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Walking Through New Doors: My Leadership Cincinnati Class 50 Journey
September 16, 2026
By Jesy Herron, Vice President of Client Partnerships at RESLV
There are moments in your career that feel like both a recognition of how far you’ve come and an invitation to consider how much more is possible. Being selected for Leadership Cincinnati Class 50 feels like one of those moments.
I applied to Leadership Cincinnati because I wanted to meet new people, become more civically involved and deepen my understanding of the region I call home. Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside incredible organizations and leaders across Greater Cincinnati. I’ve helped share their stories, bring people together and turn big ideas into meaningful action.
But the longer I lead, the more I understand how much there still is to learn about our community, about the people shaping it, and about the role each of us can play in its future.
The Energy of a New Beginning
At our kickoff, one of the first people to welcome Class 50 was LaNae Barnes, a member of Leadership Cincinnati Class 47. Seeing her there was especially meaningful. It was a small but powerful example of what makes this program so special: people remain connected, invested and willing to welcome the leaders coming behind them.
We began with quick introductions and meet-and-greets before joining the larger kickoff event. As the room filled, you could feel a buzz building. Everyone was energized to be there, not simply because we had been selected, but because we understood that something meaningful was beginning.
The excitement wasn’t about collecting another credential. It was about the possibilities created when people from different industries, backgrounds and experiences come together with a shared desire to make our region stronger.
Opens Doors = Responsibility
One of my earliest surprises has been seeing how simply saying, “I’m part of Leadership Cincinnati,” can open doors. It creates an immediate connection. People want to share their experiences, introduce you to others and help you better understand the community. There is an extraordinary amount of trust associated with being part of this program.
But open doors also come with responsibility.
Leadership is not just about gaining access to new rooms. It is about listening when you enter them. It is about learning from the people already doing the work, asking better questions and recognizing where your own experience can be useful. Most importantly, it is about holding those doors open for someone else.
That is the kind of leader I want to continue becoming.
A Jumping-Off Point
Class 50 represents a jumping-off point in my career.
I’m proud of what I have accomplished and the relationships I have built. I’ve had opportunities to lead teams, guide clients, tell important stories and connect people who could accomplish more together than they could separately. And yet, I believe this experience is going to open my eyes to an entirely new world of people, challenges, and ideas.
That is both exciting and humbling.
Sometimes professional growth is framed as climbing higher. At this stage of my career, I’m more interested in expanding outward, broadening my perspective, strengthening my civic involvement, and better understanding how the pieces of our region connect.
The most impactful leaders I know never assume they have arrived. They remain curious. They seek out perspectives that challenge their own. They recognize that leadership is not a title or a destination; it is a continual willingness to learn, contribute and evolve.
Ready for What Comes Next
Our Class 50 journey is only beginning, and there is so much ahead. Camp Joy is next, and based on everything I have already heard, I have a feeling it will give me plenty to reflect on.
For now, I’m entering this experience with curiosity, gratitude and an open mind. I’m excited to learn more about Greater Cincinnati, build relationships with the remarkable people in my class and discover where we can make a meaningful difference together.
I don’t yet know every door this journey will open. But I’m ready to walk through them and to make sure I’m holding them open for others along the way.
