Since 2021, the Leadership Connection has been serving its mission to connect today’s leaders with the next generation to build a stronger community. Leadership Connection provides a forum for local high school students to engage with distinguished professionals from both the private and public sectors, allowing students to build professional and personal leadership skills while providing members of our community the opportunity to positively impact the next generation. 

The Rotary Club of Carmel is proud to partner with distinguished members of our community to lead this workshop and service activity that brings students from both Carmel and Indianapolis together as they explore their futures and learn how they can impact their communities. Students who attend can also apply for the Portee-Leadership Connection scholarship, which awards funds to a college or trade school of their choice and a laptop computer.

We are proud of the impact Leadership Connection is making in our communities and invite you to join us on this mission to inspire and engage.

What our Attendees Say

What I enjoyed most during this event was how we got to communicate and connect with other students from different schools. Also, how we got to meet amazing people and got to talk to adults more about what will help our future the best.

Learn More

Watch our new video!

2024 Save the Date

Embracing Authenticity: The Power of Vulnerability and Leadership

Community Service Day: October 24, 2024, at O ne America

Main Event: November 15, 2024, at the Carmel-Clay Public Library

2024 Keynote Speaker

                                                   Main Event / November 15

For the first time in its four-year history, Leadership Connection’s keynote speaker comes from outside the Greater Indianapolis area and is a member of Rotary. He is David Roemer, CEO of Ideas United, Atlanta, Georgia, and member of the          Rotary Club of Atlanta.

About Ideas United...

“We specialize in a few key areas. First, we partner with premier brands to help them tell their stories differently (Starbucks, Disney, PGA, Warner Bros. Discovery, Amazon, Choice Hotels, CVS, Coca-Cola, and more).  Second, we partner with leading universities and nonprofits to help them make a positive impact (Smithsonian, Emory University, Georgia Tech, St. Jude, Everytown for Gun Safety, CARE, and the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation, among many others).  And third, we’ve worked with platforms ranging from Amazon Prime Video and PlayStation to Warner Bros. Discovery to help unleash fresh concepts for         long-form content.” 

2024 Sponsors

Bank of America, All-State Foundation...more to come!

Interested in becoming a sponsor? Please visit our sponsorship link:

https://square.link/u/7SOZ3xz0

Questions - please see Ranj Puthran

Thank you to our 2024 Partners

Leadership Connection is presented in partnership with the Carmel Fire Department, the Carmel Mayor’s Student Advisory Council, Carmel-Clay Schools, Christel House Watanabe Manual High School, Hamilton County Leadership Academy and iTeam.

Volunteer

Please join us by volunteering on one or both days, visit link below:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084DA5AD2CA0F8C52-50180534-leadership

Questions - please see Natalie O'Hara

Nominate a Legacy Student Participant 

Rotarians:  nominate a relative to participate as a Legacy Student (first come first serve for these limited 10 spots)!  Your relative must be a Junior or Senior in high school and able to commit to the 2 days of events:

Community Service Day: Thursday, October 24, 2024, One America Tower, downtown Indianapolis

Leadership Connection Day:  Friday, November 15, 2024, Carmel Clay Public Library, Carmel

Please use this link to nominate your relative:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084DA5AD2CA0F8C52-50559304-leadership

Questions - please see Natalie O'Hara