Leadership South Dakota

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Applications for our next class are live now! The next generation of leaders for South Dakota starts here.

Building the next generation of South Dakota leaders
Our 40-person cohorts take people of all backgrounds, industries, and locations across South Dakota to discover, connect and do something in our state.

28/10/2026

Three days in the Black Hills, filled with unique experiences, meaningful conversations, and new perspectives for our Class of 2027!

From learning about the world-class science happening at Sanford Underground Research Facility to exploring the history of Deadwood and getting an inside look at the mission and people of Ellsworth Air Force Base, our time in the Black Hills covered a lot of ground. Along the way, we heard from area leaders about the work they’re doing and the communities they serve.

We also gathered with area alumni at The Journey Museum, where we explored A Dream Takes Form, a one-of-a-kind exhibit celebrating the legacy of the Dream Catchers Artists Guild and the Lakota artists who helped shape contemporary Native art.

After diving into values during our Pierre session, it was powerful to hear those themes continue in the Black Hills. Speaker after speaker talked about the values that guide them and the balance it takes to stay true to them while leading.

Thank you to every speaker, host, and partner who made this session so meaningful!

14/10/2026

We’re kicking off our Leadership South Dakota Class of 2027 spotlights by introducing Christopher Swier, CEO of FlexIT USA.

Based in Brandon, FlexIT USA manufactures hydraulic hose assemblies for agricultural, construction, and industrial equipment. As CEO, Chris focuses on setting a vision, building a strong team and culture, and helping people grow. His favorite part of the job is imagining what the company could become and then helping turn that vision into reality. Naturally competitive and eager to get started, Chris especially enjoys seeing an idea go from a conversation to a plan to something working on the factory floor.

One of Chris’s biggest leadership lessons is the value of simplicity. He believes the best solutions often feel obvious in hindsight, even when getting there requires a lot of hard thinking. As he puts it, “Simplicity creates clarity, and clarity makes it much easier for people to understand, act, and move together.”

“If I want my team, my organization, and my community to keep growing, I have to be willing to grow too.” That’s what motivated Chris to join Leadership South Dakota, where he hopes to challenge himself, broaden his perspective, and become a better leader. His advice for future applicants is to give the application their best effort, knowing they can control their effort even if they can’t control the outcome.

Outside of work, Chris has a pretty remarkable hobby. He’s a licensed Amateur Extra radio operator who built a ground station for NASA’s Artemis II tracking project. NASA selected his station as one of just 34 worldwide to help track the Orion spacecraft by receiving its radio signals and measuring changes in their frequency. The project brings together his interests in radio, electronics, fabrication, coding, math, and figuring out how to build something he’s never attempted before.

We’re excited to have Chris as part of this year’s Leadership South Dakota cohort and look forward to the perspective and curiosity he’ll bring to the experience.

07/10/2026

Black Hills area alum: We’re coming to you on Thursday, October 22! Meet the new class of 2027 during their session and say hi to your other area Leadership SD alumni in the magnificent Journey Museum during our networking night. Come for the social, dinner, or both! RSVP at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/leadership-sd-alumni-gathering-rapid-city-registration-2002959148732?aff=oddtdtcreator . We can’t wait to see you!

24/09/2026

Alumni! If you’re in the Pierre area, join us this evening at Drifters and meet our new class! No need to RSVP, just join us for social hour and dinner. Can’t wait to see you!

20/08/2026

With heavy hearts, we share that we’ve lost one of our leaders, Tim Schut (Class of 2019), a cherished alumnus of Leadership South Dakota.

Tim led the way he lived: with humility, warmth, and a genuine belief in lifting others up. That showed up throughout his career, in the organizations and communities he gave his time to, and most of all in the way he showed up for his wife, Jennifer, and their three daughters.

Even when life handed him the hardest of challenges, Tim faced them with courage and continued to find ways to serve and lift up others.

Our Leadership South Dakota community and the entire state of SD are better for having known Tim, and we’re grateful that Leadership South Dakota was part of his story. Our hearts are with Jennifer, their daughters, and all those who knew and loved him.

https://www.ewfhs.com/obituaries/Timothy-Schut?obId=49304010

05/06/2026

Happy 605 Day! We’re so fortunate to see and celebrate South Dakota’s beauty, charm, and spirit year round. 💙

01/06/2026

The Class of 2027 is here! 🎉

We’re proud to introduce the 41 leaders selected for the 14th class of Leadership South Dakota! These changemakers from across the state will begin their journey in September, exploring South Dakota’s communities, opportunities, and challenges over the next 8 months.

Get to know the Class of 2027 and learn more about their upcoming journey:
https://leadershipsouthdakota.com/news/introducing-the-leadership-sd-class-of-2027

06/05/2026

Our core values of Discover, Connect, and Do shaped our day at Encore 2026. Over 60 alumni came together for an afternoon and evening of giving back, learning, and celebrating everything this community is building across South Dakota.

We started with volunteer service projects at Feeding South Dakota and Friends of the Big Sioux River. Then we gathered at ICON Event Hall for three incredible speakers, all circling the same theme: taking care of yourself. We were challenged to rethink the idea that constant productivity equals worth and reminded that rest, wonder, and connection are essential ingredients for a meaningful life.

Celebrations included the Class of 2016’s 10-year anniversary, Class of 2022's Anshu Chandra receiving the Distinguished Alumni Award, and Daktronics being named our Friend of Leadership SD. To end the program, First Interstate Bank and FHLB presented a $40,250 award to fuel our mission of building the next generation of South Dakota’s leaders. We can’t thank them enough for such a meaningful gift!

When the social wrapped, groups scattered across downtown Sioux Falls for hosted dinners that turned into some of the best conversations of the day. Thank you for showing up. ❤️

07/04/2026

The deadline is here! Applications for the next class of Leadership South Dakota close tonight at 6 PM CT, and we’d love to see your name on that list. If you know someone who should apply, don’t wait to send this their way. Find the application at LeadershipSouthDakota.com/apply

03/04/2026

Seems like a good weekend to check something off your list! Applications for our next class are due Tuesday, April 7 at 6 PM CT. Swipe through to learn more, then head to LeadershipSouthDakota.com to apply!

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+16052717756

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http://www.leadershipsouthdakota.com/

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