NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2026 COHORT

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2026 COHORT

The Rising Stars Leadership Program is New Hampshire’s premier leadership experience for early to mid-career young professionals ready to grow, connect, and lead with purpose.

Join the 2026 Cohort

Presented by Rise Private Wealth Management, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC., the program blends innovative leadership coaching from the Rise team with real-world learning and immersive experiences across New Hampshire.

Through six in-person sessions from February through June 2026, participants will explore what it means to lead themselves, their teams, and their state:

  • In this February kick-off session, participants will explore individual and overall leadership traits and aspirations, while gaining an understanding of the unique talent that each leader in a cohort contributes.

  • This full-day session in March will see participants learn and practice core skills of creating a safe environment, listening, asking powerful questions, and holding accountability. Participants will also identify their career and leadership aspirations, brand, and networking plan. 

  • Gain a greater understanding of what makes New Hampshire so unique from some of the Granite State's most well known and accomplished residents in this full-day, April session.

  • Explore how local leaders and young changemakers are transforming communities in NH. Learn tools for building consensus and create your own “impact initiative” plan in this full-day May session.

  • …and policy, advocacy, and action. This full-day June session demystifies New Hampshire’s policy process and equips participants with advocacy skills to influence change in areas that matter most.

  • The final, half-day session in June brings the program full circle. Participants reflect on growth, translate insights into action plans, and celebrate the cohort’s achievements with a graduation reception where friends, family, colleagues, and community are all invited.

This isn’t a classroom.
It’s a statewide experience.

Each cohort travels across New Hampshire to learn directly from local leaders, visit dynamic organizations, and engage in conversations shaping the future of the Granite State.

Along the way, participants become part of New Hampshire’s leadership pipeline—building the relationships, confidence, and skills to step into meaningful roles in their organizations and across the state.

Backed by Rise’s leadership expertise, the program equips young people to lead with intention and influence, and to see themselves as key contributors to New Hampshire’s long-term success.

Apply Here

HEAR FROM OUR ALUMNI

  • "The Rising Stars Leadership Program was an incredible program and overall taught me how to be a better advocate for myself. Since completing this program, I am more confident in my ability to speak up for myself and I am better equipped to communicate to my entire team, from CEO level to interns. I personally don’t “lead” a person or a team of people, but this program was more than how to lead people in professional settings. The sessions taught me overall how to become a communicator in any setting I am in.”

    Heidi Breault, Rise Private Wealth Management

  • “I'm still a Rising Star, but definitely more in the middle of my career. I wish I had access to this earlier on. I think It's a great thing for everyone. The coaching and networking sessions made the most impact on me. I can't tell you how many times I've used the powerful questions and coaching on friends of mine, and even my wife! It's such a powerful tool to get people to answer their own questions, and get over whatever humps may be in the way."

    Oscar Arevalo, Quantic TRM

  • “Stay Work Play’s Rising Stars Leadership Program provided me with the opportunity to not only meet other young professionals in New Hampshire, but also to build my leadership and advocacy skills. (Our class was a) group of peers with a multitude of different backgrounds that grew together in such a short period of time! Thank you Stay Work Play!”

    Megan Brown, Market Square Architects

  • ”One of the transformations I've experienced is in my ability to comfortably navigate networking environments and engage with strangers on a meaningful level.

    The program provided me with valuable insights into effective communication strategies and navigating difficult interpersonal dynamics.”

    Megan Lustig, Alexander Technology Group

  • “I truly valued my time in the Rising Stars Leadership Program. It’s not every day you get access to a broad swath of experts and leaders in their respective fields, but then to also have the opportunity to work with them directly and learn new skills. It was an experience I’ll never forget. Being able to deploy those new skills to solve for relevant challenges while receiving constructive feedback, in a safe space, armed me with essential tools for creating positive impact in both my professional and personal life.”

    Tyler York, Big Brick Productions

  • “From connecting with new peers to strengthening my leadership skills, Stay Work Play’s Rising Stars Leadership Program left a meaningful impact that has supported my growth as a young professional. I appreciated the opportunities this program gave me to step out of my comfort zone. I was challenged between sessions to take the lessons and skills I learned and implement them in my personal and professional life, and it has been a game changer. I can say without hesitation that this program has inspired a greater confidence in my leadership abilities, and I would encourage any professional in New Hampshire to take advantage of this amazing opportunity.”

    Kameo LaLievre, Southern NH Health

  • “Throughout the program, I met some amazing people from all different industries, heard from a variety of New Hampshire leaders and learned a lot…about developing relationships, networking/communication, and of course, leadership. As a young professional, I plan to use everything I learned as I progress and grow in my career and personal life.”

    Taylor Livingston, Montagne Powers

 Frequently Asked Questions

  • Who should take part? The Rising Stars Leadership Program is geared toward those in the early to mid-career stages of their professional growth in New Hampshire who want to grow as leaders in both their organizations and their communities.

  • Rising Stars Leadership Program participants can be selected by their employers and registered via the “join” buttons on this page or by emailing Stay Work Play Executive Director Corinne Benfield at corinne@stayworkplay.org. Participants may also sponsor themselves for this program and will follow the same process to join.

  • Tuition is $1,800 for employees of Stay Work Play Board of Advisors member organizations and $2,000 for employees of non-yet-member organizations or individuals. Tuition covers all instruction, materials, coffee, and snacks. Lunches during, and transportation to/from in-person session days, are the responsibility of the participant.