Leadership development programs focus studies on the positive attributes and experiences of effective leaders. From this focus comes the next generation of leadership. This study, however, suggests that there is much to be learned in the development of new leaders from an examination of the traumatic experiences leaders face. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to investigate the influence of growth after trauma on leadership. Using a validated screening tool to determine if a leader who experienced trauma grew as a result, the co-researchers interviewed leaders to investigate the phenomenon of how growth as a result of trauma changed their leadership. The findings of this study revealed that leaders who grew as a result of a traumatic event were more learning centered, more relationship centered, and more purpose centered. Given that these findings are also attributes of effective leaders as documented in the leadership literature, the implication of these findings is that leaders who grow as a result of trauma have the opportunity to be more effective leaders. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]