BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana Impact Fund and GrowthX Academy have launched a new executive development program aimed at preparing high-potential professionals across Louisiana for future C-suite and senior leadership roles.
The LIF cXo Leadership Program is a nine-month cohort-based initiative designed to identify, train and accelerate emerging business leaders throughout the state. The inaugural cohort will include 15 participants and is scheduled to begin in September 2026. The program is supported by Louisiana Economic Development.
“Too often, Louisiana’s most talented professionals leave the state to find the career acceleration they’re looking for,” said LED Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois. “The cXo Leadership Program changes that equation by giving ambitious leaders a world-class pathway to the C-suite right here at home. We are proud to fund a program that keeps Louisiana’s best talent in Louisiana.”
The program will be operated by GrowthX Academy, a Louisiana-based nonprofit that designs and delivers professional development programs for business leaders. Organizers said the program is intended to fill a gap in Louisiana’s leadership development pipeline by serving professionals who are beyond entry-level development but not yet in formal executive education programs.
“Louisiana has remarkable talent, and this program exists to make sure that talent stays here, grows here and leads here,” said Jared Quoyeser, co-founder and managing partner of Louisiana Impact Fund. “The cXo Leadership Program is built to identify the next generation of business leaders across the entire state, from Shreveport to New Orleans, and give them the tools, the network and the real-world experience to step into executive roles and create lasting value.”
The nine-month program will include in-person residency experiences in multiple Louisiana markets, along with curriculum led by subject matter experts and business leaders. Participants will study areas such as strategy, financial acumen, talent development, organizational culture, revenue growth and digital transformation. The program will also include a capstone project designed to demonstrate executive-level competency through applied work.
The cXo Leadership Program is designed for early-career professionals who hold a post-undergraduate or graduate degree and are positioned before formal executive education. Ideal candidates are professionals who have demonstrated leadership ability, execution skills and the potential to move into senior leadership roles.
Participants will be selected through a competitive evaluation process. Those chosen for the cohort will receive scholarships to participate in the program.
An introductory webinar for prospective applicants and organizational sponsors is scheduled for May 21, 2026. Applications will open in June, with the review process beginning in July. Finalists are expected to be notified in late July, with the cohort announced in August. The inaugural kickoff is planned for late September 2026 in Lafayette.
Louisiana Impact Fund is a private equity fund focused on investing in Louisiana businesses and developing the human capital needed to support long-term economic growth. GrowthX Academy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates professional development programs for business leaders at various stages of growth.