The Leaders’ Table

Jonah Edelman spent years resisting the legacy of his family before learning to embrace it on his own terms. In this episode, the co-founder of Stand for Children shares how his path was shaped by personal experience, public service, and the influence of his mother, Marian Wright Edelman.

He reflects on nearly three decades of leading Stand for Children, how his mindset shifted over time, and what it took to overcome doubt and impostor syndrome. Jonah speaks candidly about prioritizing purpose over ambition and why humility, mindfulness, and sustainability are essential to lasting leadership.

A powerful story about legacy, growth, and staying grounded in service.

Jean Desravines knows the power of leadership because it changed his life. As CEO of New Leaders, he reflects on how education and mentorship shaped his path and continue to drive his commitment to service.

In this episode, Jean shares lessons from his father and high school principal, and why he believes strong leaders exist in everyday public service. He speaks to the role of empathy, the importance of staying connected to community, and the need to lead with clarity and purpose.

A grounded conversation about mission, trust, and what it means to show up with intention.

 

 

Journalist and activist Isabel Gonzalez Whitaker brings a deep sense of purpose to everything she does. As a first-generation Cuban American, her mother’s immigrant journey shaped her belief in the power of community and the potential of underrepresented voices.

Now serving as Associate Vice President at Moms Clean Air Force and Director of EcoMadres, Isabel shares how resilience, advocacy, and cultural identity fuel her work. She encourages listeners to find their own lane of impact and reminds us that meaningful change takes patience, gratitude, and persistence.

She offers a powerful reflection on purpose-driven leadership and fighting for what matters most.

 

 

Rebecca Noecker was the first woman elected to represent Ward Two in Saint Paul. From a young age, she knew she wanted to lead and challenge the status quo.

In this episode, she talks about how relationships, values, and deep listening help her navigate complex topics, including issuing a public response to the Israel and Hamas conflict. Rebecca shares why community engagement matters and how thoughtful policymaking can build trust in a divided landscape.

A timely conversation about leading with care, even when decisions are hard.

 

What does it look like to lead with both courage and clarity?

In this episode, Brittany Packnett Cunningham shares how her upbringing and lived experience shaped her commitment to truth-telling, community building, and purposeful leadership. She unpacks the role of cultural identity, integrity, and bravery in building movements that last.

Through personal stories and hard-earned insights, Brittany makes the case for leading with conviction, even when the stakes are high.

 

Recorded live at the inaugural Courageous Leadership Conference, this special episode of The Leaders’ Table features a candid conversation with Texas State Board of Education member Staci Childs.

Interviewed by Brittany Packnett Cunningham, Staci reflects on her journey into public leadership and the real decisions she faces while serving students and communities across Texas. She shares how values, identity, and lived experience shape her leadership, and what it takes to stay grounded while navigating high-stakes systems.

This conversation explores what authentic leadership looks like in practice, especially when the work is challenging and deeply personal.

"The Leaders' Table" is a podcast by LEE. 

Darryl serves as President of the Charter School Growth Fund, where he leads investments supporting a national community of over 100 high-performing charter school networks. As the founder of the Emerging CMO Fund, he also supports and invests in charter school leaders of color.

 

In this episode, Darryl reflects on what failure taught him while leading a charter school in Chicago — and why growth comes from making mistakes rather than avoiding them. He shares why joy belongs in classrooms and boardrooms alike, and how his family shapes his leadership style and keeps him focused on what matters most.

 

A candid conversation on resilience, leadership, and finding purpose by leaning into unexpected career turns and nonlinear paths.

Michele Jawando, CEO of Omidyar Network, leads with both head and heart — grounded in analytical rigor, driven by collaboration, and deeply committed to people. A lawyer, former Hill staffer, and lifelong sci-fi fan, she brings curiosity and optimism into every space she leads — whether she’s thinking about the transformative power of technology or investing in the people and culture around her.

 

In this episode, Michele reflects on the mentors who shaped her career and the throughlines that connect her career across policy, advocacy, and philanthropy. She discusses technology’s potential to shape our future, emerging questions around AI, and how she applies lessons from public service — which she calls a sacred profession — to leading a major philanthropic organization.

 

A thoughtful conversation on creativity, values, connection, and what it means to be a builder of ideas, people, and place.

Andy Rotherham, Co-Founder and Senior Partner at Bellwether, has built a career in public service driven by a deep belief in expanding opportunity for those too often left behind. Growing up in Reston, Virginia, he saw how even communities that appear integrated can mask significant inequities — particularly in education, where disparities compound and shape outcomes over the course of a lifetime.

 

In this episode, Andy reflects on the importance of looking beyond ideology and asking a simple question: Is a policy good, or just partisan? He shares why leaders are stronger when they cultivate diverse circles, resist echo chambers, and stay curious: whether that means learning the banjo, serving as an EMT, or studying the double-edged impact of AI. 

 

A thoughtful conversation on leadership, lifelong learning, and unlocking the untapped potential in communities too often overlooked.

Carmita Semaan, the founder and CEO of Surge Institute, an organization that develops and elevates leaders of color, began her career as a chemical engineer before earning her MBA and stepping into corporate leadership. Across her career, she has kept social impact front and center — organizing colleagues, investing in local communities, and challenging systems to do better.

 

In this episode, Carmita recounts a pivotal moment early in her career when she spoke out against racism at her company, choosing integrity over silence and ultimately walking away from the organization. She shares how growing up in Birmingham, Alabama, and the influence of her resilient mother and uncle shaped her values and continues to inform the bold, fearless leadership she embodies today.

 

An honest, powerful conversation about courage, conviction, and what it means to lead decisively when the stakes are real.