Elevating Leadership
Transforming Communities
Building a Stronger Waikato Together
Community & Enterprise Leadership Foundation
We believe that strong leadership is the key to a thriving Waikato. Our mission is driven by the conviction that when leaders from diverse sectors—For-Purpose, For-Profit, and NGOs—come together, they can address the region's most pressing challenges and create lasting positive change.
Through our flagship Elevate Leadership Programme, we aim to cultivate socially responsible leaders who are equipped to make a meaningful impact on their businesses and communities.
Our Elevate Leadership Programme
We know that supporting leadership is one of the fastest ways to help leaders effect change.
The Elevate Leadership Programme is CELF's flagship initiative, designed to inspire and connect leaders across the Waikato region. This unique 8-week programme, delivered over eight months, brings together established leaders from diverse sectors—For-Purpose, For-Profit, and NGOs—in a collaborative learning environment.
This is your opportunity to elevate your leadership, connect with like-minded leaders, and drive real, positive change.
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 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 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
