Southern California Leadership Network

A partnership with the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce.

Economy, Creativity and Innovation

Exploring Southern California's competitive economic advantages

SCLN is expanding opportunities for our alumni to better understand Southern California's regional economy and innovation.

The Southern California region is home to one of the world's largest economies with nearly 1 million direct and indirect jobs in the creative sectors in Los Angeles and Orange counties alone. There is no better time to be thinking about innovation and competitiveness as our economy begins a difficult restructuring and eventual recovery. SCLN will provide opportunities for alumni to become more engaged and active in the creative sector to capitalize on our region, maintain its creative advantage and ensure that it is nurtured to its fullest potential. Specific program areas include:

Economic Outlook Briefings. SCLN will continue to partner with the L.A. Area Chamber and Beacon Economics for forecasting events, and will also include an economic trends and indicators overview in its Leadership Southern California 2010 curriculum. The commitment is to remain connected to the larger business and economic development community in Southern California at a critical time, and to continue to invest resources to understand the current economic trends, challenges and opportunities that will emerge in the next 18-24 months.

"Economics for Civic Leaders" in the Leadership Southern California curriculum. SCLN will launch a new leadership skill development component in the Leadership Southern California Class of 2010 curriculum focusing on the economic trends affecting our business climate and the road to recovery. Participants will leave with an enhanced understanding of the trends and indicators shaping our regional economy and its future. Read more about the Class of 2010.

Special Community Service Projects. Through an initiative begun by the Leadership Southern California Class of 2009, alumni are exploring special project opportunities to work with community-based organizations in low to moderate income areas to stimulate the economy and job growth. Updates on this initiative are forthcoming.

Business & Arts Partnership for Innovation. SCLN is working to ensure leadership alumni understand the importance of partnerships between business and the arts/cultural community to advance cultural vitality, regional competitiveness and innovation. The goal over the next 24 months is to expose alumni to these opportunities and harness this talent. Read a recap of the first brainstorming meeting. Read related Leadership Blog entry: Taking the Long View.