Our Leadership CORPS and the Emerging Leaders Programs foster cross-sector collaboration, build the leadership pipeline in San Mateo County, and enable participants to tackle challenges creatively and collaboratively.

Held at the beautiful Half Moon Bay Library on January 24 (Emerging Leaders) and January 31 (Leadership CORPS), Human Services Learning Day provided vital experiences for participants: field trips to Half Moon Bay nonprofits, lunch discussions with nonprofit executives, and the official kickoff of their Community Acceleration Projects (CAPs).

Claire Cunningham, Director of San Mateo County Human Services Agency, gave an overview of the “Safety Net’ of human services available to meet the unique needs of each individual. Angenette Lau, Communications Manager, South San Francisco, and Emerging Leaders Class of 2025 appreciated Claire's presentation:

“It was incredibly timely to have [Claire] speak this week. As I'm helping develop communications to encourage and support our community, it was helpful to learn about resources available through the County.”

 Field Trips Leave Impressions

Our experiential approach and our commitment to relationship building are key program strengths. Participants visited five Coastside nonprofits, meeting Executive Directors and staff to learn about the critical services offered and the challenges they face in serving community needs. This firsthand experience fostered a deep understanding of the complex support systems needed to sustain strong, resilient communities. Thank you to the leaders of these nonprofits who generously hosted our participants: ALAS (Ayudando Latinos A Soñar), Abundant Grace, Boys & Girls Club of the Coastside, Coastside Hope, and Senior Coastsiders.

Virginia Portillo, Administrative Secretary for San Mateo County and City of Menlo Park Housing Commissioner (and Emerging Leaders Class of 2025), eloquently described her experience:

“Still feeling energized from an incredible day with my Emerging Leaders Class of 2025 at the Leadership Council Human Services Learning Day in Half Moon Bay! It was an eye-opening experience to learn more about the “safety net” of human services and the deep collaboration required to support our communities. Highlights included visiting Coastside Hope, where we saw firsthand how they provide critical services—emergency food, housing assistance, and immigration support—to families in need, and our lunch with Puente’s Executive Director Rita Mancera where we gained insight into the vital work Puente does to empower and uplift the South Coast community.”

McKinsey & Company Helps Launch Successful Community Acceleration Projects

January also marked the launch of Community Acceleration Projects (CAPs), a core, hands-on component of our Immersion Programs where participants apply their skills to real-world challenges and opportunities of a San Mateo County nonprofit or government organization. CAPs are designed to create immediate impact, augmenting the partner organization's resources and expertise. 

This year, participants benefited from the invaluable expertise of McKinsey & Company, a leading global management consulting firm. Guidance from McKinsey consultants helped each team—working collaboratively with their partner organization's leaders—to define clear goals, establish success metrics, and create a plan for achieving positive outcomes.

Leadership Council SMC Co-President Kaarin Hardy shared the heart of our organization’s commitment: 

“Bringing McKinsey’s globally recognized project management expertise to the Community Acceleration Projects is another example of how Leadership Council SMC is connecting expert, private-sector resources to leaders in San Mateo County. Working with a global firm like McKinsey & Company is something that would be out of reach for a majority of nonprofit and government leaders. The skills learned from McKinsey are already leading to innovative solutions for San Mateo County organizations and communities.”

CAPs are scheduled for completion by early June.

Making the Best Use of Precious Time

Carefully planned agendas for our Immersion Programs make every minute of the monthly Learning Days count. Virginia added her appreciation for the rich experience, “Thanks to the Leadership Council San Mateo County team for organizing such a meaningful agenda and ongoing support. I’m so grateful to be part of this cohort!”

Looking Ahead: Applications Now Open for the Class of 2026

We are now accepting applications and nominations for the Class of 2026 Leadership CORPS and Emerging Leaders programs. Applications are due by Thursday, May 1, 2025, and applicants will be notified of their status by July 1, 2025. Register for an Information Session to learn more and ask questions:

• March 31, 2025, 6-7 p.m.
• April 24, 8-9 a.m.