Wisconsin’s top talent is hitting a wall.
According to data from our latest cohort, emerging leaders across the state are reporting the same gaps: they don’t know the right people, they don’t feel supported by the generation above them, and they aren’t sure if staying in Wisconsin is a strategic bet or simply the conventional path.
We built Forward 48 to change that.
In the Spring, 60 participants from across Wisconsin joined us for six weeks of candid conversations and cross-sector connection. We curated master classes that allowed cohort members to learn not just from our faculty presenters, but from one another. We offered a space where these leaders were brave enough to bring their “Big Rocks,” the real and complex challenges they were facing, to the table.
The results?:
- Network Connectivity grew by 32%. This was the dimension that mattered most to our participants, and it saw the largest gain.
- Network Confidence grew by nearly 20%. This reflects the growth in confidence participants felt in having the resources to move their communities forward.
- Leadership Readiness jumped by 21.8%.
- Confidence in self-awareness rose by nearly 13%.
This is what leadership development actually looks like when you remove the fluff. It’s a healthcare leader helping a real estate developer solve a community trust problem. It’s a banker helping a nonprofit director articulate her financial case. It’s a 26-year-old entry-level employee asking a 48-year-old business owner a question they’d never been asked before.
We are looking for the next group of change-makers ready to define their own legacy in Wisconsin.
Are you ready to move beyond the daily grind and start building your future?
Apply by August 15 to take advantage of our early bird pricing and receive a 10% discount on your tuition.
Apply for the Fall 2026 Cohort Today
Know someone who belongs in this room? Nominate them HERE.