Leadership Development Program for Social Impact
Presented By
Catawba College’s Ketner School of Business
In Partnership With
Hosted At
Develop the Skills to Lead Meaningful Change.
Today’s communities need leaders who can turn good ideas into meaningful results. The Leadership Development Program for Social Impact (LDP-SI) is a professional development program for emerging and established leaders who want to strengthen their organizations, develop innovative solutions, and create lasting social and community impact.
Created through a partnership between Catawba College’s Ketner School of Business and Rowan County United Way, LDP-SI offers a highly interactive learning experience focused on leadership, social entrepreneurship, collaboration, innovation, and measuring impact.
Participants will learn alongside a diverse cohort drawn from businesses, nonprofits, government, education, and community organizations.
Program begins October 14, 2026 | Applications due October 5, 2026
WHY LDP-SI?
Leadership for Today’s Challenges
The most effective leaders understand how to navigate complexity, build partnerships, and create sustainable solutions.
LDP-SI equips participants with practical skills in:
Social Entrepreneurship
Learn how innovative thinking can address community challenges and create lasting impact.
Strategic Leadership
Develop the ability to lead teams, organizations, and initiatives through change and uncertainty.
Community Innovation
Explore new approaches to solving complex social, economic, and environmental issues.
Impact Measurement
Learn how to evaluate outcomes, demonstrate success, and communicate impact to stakeholders.
Cross-Sector Collaboration
Build partnerships that bridge nonprofit, government, education, healthcare, and business sectors.
PROGRAM FORMAT
Designed for Working Professionals
11 Sessions
Interactive sessions combining theory and practical application.
11 Sessions
Interactive sessions combining theory and practical application
Hybrid Learning Model
A blend of in-person and virtual learning opportunities.
Faculty Instruction
Learn from experienced educators and practitioners.
Applied Learning
Real-world projects and peer collaboration.
Showcase
Present your work to leaders from across the region.
Program Dates
October 14, 2026 – February 10, 2027
Program Investment
$750 per participant
Investment:
$750
About The Partnership
Where Academic Excellence Meets Community Impact
Through the Ketner School of Business, Catawba College is preparing the next generation of leaders through experiential learning, innovation, and community engagement.
The Leadership Development Program for Social Impact extends this commitment beyond traditional students, providing professional development opportunities for leaders throughout the region.
For decades, Rowan County United Way has brought organizations, businesses, and community leaders together to address Rowan County’s most pressing challenges.
Through LDP-SI, United Way continues its mission of building stronger communities through collaboration, leadership, and innovation.
the HUB serves as a Center for Collaboration where nonprofits, educators, businesses, and community leaders come together to create greater impact.
Participants in LDP-SI will learn within an environment intentionally designed to foster innovation, partnership, and community engagement.
WHO SHOULD APPLY?
Designed for Emerging and Established Leaders
Best suited for professionals with a foundation of professional experience who are ready to grow their leadership skills and create meaningful community impact.
Nonprofit Leaders
Government Professionals
Educators
Healthcare Leaders
Foundation Staff
Economic Development Professionals
Community Leaders
Social Entrepreneurs
Sustainability Professionals
Community Development Practitioners
Cohort Size
15–20 participants
A small, cross-sector cohort creates opportunities for meaningful relationships, deeper discussion, peer learning, and personalized engagement.
FACULTY & COMMUNITY PRACTITIONERS
Learn From Experienced Leaders
Participants will engage with faculty, nonprofit executives, social entrepreneurs, and community leaders who bring both academic expertise and real-world experience.
Dr. Bala Mulloth
FACULTY DIRECTOR
Dr. Bala Mulloth is Associate Professor of Management at the Ketner School of Business at Catawba College and Faculty Director of the Leadership Development Program for Social Impact. He is a nationally recognized educator, scholar, and practitioner in social entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainable business.
Dr. Mulloth has lived and worked across Asia, Europe, and North America. Prior to joining Catawba College, he served on the faculties of the University of Virginia’s Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy and Central European University in Budapest, Hungary.
In addition to his academic appointments, Dr. Mulloth has extensive experience working at the intersection of innovation, entrepreneurship, and societal impact. He previously served as Senior Manager in New York University’s Office of Innovation Development, Technology Transfer, and Entrepreneurship, where he helped support the commercialization of emerging technologies and the development of entrepreneurial ventures. He has also served as a Visiting Faculty Fellow at the National Defense University.
Dr. Mulloth is the co-founder of Hava, a social venture supported by the University of Virginia and the National Institutes of Health that develops advanced materials designed to help people breathe cleaner air. His research and community-engaged work focus on social innovation, responsible leadership, sustainability, healthcare innovation, and entrepreneurial approaches to addressing complex societal challenges.
As Faculty Director, Dr. Mulloth draws his global experience in social entrepreneurship, innovation, and leadership development to help participants create lasting impact in their organizations and communities. He holds a Ph.D. in Technology Management from New York University’s Tandon School of Engineering.
Featured Contributors May Include
Dr. Imran Chowdhury – Dean, Ketner School of Business at Catawba College
United Way Leadership – Jenny Lee, MSW
Dr. Lee Ball, Vice President of Sustainability and Executive Director of the Center for the Environment at Catawba College
Executives-in-Residence
Regional Nonprofit CEOs
Social Entrepreneurs
WHY the HUB?
A Classroom Unlike Any Other
Most leadership programs take place in conference rooms.
LDP-SI takes place inside a living ecosystem of community impact.
Located within the HUB’s Social Entrepreneurship Lab, participants learn alongside nonprofit organizations, educators, community leaders, and innovators who are actively shaping the future of Rowan County.
The HUB provides a unique environment where ideas become partnerships and learning becomes action.
Key Benefits
- Direct exposure to community challenges
- Access to nonprofit leaders
- Cross-sector networking
- Innovation-focused environment
- Downtown Salisbury location
Be Among the First
The inaugural LDP-SI cohort represents an exciting opportunity to help shape a new leadership development experience for the region.
Participants will join a select group of changemakers committed to building stronger organizations, stronger communities, and stronger futures.