Leadership Waikato
For experienced leaders ready to step up their impact
Community & Enterprise Leadership Foundation
CELF is a Waikato-based leadership organisation focused on growing capable, connected leaders across business, community and NGOs.
We design and deliver leadership experiences that build insight, connection and impact, starting here, in our region.
We believe strong leadership sits at the very heart of a thriving Waikato.
Our flagship programme:
Leadership Waikato
A cohort-based leadership experience designed for experienced leaders ready to broaden their perspective, deepen their capability, and strengthen their impact in the Waikato.
Leadership Waikato is part-time, 8-month leadership programme that brings together a carefully selected cohort of leaders from across business, community and NGOs.
It’s not classroom learning.
It’s real-world, relational, and grounded in the Waikato.
The Elevate Leadership Programme will challenge you, inspire you, and ultimately transform the way you lead, ensuring that you are well-equipped to tackle the most pressing cultural, economic, environmental, and social issues facing our Waikato community.
Become a Sponsor
Investing in the CELF Elevate Leadership Programme is more than just leadership development—it's an opportunity for businesses to make a lasting impact on the Waikato community. By sponsoring a leader, you’re not only enhancing your own business growth but also contributing to the social, economic, cultural, and environmental health of our region. Strong leaders drive strong communities, and together, we can build a thriving, connected Waikato. Become a sponsor of our Waikato leadership programme and be part of shaping the future of our community and your business.
Kylie Leonard
Kylie Leonard, Class of 2019 & CELF Alumni Leader of the Year 2022, shares her leadership insights.
Kylie Leonard's journey through the Elevate Leadership Programme was sponsored by Tompkins Wake in 2019. Her progress since then has been nothing short of inspirational.
Why It Matters
CELF was founded on the belief that healthy businesses and communities empower each other. By fostering socially responsible leaders through our Waikato leadership development programme, we aim to transform our region for the better. Our mission is to cultivate as many of these leaders as possible, strengthening both businesses and communities along the way.
Donate to The Ripple Initiative
Join CELF alumni in paying it forward by supporting the next generation of transformational leaders. Your donation helps fund a sponsored seat in the Elevate Leadership Programme, empowering future leaders to grow and make a lasting impact. Our goal is to fund at least two places each year, creating ripples of change in our community.
“We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop." - Mother Teresa
CELFie Testimonial
“The communion between the Commercial and For Purpose sectors within the cohort was truly ‘collabor-active’. I learnt as much from my cohort as from the external leaders and visits to other businesses/entities across the Waikato Region and beyond. This has affirmed for me, the very real and living nature of the key message from a Samoan proverb, “O le ala I le pule o le tautua” the pathway to leadership is through service."
Rachel Karalus - CEO, K’aute Pasifika Trust
Thank you to our partners for supporting our mission to grow a connected and thriving Waikato.
We're honoured to have these incredible partners on our leadership journey.
Join us as a partner, you're in good company!
Delivery Partner
Programme Partners
Supporting Partners
