50 years of Leadership Dallas: It ‘helped me fall in love with Dallas’

By Catie George, Director, Communications and Storytelling

To celebrate 50 years of Leadership Dallas (LD), presented by Grant Thornton, the Dallas Regional Chamber’s premier leadership development program, we are highlighting a series of alumni to learn more about the LD experience.

Peter Brodksy participated in LD in 2010 as he was at a crossroads in his life.

“It has always been important to my wife, Lael, and me to be involved in our community, and we have always tried to give back. However, as I approached my 40th birthday and 15th year in Dallas, I realized I was not having the impact I wanted to,” said the Owner and Developer of The Shops at RedBird. “Getting to know Dallas felt like a necessary step before deciding where to plug in and what to focus on.”

LD expanded his perspective on Dallas beyond what he had known.

“Prior to LD, I had only been exposed to North Dallas, a part of town that was and is characterized by continuous growth, pervasive prosperity, and a predominantly white population,” he said. “However, LD exposed me to the entire city with its diverse population, varied topography, and rich history. LD helped me to better understand what a dynamic and textured city I was living in and helped me fall in love with Dallas as a whole.”

LD not only broadened Brodsky’s outlook but also reshaped his career path.

“Literally everything I am doing civically and professionally is because of LD,” he said. “I dove into civic work on stray dogs and homelessness, focused on education, and completely changed careers. Southern Dallas has become a personal and professional passion for me.”

Today, Brodsky is known for leading the revitalization of The Shops at RedBird, formerly Red Bird Mall, and creating a vibrant economic hub for Southern Dallas County.

“Revitalizing The Shops at RedBird has been my most significant experience since graduating from LD. It has given me the opportunity to get to know a whole community and make deep friendships with people I might never otherwise have met,” said Brodsky. “I have learned so much about real estate development, urban planning, what makes a community, relating to people from different backgrounds, racism in our country, and so many other things that have been sobering, frustrating, exciting, and immeasurably enriching to my life.”

Brodsky’s experience has made him an outspoken advocate for the transformative power of participating in LD.

“If you are looking to gain exposure to the people who make our city and region run, if you are looking to meet 50 motivated and active people who want to make a difference, or if you are interested in new challenges, then LD is for you,” he said.

Interested in applying to LD? Hear more alumni testimonials and learn how to build a strong application at an upcoming information session.