to amplify this vision. I wanted to champion some of our local, ‘under-championed’ communities,” he said. “The program opened my eyes to the immense potential in Southern Dallas. As an investor and entrepreneur, I’m now actively exploring growth opportunities in this area through real estate, development projects, and other ventures that can create meaningful opportunities for the community.” 

Manjee’s LD experience not only broadened his investment perspective but also reinforced his fundamental leadership philosophy.  

“I’ve always been an advocate of Servant Leadership principles—a core value at my company, DHD Films. Seeing how leaders from multi-billion-dollar organizations embraced these principles was incredibly inspiring and reinforced my commitment to leading with purpose,” he said. “The leadership principles I’ve embraced through LD have enhanced my ability to inspire and guide my team at DHD Films, creating a more dynamic and purpose-driven workplace.” 

The leadership principles Manjee absorbed in LD had tangible benefits beyond his own company. 

“Additionally, LD connected me with an incredible network of brilliant professionals from various industries—people I’m proud to now call friends. LD has significantly expanded my professional network, connecting me with diverse leaders across industries,” said Manjee. “Graduating from LD has allowed me to stay connected with a vibrant and supportive network of leaders. Serving as a class advisor for the Class of 2025 has been a deeply rewarding experience, as I’ve had the chance to build relationships with new participants and witness their growth firsthand.” 

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.

Brooke Armstrong, President of Advisory Services in Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas at CBRE, the global leader in commercial real estate services, shared that LD broadened her perspective of Dallas by exposing its many sides and stories. 

“I had spent my entire career focused on commercial real estate, specifically corporate users of office space, so my view of Dallas was narrow and lacked depth into the amazing organizations and functions that make our city so incredible.” 

Armstrong wanted to further her understanding of Dallas and expand her network beyond commercial real estate.  

“[I knew that LD] was the perfect program for me to achieve my goals,” she said.  

As she transitioned into her current role at CBRE, the LD program introduced her to leaders of various businesses, philanthropies, and civic organizations that taught her the fundamentals of leadership. 

“It expanded my network tremendously, not only with my own class, but also an amazing network of LD alumnae,” said Armstrong. “It was the perfect experience to prepare me for my current role as the Dallas Market leader as well as the regional leader for Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. I’m now in a position of leading other market leaders, so those fundamentals are stretched and augmented even more. A large part of my role is serving others and the communities we work in, so it’s important to me to be involved in several philanthropic organizations that address various challenges Dallas faces.”  

Armstrong’s involvement with these organizations after LD led her to realize how crucial it is for corporate leaders to understand the importance of civic and philanthropic work. 

“Without all of us working together, Dallas wouldn’t be on the incredible trajectory it’s on,” she said.  

Through the program’s extensive network, Armstrong was able to connect with Monica Latin, a fellow LD alumna, even though they were in different classes. 

“I was seeking advice as I moved into my first leadership role and I [noticed] that her role was very similar,” she said. “We had breakfast, she recommended a book, gave me some great advice, and seven years later, she is a friend, mentor and client.”  

Armstrong recommends LD to individuals who recognize the value of building connections and skillsets. 

“It’s an invaluable way to challenge yourself and grow, and I always encourage our most talented professionals to consider the program.” 

By Morgan Scruggs, Coordinator, Leadership Programs

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

Gabrielle “Gabe” Madison, President of Bonton Farms, found out about LD through a professional connection with the DRC. 

“I first became aware of LD through the work my company at the time was doing with the chamber, but I didn’t think I was ready for LD,” said Madison. “I actually encouraged another employee at the company to apply that had a more senior position than I did. I was informed by an alum of LD that I would actually be the right candidate for LD, but I still shied away from pursuing it for another year.” 

Once Madison joined LD’s Class of 2019, she began learning more about the Dallas and North Texas Regions. 

“LD really opened my eyes to Dallas in a way that I was not expecting. I thought because I had been in Dallas almost 15 years at that point, I had a great understanding of what was happening and how things operated. I was blown away at how much LD provided me with true insight into Dallas and the greater North Texas region.” 

Madison’s LD experience motivated her to make a professional change. 

“Before LD, I was leading in the corporate world in various aspects, from HR and Organizational Development to Community Engagement. After LD, I had a new view of the world that I could not unsee. I felt called to action and empowered by my experiences to make a bigger impact. The experience with LD was part of the reason that I left the corporate world to lead Bonton Farms.” 

Madison’s work at Bonton partially came from her LD classmates’ encouragement.  

“My decision to go to Bonton Farms had a lot to do with my LD experience as well as encouragement from my LD classmates. They are still supporting me in various ways, and I am grateful to them and the DRC for supporting our efforts. Having connections to them have been a large part of my success in the last two years at Bonton Farms.” 

Because of the strong LD network of alums, Madison encourages others to make lasting professional connections through the program. 

“Through LD, I have witnessed how critical connection to others is in advancing your work,” said Madison. “The connection to those leading and shaping great institutions and policies in our area are pivotal to the advancement of the work I, and many others, are doing. The LD experience creates a kinship to build the bridge to other alums who you are able to assist and vice versa. We are all doing some pretty remarkable things to help the city, region, state, and country.” 

Madison also recommends LD to leaders who are ready to commit to the program and the Dallas Region. 

“If you are not committed to the class days, the homework, the networking, and the engagement LD provides, then allow someone else to take your spot. The class needs you to be all in; the DRC needs you to be all in; the city and region need you to be all in; and, of course, your employer wants to see how your dedication to this will be a benefit to the organization, and you can’t do it and show that value by only being partially committed.” 

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.  

As a proud 50-year resident of the Dallas area, Todd Burns, President at UMB Bank Dallas, was looking for a local platform to help him make a greater impact. In his search, he found LD.

“LD helped to further ignite my passion to make things better for all and showed me how to use ideas, resources, and talent to achieve great deeds,” said Burns, a member of the LD Class of 2006. “Throughout my LD experience, which includes alumni efforts, it [was] amazing to see how LD serves as a dedicated launching point to foster a genuine care for Dallas while supporting leaders as they develop in their careers.” 

LD not only supported leaders throughout their development but also demonstrated the power of change through intentional leadership.  

“My class—and all classes—were able to learn about the greatness of Dallas and the challenges the city faces while collaborating as a class to find solutions,” he said. “The vision of Dallas and the power of its leaders come alive through intentional impact in the service of others.”  

Inspired by the selflessness of leaders who prioritize serving others, Burns adopted the same standard. 

“These leaders have no agenda other than bettering the organizations and communities they serve,” he said. “There are few leaders in this city that can tout that type of consistent selflessness in their daily work. That type of leadership is a bar that I hold for myself and my teams, and LD emphasized its importance.” 

Combining this new standard with his father’s advice to “use [his] energy for good” transformed his perception of leadership. 

“[LD reinforced] the criticality of caring for our community in our chosen roles,” said Burns. “As I carried that idea and applied it through my decades in Dallas, I am proud of the various ways that I helped teams organize around efforts focused on serving others.” 

For instance, Burns helped a leader participating in the LD program use their organization’s foundation funds to boost the budget for LD’s annual project, bringing various benefits to the community and the funding corporation. 

“The money helped build a food bank and provide consistent food access to a local community in a food desert, [and] the initial ask helped refine the corporation’s focus and strategic resource allocation in Dallas,” he said. “To see a corporation execute on that many tangible results in a short period of time via one LD-related ‘ask’ for their annual project was an awesome win for many and one that was certainly impactful. A great example of what you learn in LD.” 

Having experienced the benefits of LD firsthand, Burns recommends the program to aspiring leaders in the Dallas Region who are committed to being active change agents and believe in the power of collaboration.  

“There is no better organization in Dallas that helps leaders understand the needs and opportunities of the city while providing an instant network that can be leveraged in the business world.”