Leadership Fort Worth’s Harriet Harral Announces Retirement

Leadership Fort Worth’s (LFW) Executive Director Harriet Harral announced today she will be retiring after 25 years of service to the organization. Harral is only the second person to hold the position, having joined LFW in 1995. She will continue in her role through June 2020 to ensure a smooth and successful transition for her successor. 

Photo courtesy of Leadership Fort Worth

“The board of directors is incredibly grateful to Harriet for building LFW into a major convener of nonprofit, business, education and government leaders who work together to tackle the key issues in our community,” said Doug Wilson, president of LFW’s Board of Directors. “Fort Worth owes her a debt of gratitude for her dedication to building a diverse and sustainable network of local leaders committed to service.” 

As executive director, Harral grew LFW from one to five leadership development programs that serve middle school students, young professionals, established leaders and CEOs and top decision makers. More than 3,200 community members participated in one of its programs during her tenure, reflecting the broad reach of the organization. 

Last year, she worked with the United Way to develop and launch BoardBuild – a new online tool to help equip and match emerging and established leaders with non-profit board service opportunities. 

“It has been a great privilege to serve Leadership Fort Worth and, by extension, our wonderful city,” Harral said. “I often say that one of the great pleasures of this job is that I get to work with such good people – people who want to give back and make their community better. 

“It is a particular joy to observe people who have been in our classes move into new leadership roles. They often come back to speak to our classes and open the doors for new participants to assume leadership. The mark of success is not the position of leadership; it is the ability to assure that decisions are made for the good of all. I am grateful to have had a front row seat to see that happen”. 

Harral’s work with LFW has been widely recognized. She has received the Association of Leadership Programs Preceptor Award and has been named an Outstanding Woman of Fort Worth by the Mayor’s Commission on the Status of Women and a “Great Woman of Texas” by the Fort Worth Business Press. She has also received the “Legacy of Women” award from SafeHaven of Tarrant County. 

Harral holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Baylor University and earned a Ph.D. from the University of Colorado in Organizational Systemic Communication. She served as Training Director for the City of Fort Worth from 1987 to 1991 and Director of the Center of Productive Communication at the M.J. Neeley School of Business at Texas Christian University from 1991 to 1995. She has volunteered on such nonprofit boards as Goodwill Industries, Renaissance Heights United, the Rotary Club of Fort Worth, United Way of Tarrant County, Women’s Policy Forum, Mayfest, and Guardianship Services. Nationally, she chaired the boards of the Community Leadership Association and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. As principal of The Harral Group, she continues to facilitate planning and communication initiatives for numerous government and nonprofit entities. 

“Harriet’s retirement marks an important moment in LFW’s story,” said Ramon Guajardo, Jr., the board’s President-Elect. “We are excited to celebrate her many contributions to the community, which will lay the groundwork for commemorating LFW’s 50th Anniversary in 2023. At the same time, we look forward to finding our next Executive Director who will lead the organization into its next chapter.” 

LFW has retained the services of CMP to coordinate the search process. For more information, visit https://www.careermp.com/leadership-fw-ed. During the transition, LFW will continue offering its leadership development programs and hosting events to raise awareness about emerging issues in the community. 

The mission of Leadership Fort Worth (LFW) is to educate, empower and connect diverse leaders for a vibrant, sustainable community. Founded in 1972, Leadership Fort Worth is based on the concept of community trusteeship, which challenges leaders to commit themselves to making their communities better places to live. Leadership Fort Worth serves the community through three adult leadership development programs, a program for eight graders and a forum for continuing education for the full membership. For more information, visit our website: http://www.leadershipfortworth.org.