LEAD Program

The Leadership Engagement Advancement and Development (LEAD) Program is KCSF’s flagship leadership development initiative for KCSF Scholarship recipients. LEAD brings together a cohort of emerging leaders for a shared journey of growth, connection, and impact.

KCSF’s LEAD program is designed to better promote the success of our KCSF Scholars, and to equip our KCSF Scholars with valuable educational resources, practical learning opportunities, access to mentorship, and a peer network that will grow with you as you advance. Through interactive learning, applied experience, mentorship, and engagement with the Korean Canadian community, participants build the skills, relationships, and confidence to navigate their careers and contribute meaningfully to their communities.

LEAD reflects KCSF’s commitment to investing in scholars beyond financial support alone—helping participants develop the leadership capacity, professional networks, and real-world experience that can support them well beyond their post-secondary education.

The LEAD Experience:

LEAD is grounded in three core pillars:

1.. Leadership Learning Sessions

Participants take part in virtual, interactive sessions designed to strengthen practical leadership and professional skills while encouraging reflection on the kind of leader and professional they want to become. LEAD’s learning sessions have been designed by a leading expert in graduate leadership and professional development education at the University of Toronto, with extensive experience developing innovative curricula that prepare emerging leaders for success in their careers and communities.

Learning areas will cover the following key areas:

  • Designing Your Career/Life Path

  • Effective Communication to Your Audience

  • Leading Teams/Mentorship

  • Working in Teams/Conflict Management

  • Wellness and Korean Canadian Identity

Sessions emphasize practical application, peer learning, discussion, and reflection rather than traditional classroom instruction. These educational sessions are intended to complement resources that may already be available in your university or through other organizations.

2. The LEAD Practicum

Leadership is developed not only through learning, but through practice.

The LEAD Practicum gives participants the opportunity to apply concepts introduced throughout the program by working in small teams to support a real KCSF community initiative. Participants work in teams of approximately five and share responsibility for achieving their team's project objectives. Each team is supported by KCSF leadership and a community mentor or advisor, providing opportunities for guidance, feedback, mentorship, and professional relationship-building throughout the experience.

Participants contribute to a defined component of a larger KCSF project rather than being solely responsible for delivering the project. Working alongside KCSF leaders, volunteers, and community mentors, teams may contribute to areas such as:

  • Program and activity development

  • Communications and community outreach

  • Research and strategic planning

  • Evaluation and feedback

Depending on the project and their role, participants may have opportunities to strengthen and apply skills in:

  • Leadership and initiative

  • Team collaboration and communication

  • Project and organizational management

  • Strategic and analytical thinking

  • Problem-solving and adaptability

Through the practicum, participants gain hands-on experience navigating the kinds of responsibilities, relationships, decisions, and challenges they are likely to encounter in professional and community leadership settings.

3. Community & Cultural Connection

LEAD is also about building community. Participants develop relationships with peers who are navigating similar stages of their academic and professional journeys while gaining opportunities to connect with mentors, professionals, and leaders from across the Korean Canadian community.

LEAD participants may also be invited to participate in KCSF community programs and events, including Soirée, the Sol Gala, community learning opportunities, and other KCSF initiatives.

These experiences help participants expand their networks, explore different career and leadership pathways, and become part of a growing community of KCSF Scholars and LEAD alumni.

Program Structure & Time Commitment

LEAD is designed to provide a meaningful leadership development experience while remaining manageable alongside participants' academic and personal commitments.

Participants can expect:

  • Monthly cohort sessions, generally held virtually via Zoom

  • Approximately two hours of facilitated learning per monthly session

  • Participation in a team-based practicum or applied project

  • Periodic opportunities to participate in additional workshops, speaker sessions, mentorship opportunities, or KCSF community events

Participants should anticipate an average commitment of approximately 3–4 hours per month, although the time required may vary during different stages of the practicum.

Participant Expectations

LEAD is a cohort-based experience, and active participation is important to both individual learning and the experience of the broader group.

Participants are expected to:

  • Attend and actively participate in live learning sessions

  • Engage respectfully in discussions and collaborative exercises

  • Participate actively and responsibly in their practicum team

  • Approach the program with curiosity, consistency, and a willingness to learn from different perspectives

Certificate of Completion

To receive a LEAD Program Certificate of Completion, participants must:

  • Attend at least 80% of required live sessions

  • Complete all required learning deliverables, including work associated with any missed sessions

  • Actively participate in program activities and fulfill relevant practicum requirements

2026–2027 Program Schedule

The inaugural LEAD cohort runs from September 2026 through Spring 2027.

Program Launch: September 2026
Cohort Sessions: Monthly, generally on the first Saturday of each month
Practicum: Fall 2026 through Spring 2027
Program Completion: Spring 2027
Completion Celebration: May 2027

Specific session dates, practicum milestones, and other program details are provided directly to participants.