Young Leaders Alliance (YLA)
In a region shaped by fast growth, the next generation of civic and business leadership is already at work—often before its members have settled into the titles that will define them.
By Edit Sarasota Staff
In a region shaped by fast growth, the next generation of civic and business leadership is already at work—often before its members have settled into the titles that will define them. The Young Leaders Alliance offers Lakewood Ranch and the greater Sarasota-Manatee community a place for that work to begin: in the practical, sometimes unglamorous skills that turn good ideas into useful action.
Designed for young professionals, YLA focuses on leadership, project management and communication through events and programs tailored to professional growth. Those subjects can sound like staples of a corporate seminar, but their reach is broader. Strong communication helps a nonprofit build a following. Clear project management can transform a community initiative from an appealing notion into a finished endeavor. Leadership, at its most meaningful, is less about a corner office than the ability to bring people together and move a shared effort forward.
That emphasis feels particularly relevant in Lakewood Ranch, one of the area’s most dynamic communities and an increasingly important center of business, culture and civic life. As the region grows, so does the need for emerging professionals who understand how to collaborate across industries and contribute beyond the boundaries of their own workplaces. YLA provides a framework for making those connections, while giving members a chance to develop the confidence and experience that can shape Sarasota-Manatee’s future.
The alliance is built with a manageable commitment in mind. Members meet on the second Monday of each month at 4 p.m., with an expected investment of one to two hours monthly. That cadence leaves room for demanding schedules while creating a consistent point of connection—enough time to build relationships, share perspective and take on meaningful responsibilities without turning professional development into another full-time obligation.
The committee meetings themselves are closed, so this is not a drop-in public program. Those interested in learning more about joining should connect directly with Committee Chair Nicole Hackel at nicole.hackel@smrranch.com. The next Young Leaders Alliance meeting takes place Monday, November 9, 2026, at the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance, 5391 Lakewood Ranch Blvd N, where the area’s emerging professionals will continue the quiet, consequential work of preparing to lead.