The Voices of Leadership Visalia

By Karishma Fazalbhoy-Tulare County Probation Department

Leadership is a journey of personal transformation and making a positive impact on others. It is also a choice and an ongoing responsibility to allow others around you both professionally and personally feel safe, included, heard, valued, and be authentically themselves. Now more than ever, our community needs leaders to be catalysts for positive change.

Having gone through this premier leadership academy in the year 2021-22, Leadership Visalia has created a lasting impact on me and staying “Loyal to Local” has become a way of life. The Leadership Visalia program enhances leadership skills, assists with an in-depth understanding of community issues, serves as a liaison for meaningful connections, engages the class with a collaborative community project experience, and boosts personal and professional growth.

I have experienced being a participant, alumni, and now the Steering committee member for this program. I have repeatedly asked myself this question: what brings me back to continue serving the Visalia Chamber of Commerce?

The answer is simple- it’s the Visalia Chamber team, their Board members, and their commitment to keeping Visalia at the forefront to success. The Chamber team is small but mighty and their diverse work in serving this community whether it’s working with the members, planning for their numerous local community events, or preparing for their next Leadership Visalia cohort and other programs is evidence that they are not just committed to excellence, but also strive on working together to highlight the hearts and voices of the people in the City of Visalia.  

I believe that the most priceless gift one can give someone is “time” and when there is no expectation of anything in return, the act of service becomes even more profound. There are numerous leaders in our community that are more than willing to provide mentorship and guidance to new emerging leaders. It really takes a village to grow additional leaders and the Leadership Visalia program builds those connections between the participants and local leaders from businesses, non-profits, government agencies, and other entities to make a lasting impact in the community.

The facilitator of this program Jena Rodriguez is the Director of Operations at the Visalia Chamber of Commerce who has poured her heart into making this program successful. I believe our community is one of a kind and retaining our local talent through service whether it’s through volunteering, mentorship, or Board service should continue to take precedence in people’s lives. This quote resonates closely with this topic “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the water to create many ripples” ~Mother Teresa. Let’s join hands and continue in making a difference!

The Chamber Pod

In-Depth Craft Talk Exploring the Heart of Local Leadership

Leadership Visalia’s curriculum includes craft talks, which serves as an excellent ice-breaker for the participants to get to know each other through public speaking and self-reflection. One day, while listening to a podcast, I experienced an “Aha” moment, an idea that would be unique and transformative for the Leadership Visalia program. How about taking the craft talks a step further into this trending era of podcasts? In collaboration with the Chamber team, the craft talks are now re-designed into a new and unique format. The Chamber Pod will be an in-depth craft talk in a podcast format where the participants will experience discussing leadership topics in groups to promote collaboration and intentional conversation. We are excited about this new and innovative approach to public speaking for our participants.