Chamber Chat: Oceanside's leadership academy

The Oceanside Chamber of Commerce is fostering community growth through leadership development

The Oceanside Chamber of Commerce held its fall Oceanside Leadership Academy. To date, more than 130 people have completed the OLA program. Photo courtesy Scott Ashton

In 2023, the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce launched its inaugural Oceanside Leadership Academy (OLA) program, welcoming a cohort of 31 participants. Over the course of nine weeks, participants engaged in sessions covering leadership across various sectors, including healthcare, STEM technologies, hospitality and tourism, the military, municipal government, entrepreneurship, and the nonprofit sector.

Initially planned as a spring-only program, the success of the first cohort revealed strong demand for additional sessions. As a result, the chamber expanded the academy to include both spring and fall sessions, and earlier this fall, the program graduated its fourth cohort. To date, more than 130 individuals have completed the OLA program.

During their time in the academy, participants have had the chance to learn from some of the region's most influential leaders, gaining valuable insights into various leadership philosophies and strategies for managing teams through both internal and external organizational challenges.