Shaping San Diego’s Legal Leaders: A Look Inside the SDCBA Leadership Academy

Each year, the SDCBA Leadership Academy cultivates a cohort of legal professionals through an immersive six-month curriculum rooted in values-based leadership, emotional intelligence, community impact, and cross-sector collaboration. 

The 2025 cohort, the largest group of graduates to date, comprising 19 scholars selected for their drive, diverse backgrounds, leadership potential, and commitment to advancing the San Diego legal community. Their experiences illustrate how the Academy helps lawyers across practice areas and career stages transform into intentional leaders.

From Directionless to Purpose-Driven

For Natalie Holtz, an associate at Wingert Grebing Brubaker & Walshok LLP, the Academy arrived at a pivotal moment in her career. “I felt directionless in my career,” she said. “We’re often put into leadership positions with little to no training. I joined the Academy to get clarity on my goals and to be a more effective leader.” Holtz emphasized the importance of identifying core values as a foundation for personal and professional growth. “Those values evolve, but they’re essential for living a life aligned with purpose.”

Holtz’s favorite activity at the Academy was the DiSC personality assessment, an exercise that grouped participants by communication styles. “I was in the C (conscientious) group — thoughtful, detailed. We planned a vacation exactly as our type would: carefully and thoroughly,” she laughed. Beyond skill-building, Holtz found community in her “trust team,” a small peer accountability group that continues to meet regularly. “It’s a space to stay motivated and connected.”

Empowering Young Attorneys

Kathryn Mefford, the youngest scholar in her cohort and a Deputy City Attorney in the General Trial Unit of the San Diego City Attorney’s Office, echoed the value of peer support and communication-focused learning.

“The DiSC personality session blew my mind,” she said. “It taught me not only about my own style — ‘I’ for influence — but how others operate and how we can collaborate.” 

Mefford described the experience as empowering. “As a young lawyer, it’s easy to feel intimidated. But this program reminded me: we are the leaders of tomorrow. We have potential if we are brave enough to claim it.”

The Academy, Mefford explained, gave her a deeper sense of purpose and readiness. “Opportunity is not a lengthy visitor. When opportunity comes, I want to meet it prepared — and the Leadership Academy prepared me.”

Reconnecting After a Break

Ashley Salas, an attorney at The Utility Reform Network and adjunct professor at Thomas Jefferson School of Law, described the Leadership Academy as a professional reset. After taking time away from her career for family caregiving, Salas was encouraged by a colleague to apply. 

“It jump-started my involvement again,” Salas said. “I’d done a lot professionally, but never anything focused solely on leadership. This helped me reflect on how I was — or was not — living my values.” 

Since completing the program, Salas has taken on multiple leadership roles. She now serves as Secretary and Board Member for the Pan Asian Lawyers of San Diego (PALSD), holding positions on several of its committees. She also serves as secretary‑treasurer and communications committee co‑chair for the Thomas Jefferson School of Law Alumni Association.

She encouraged others not to wait: “If you think you need the ER, approach the ER. If you think you need the Leadership Academy — go for it.”

A Launchpad for Legal Leadership

At the helm of the Academy is chair Megan Moore, a local attorney and longtime leader in the SDCBA. Moore emphasized that the Academy isn’t just a training program, it’s a catalyst.

“We’re sending out leaders who are trained in empathy, active listening, and value-driven decision-making. Some go on to join nonprofit boards or bar association leadership roles — one is currently on the SDCBA board,” she said.

Importantly, Moore noted, applicants don’t need to feel “ready” to lead. “We look for people who are hungry to grow — especially those who may not see themselves as leaders yet. That mindset, combined with the Academy’s support, creates real transformation.”

While graduation marks the end of the Leadership Academy’s structured sessions, for these scholars, the journey is just beginning. Their journeys serve as a reminder that leadership is not a title, but a choice — made daily, with purpose and heart.

Interested in the 2026 Leadership Academy? Visit https://www.sdcba.org/?pg=Leadership-Academy to submit an interest form and be notified when the application window opens in Fall 2025.

Future leader Bobbie Medina is a rising 2L at Thomas Jefferson School of Law.