Dear LT Community:

And it’s a wrap! The LT Class of 2023 celebrated their achievements and were honored at their Graduation on June 14. We are excited and honored to welcome these graduates into the LT family.  

In my remarks that night, I mentioned a quote by Winston Churchill that was on my mom’s refrigerator: “Success is not final, nor is failure fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.” Courage, to me, is the ability to do something difficult even when there is risk. It requires a belief in ourselves and an awareness of our fears. There is an element of action to courage. And acts of courage can be big or small. It can be the way we stand up for what we believe is right, or being honest with ourselves about our own imperfections, or extending our love and energy toward something that is hard and difficult. LT fosters curious and courageous leaders.  

In September, we will tell you more about the curious and courageous leaders selected for LT’24, which will be LT’s 40th class. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the 42 alumni volunteer leaders who are a part of the screening and selection process, with special thanks to the Chair, Aaron Parker, LT’17. These volunteers play a crucial role in ensuring the enduring impact of LT.

Thanks to all of you who continue to support LT and our community through your talent, time, and treasure.  

In Community,

Sue Bennett, LT’94

Executive Director

We recently celebrated the LT'23 cohort and welcomed them into our alumni community at the LT'23 Graduation & Alumni Reunion. The evening was filled with inspiring speeches, meaningful connections, and joy as graduates, alumni, and community members came together to celebrate the achievements of the LT'23 cohort.

Check out memorable moments from the event by looking at the photo gallery. We also invite you to watch our inspiring graduation video, a testament to the growth and transformation of members of the LT'23 cohort.

Here's what a few members of the LT'23 cohort said they are taking away from their LT experiences.

“LT has shown me that in every pocket of our region — be that geography, sector, or community — there are caring, active, experienced, and thoughtful individuals who are committed to making the lives of those around them better. Sometimes problems seem too big to solve, too much larger than the forces trying to solve them, but LT is a reminder that when you decide to look for those friends, teammates, and supporters, you will always find those willing to help.” 

- Andrew Margrave, McKinsey & Company

“During my time in LT, I’ve become braver in my leadership and gained the ability to have hard conversations. I’ve built invaluable relationships with inspiring people and am grateful for the lifelong friendships I’ve made through the program.” 

- Camille Reynaud, Washington State Opportunity Scholarship

“I expected LT to connect me to Puget Sound's biggest PROBLEMS. I came away inspired by so many smart, empathetic, capable people working on SOLUTIONS. That gave me hope. For our LT '23 cohort, and for our community.”

- Julie Wolfe, King 5 Media Group

Many thanks to our Screening and Selection Committee, a diverse group of 42 cross-sector leaders who collectively volunteered 300+ hours to interview and select our LT'24 cohort. Here's what a few folks from the committee said about their experience participating in this process:

"It’s inspiring to serve as the Chair of the Screening and Selection Committee. I find so much value in working with LT staff, alumni, and volunteers to select the next group of leaders to participate in our Flagship Program. Staying connected to LT in this way affords me the opportunity to remain in the know about how the Flagship Program continues to evolve and how that impacts our recruitment efforts and the screening and selection process." - Aaron Parker, LT'17, King County Superior Court, Chair of Screening and Selection Committee

"Being a part of the Screening and Selection committee for the class of '24 was such an educational and fulfilling experience. Being able to connect with fellow alumni from across the years, and having the privilege to interview so many wonderful leaders across the region reminded me just how impactful Leadership Tomorrow can be. It also served to reaffirm my personal commitment to the work I learned in LT and beyond." - Cassidy Inden, LT'22, University of Washington - School of Medicine

"I found the opportunity to participate in the Screening and Selection process to be an amazing way to give back to LT. I had the opportunity to work closely with LT colleagues in other classes and meet candidates from a wide array of backgrounds whose passion and interest in creating a strong and inclusive Seattle region radiated through their interviews. I now feel that when I participate in future LT events, I have a connection to a recent class, and I look forward to seeing the recaps of their experience as they start their LT year." - Eric Berlinberg, LT'20, Amazon

The Screening & Selection committee plays a vital role in shaping the future of our organization by interviewing and selecting exceptional candidates for our Flagship Program. If you would like to volunteer for next year's Screening and Selection committee, make sure to indicate your volunteer interests in the LT Alumni Database! 

Read the updates below to see how people in our community are growing in their careers and fostering changes to make our region a place where people from all communities and identities thrive. If you have an update you would like to share with the LT community, email Megan.

LT'94: Greg Wilson received the Inaugural Outstanding Leadership Award from Washington Alliance for Better Schools (WABS). WABS (a collaborative of school districts and industry leaders working to support students) gives this award in recognition of a person or team who has demonstrated outstanding engagement with WABS over time.

LT'01: Jerry DeMuro started a new position as Deputy Transit Officer at City of El Paso - Sun Metro.

LT'12: Josephine Wong started a new position as Chief Operating Officer at PolicyLink.

LT'12: Charles Wright published a book, The Education Imperative for Parents, Educators, and Community Members: Ensuring Your Child Thrives in School and Life.

LT'17: E. R. Álvarez has completed a doctoral program and is a Spring 2023 commencement candidate for the degree of Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of Washington Tacoma.

LT'17: Markham McIntyre was featured on the Seattle Channel. Watch the video here.

LT'17: Tramale Turner started a new position as SVP Engineering at ActionIQ.

LT'18: Nick Diede is relocating from Seattle to Seneca Group’s office in Washington D.C. to assume day-to-day leadership as part of the firm’s ongoing dedication to the Mid-Atlantic region. 

LT'20: Saunjah Brantley was promoted to Chief of Staff, Communications at Microsoft.

LT'20: Bish Paul started a new position as Senior Policy Office for Washington State at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

LT'22: Erik Applebee recently passed away. Read his obituary here.

LT'22: Saunjah Brantley was promoted to Chief of Staff, Communications at Microsoft.

LT'22: Swetha Narayanaswamy started a new position as Director of Engineering at HubSpot.

LT'22: Alicia Teel started a new position as External Deputy Director at the City of Seattle Office of Economic Development.

LT'23: Kiran Griffith started a new position as Partner at Stoel Rives LLP.

LT'23: Jay O'Neil started a new position as Area Operations Manager - PNW at United Site Services.