Why was Lucca Leadership started?

Lucca Leadership was founded in January 2002 in response to the growing need in the world for more effective leadership. The aim is to uplift communities all over the world by developing a generation of transformational leaders.

What does Lucca Leadership do?

Lucca Leadership offers transformational leadership training and support through offering courses ranging in length from one day to one week. Lucca Leadership also offers programs that have been specifically designed to meet particular needs of a group of individuals and companies. As many people can’t take time off work, Lucca Leadership is also often invited to give public talks on various aspects of transformational leadership. To apply for a course or hire Lucca Leadership, please contact your local affiliate or info@luccaleadership.org to be directed accordingly.

Who is Lucca Leadership for?

Lucca Leadership's courses are for individuals who wants to make a positive change in the world (or people who already are), for those who believe in service and filling the needs around them, those who want to change the world in whatever way they can. Please note that the week-long Foundations Program is generally aimed at 18-35 year olds.

  See the impact section to see how previous participant's projects have helped their communities.

  Lucca Leadership’s training is also for companies that want to improve their own leadership as well develop their employees so that they can be    more effective as an organisation. Tailored short courses are generally provided for Lucca Leadership’s paying client organisations, such as  schools, universities, charities and businesses.

Who runs Lucca Leadership?

Lucca Leadership is a global social franchise, with legally independent affiliates around the world that are each managed by a local CEO. The CEO's govern the shared brand. Each affiliate has its own board of directors that governs locally.

How is Lucca Leadership funded?

When Lucca Leadership runs an open course, the fees Lucca Leadership collects typically cover less than half of the total costs (including administrative overheads and course bursaries). The difference is donated by private individuals, charitable grants, corporate gifts and fund-raising activities undertaken by the volunteers in Lucca Leadership. This, however, does not apply if Lucca Leadership is booked to run a course specifically for a company, organisation or group of individuals.

Almost all of the staff around the world are volunteers giving their time freely, with the exception of Sam Lyons (Ireland), Ilana Wetzler (South Africa), Michel Joffe (South Africa) and Ananda Harrison (UK) who are employed on a full/part-time basis to support the volunteer networks. Under Lucca Leadership’s charitable charter, no Director or Trustee may receive personal financial benefit from their service with Lucca Leadership. (Note however that Lucca Leadership does pay for travel expenses incurred by volunteers and, where needed, makes contributions towards any income lost by taking time to volunteer on the programs).

Why "Lucca Leadership" and what does 'Lucca' stand for?

Lucca is a place and not an acronym. As a starting point, the Villa Boccella just outside Lucca in Italy was perfectly equipped for Lucca Leadership's needs of space and its location near the great city of Florence (birthplace of the Italian Renaissance) was an added inspiration. Lucca Leadership does not own the villa, but among other charities are welcomed to hire it at a discounted rate. Today, the courses are run in similarly peaceful, reflective and inspiring locations all over the world, but Lucca remains the starting point and namesake. (www.villaboccella.com)

For more information on what Lucca Leadership stands for as an organisation please see Lucca Leadership's 'Vision & Values' section here.

There is an online forum linking Lucca Leadership with the School of Economic Science (aka the School of Philosophy), is this true?

Lucca Leadership is not financially linked to or governed by the School of Economic Science / School of Philosophy. 

According to the  SES website, "The  School of Economic Science is a centre of spiritual and practical knowledge and enquiry. Our aim is to help individuals lead a  fuller, richer and more  useful life and to evolve the spiritual aspects of their being in accordance with natural law."

In contrast, Lucca Leadership’s  aim is to uplift communities  all over the world by developing a generation of transformational leaders. Lucca Leadership has no spiritual agenda nor  belief system, it neither  encourages nor discourages any enquiry into the spiritual realm. Lucca Leadership is not a sub section of the SES, nor is it  run, funded, owned (legally  or beneficially), controlled by or affiliated to them.

What programs are there?

For details about Lucca Leadership's programs click here.

Who runs the programs?

Lucca Leadership's programs are run by highly trained Course Directors (who frequently volunteer their time). The courses consist of a Course Director (sometimes with an Assistant Course Director) and a number of coaches. Highly acclaimed visiting lecturers are also invited to help with specific case studies.

How are the Course Directors and coaches trained?

Lucca Leadership prides itself on the standard and quality of both its Course Directors and its coaching teams. In order to qualify to be a coach, an individual must first attend the Leadership Foundations Program. From there onwards, each coach in training follows a structured accreditation plan (available upon request):

  Assessment takes place once per year; typically it takes two years to become a senior coach and five years to become a Course Director.

How are the programs structured?

All Lucca Leadership’s programs are based around Kolb’s Experiential Learning Model and comprise of four types of activity;

• Tuition - facilitated by the Lucca Leadership Team (very interactive - no power-point!)
• Practical experience - through team tasks and challenges
• Reflection - both individual and in groups, supported by the Course Director and Coaches
• Dialogue – in the whole group and in the smaller teams, to gain greater self-understanding through greater understanding of others’ experiences and perspectives

This structure is designed to give the participants the maximum opportunity to understand the program material through their own experience, and to come to some concrete understanding of how they can put transformational leadership to use in their own lives. Participants are encouraged to undertake self-examination, supported by the coaches, to identify their leadership development needs, using the tuition and their experience from the program as a guide.

How do I apply?

For more information about Lucca Leadership's programs and how to apply click here.

What is transformational leadership?

Transformational leadership is about change. Change for the better. Please see the Transformational Leadership section for more information.

How much do the programs costs?

All of Lucca Leadership's programs have different cost as appropriate for the local currency, please click here for more details.

Can I get a bursary to help with the cost of the program?

There are limited bursaries available for week long program's course cost and/or travel costs for those with financial difficulties (with priority given to those from developing countries). Bursaries may be applied for on the application form.

Where do the programs take place?

Lucca Leadership rents out different venues from other organisations depending on the program requirements. To find out more about where the programs are run please click here.

I’m over 35, can I still participate?

There are many ways to participate, the best way is to contact your local affiliate for local short course options. Many affiliates also run Mentor Training courses for people who would like to mentor graduates from the Leadership Foundations Program with the valuable support they need in whatever work they choose to do after the program. 

How do I get involved as a participant / mentor / donor / partner?

Please contact your nearest Lucca Leadership affiliate directly here, or feel free to email info@luccaleadership.org and one of the volunteers will get back to you as soon as possible!

How can I donate?

Any donation you make will go towards bursaries for participants from the developing world and also to the general running of Lucca Leadership. This will be a great support to Lucca Leadership. To find out more about donating please follow this link and click on the donate button for the location you wish to donate to.