Dear LT Family:

Spring is a time of growth, possibilities, and warmer weather. It is also when the selection process for the next LT cohort takes place. Our applicant pool for the LT’24 cohort, our 40^th class, is diverse and impressive. We are thrilled that so many leaders in our region want to come together to learn about our community and work toward creating a more resilient and equitable region.

We also have bittersweet news to share: Rebeca Rivera and Keiko Chu-Yamada are leaving LT to pursue other opportunities. Though we will miss them, this presents an opportunity to think creatively about our staff structure, and we will take time to explore this. We will keep you updated on our hiring process, as we believe that the next inspirational and dedicated member of the LT team could be reading this newsletter!

Spring also means GiveBIG, which is May 2-3, 2023. We would be honored if you would consider supporting LT this GiveBIG. When you donate to LT, you're investing in the future of our community. Your gift will help us cultivate the next generation of leaders who will work collaboratively across sectors and differences to explore solutions and make our region a place where everyone can thrive.

Thank you for being a vital part of our community and helping to make this work possible.

In Community,

Sue Bennett, LT’94

Executive Director

Tunny Vann, LT'23, Port of Seattle

How has your idea of leadership changed this past year?

As someone who is often a convener, sends out action items, plans and facilitates meetings, and delegates tasks, I had a somewhat narrow view of what was considered leadership. Through conversations with guest speakers, my quad, my lab team, others in my cohort, and some deep reflection prompted by our collective reading of The Four Pivots, I was able to shift my perspective on leadership and realize that it doesn’t always mean being in front of an issue or the loudest person in the room. Leadership can show up in different forms, and the form I’m setting an intention of embodying is one that cultivates and enables others to show up as their true authentic selves through active listening, curiosity, empathy, and leaning into difficult or uncomfortable situations or communication styles. LT is creating an intentional space for me to practice and grow into this style of leadership, and I believe I’ll be a more well-rounded leader because of it.

What’s one thing you’ve learned about the region?

This isn’t necessarily something I learned about our region, but rather a new perspective I have on how government functions in our region. As a Seattleite and public sector employee, I often hear grumblings of the “Seattle Process,” which is often characterized by slow moving policymaking, dialogue, deliberation, and participation in the public process before a decision is made. Whether intentional or not, through the work of the Curriculum Committee, I see parallels between the “Seattle Process” and the Collective Leadership Framework. The former is often framed negatively, while in my personal opinion, the new frame of Collective Leadership has positive aspects worth highlighting, such as building trust, co-constructing a purpose and strategic plan, and sustaining the work.

I’m also learning through our racial equity work that strict adherence to any one process or framework can inadvertently impede progress and keep marginalized communities from having or realizing their own power. Challenging systems and questioning how we do things spurs innovation and creates space for those on the fringe to participate. When we cultivate and enable more diverse participation, solutions become more representative, and outcomes more equitable.

What has been a highlight of your LT experience?

The highlight of my LT experience is every opportunity I get to connect with my cohort –whether that is in small group discussions, happy hours, or other social events. I value the opportunity to learn from other leaders in our region. I hope to continue tapping into this vast knowledge base of individuals, who are determined to make our region a better place, long after the program ends. 

Ciera Young, LT'23, Bertschi School

How has your idea of leadership changed this past year?

Leadership Tomorrow helped me expand my thoughts on what leadership can look like and how I fit within leadership. Before starting LT, I did not believe I could lead. In previous spaces and opportunities that I engaged in, I was told that I would not grow into a leader because of how I showed up in the world. Depending on the setting, several attributes that make me who I am are considered deficits. I could be “too quiet,” “too inquisitive,” “too oppositional,” “too progressive,” or simply just “too much.” I used to assume that leadership was only for others, and that my role was to support them in any way I could.

I started the program carrying several questions: what is my leadership voice? What do I want in this new chapter of my life? Am I enough? Although I entered LT feeling disempowered, I will leave the program feeling more confident in my presence and skills. My experiences in LT helped me realize that in the right spaces, I am enough, and my contributions matter.

What’s one thing you’ve learned about the region?

I moved to Seattle in July 2020 with two suitcases and a few boxes of my favorite books. I was wearing a hazmat suit, and it seemed like I had landed on a different planet. (It sounds ridiculous now, but I’m immunocompromised and there were many unknowns about Covid transmissions.) The city was closed. Now that the city has reemerged, I am excited to live in a constantly evolving region. LT has exposed me to multiple changemakers and their diverse strategies to cultivate community and solve regional challenges. I learned that while multiple adaptive challenges face the region, there is an abundance of possibilities. In situations with no clear answer, there are opportunities to build innovative solutions.

What has been a highlight of your LT experience?

Joining the Leadership Tomorrow community has been an invaluable experience. The community within my cohort and the LT alumni network have offered personal and professional guidance, ranging from resume editing and graduate school essay revisions, to advice on balancing work and caregiving duties. I have never questioned the sincerity of people I have met, and their genuine support was inspiring. I am most grateful for the opportunity to build community with my lab team, caucus, and quad. It feels liberating to have moments during which I can be vulnerable during difficult experiences, authentic when I’m frustrated, and genuinely affirmed when I experience a win. Despite my worries about the notorious “Seattle Freeze,” I am thankful for establishing instant and lifelong connections with several peers. 

LT Alumni White Caucus Conversation: Solidarity Organizing for African American Reparations

May 4, 6:00-8:00 p.m. | Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation 

The event will feature panelists from the Civil Reparations Project and the Social Justice Fund NW. We will also have small group facilitated discussions. This is an opportunity to connect with other LT alumni, share learnings, and commit to meaningful action. Learn more and register here. 

LT BIPOC Alumni & Community Discussion: African American Reparations & Cross-Racial Solidarity

May 17, 6:00-8:00 p.m. | Leadership Tomorrow Office

Join us for a discussion regarding African American reparations and cross-racial solidarity. The event will feature a panel of speakers, including Larry Gossett, Estela Ortega, Dr. Kyle Kinoshita, and more. After the panel, participants will engage in small group discussions. Learn more and register here.

Here’s what two alumni who are helping plan these events said about the importance of coming together to discuss what reparations could look like.  

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'93: Governor Jay Inslee appointed Eric Pettigrew to serve as Director of Washington State Lottery Commission.

LT'99 and LT'21: LeAnne Moss, LT'99, and Justine Miley, LT'21, collaborated to launch Together: Stories of South King County, a community-led effort to lift up and celebrate the powerful stories and the people of this region.

LT'99: Jody Rosentswieg was promoted to Director, Strategic Initiatives at Bezos Family Foundation.

LT'02: Bob Luciano was promoted to Executive Director at Rainier Valley Community Development Fund.

LT'04: Sara Levin launched Ardea Strategies, a nonprofit consulting practice, and is an Associate Affiliate Professor at Evans School of Public Policy & Governance at the University of Washington.

LT'12: RaShelle Davis started a new position as Director of Operations at the Office of Civil Legal Aid.

LT'12: Kendee Yamaguchi was appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Field, Global Markets at U.S. Department of Commerce.

LT'14: David Cullen started a new position as Head of Human Resources at Meteorcomm.

LT'15: Jeff Tobin started a new position as Director of Operations at Precision Electric Group, Inc.

LT'16: Natasha Rivers contributed a column for the Puget Sound Business Journal "Women Who Lead" series. Read the article here.

LT'17: Shannon Loew started a new position as VP, Worldwide Corporate Real Estate & Facilities at Amazon.

LT'17: Elizabeth Mendoza was promoted to Partner in Technology Transactions & Privacy at Perkins Coie LLP.

LT'19: Taldi Harrison was promoted to Director, Community & Government Affairs at REI.

LT'19: Monica Parker was interviewed on the National Law Review Legal News Reach podcast, sharing how feedback helps foster inclusion and diversity in the workplace. Listen here.

LT'20: Landon Bosisio started a new position as Senior Program Manager at Seattle City Light.

LT'21: Eillie Anzilotti started a new position as Communications Lead, UrbanShift at WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities.

LT'21: Shannon Benya McIntyre joined the Puget Soundkeeper Board of Directors.

LT'22: Katie Elliott was promoted to Director of Communications, Senior Communications Specialist 2 at Maul Foster & Alongi, Inc.