Why is The Fund鈥檚 mission important?

Education is such an important lever in people’s lives because it helps sustain and build communities. Any good system needs strong leaders, and schools need strong principals. Through education we鈥檙e also building the future leaders, but it wouldn鈥檛 be possible without a solid foundation.

How have you 鈥渞edefined leadership鈥� in your own life?

I used to think leaders took on the workload by themselves and made all the decisions. Now, I think that the best leaders are those that rely on their teams and set good examples. They help create and maintain a good culture with the feedback of those around them. That鈥檚 the type of leader that I try to embody because it鈥檚 more sustainable and a lot more fun. It鈥檚 also about how I conduct myself and the mindset that I bring into the spaces I step into.

Was there an educator in your life who inspired you?

Ms. Sanders was the principal in my middle school, and she really believed in me. As a young person, I was very bright, but I also had difficulty obeying rules, especially when I didn鈥檛 understand the purpose of them. Ms. Sanders had a good relationship with my parents, and when I would get in trouble she made sure to help me understand why my actions were wrong. It was really helpful to know that someone was there to support me, and help me grow as a person. She took a hands on approach with me and the other students because she believed in being the person she needed when she was younger. That’s something that I鈥檝e carried with me ever since.

What鈥檚 one thing about your role at The Fund that might surprise people?

I think my role is one of the few roles that has a hand in all of the work that other people do. Being on the Engagement team, we need to know the programs that principals are in and how we鈥檙e framing these programs. We also need to know about the work involving funders and operations.

Why is The Fund鈥檚 mission important?

Based on my experience at the Fund I have seen how principals, or any strong leader in a school, can transform the culture. School leaders can empower students and teachers to make bold decisions and to passionately pursue their education and learning even outside of school. They can create a strong sense of community. I am very proud to support that work.

How have you 鈥渞edefined leadership鈥� in your own life?

For me it was less about redefining leadership and more about understanding it in the first place. I am a quiet and awkward person. I really like people, but I have never thought of myself as a natural leader. Working at the Fund and working with so many principals across the district, I have learned that leadership can come in all different sizes and shapes, and there is no one right way to lead. You have to figure out what works best for you and especially what works best for the people around you. Often I think about what a principal said to me about “selfless leadership.鈥� You have to try your best to provide what others need to make sure they succeed. I hope that throughout my career and throughout my life, I’m able to consider others’ needs first when helping them make decisions or work through problems.聽

Was there an educator in your life who inspired you?

My choir teacher in high school was a truly thoughtful and passionate educator who deeply respected his students. He was incredibly creative and made learning fun. He set a high standard, and we all pushed ourselves to reach it. He seemed like a natural educator. I don’t know if that’s true, but he was one of the reasons why I consistently was drawn to education. I saw the power that a good educator can have on shaping students’ lives and building their confidence.聽

What鈥檚 one thing about your role at The Fund that might surprise people?

Even though I handle communications, I hardly ever write the first draft of anything. Usually, I am working with colleagues to revise, clarify and sharpen what they are trying to communicate.聽

It鈥檚 important because it affects the future of Chicago. In my family, education is highly valued. For most people, it is something very near and dear to them. We are an organization that funds educational improvement through professional development. I think that’s a really unique way to be involved and a great way to affect the health and the growth of the city and the larger community outside of Chicago.

How have you 鈥渞edefined leadership鈥� in your own life?

For me, it鈥檚 about engaging with others, showing respect and trust. At the end of the day, there are structures of power in most things. Those in leadership positions have more responsibility but that shouldn鈥檛 affect their commitment to the people around them. From my experience working with various leaders, the best leaders, the leader I choose to be, is one who is collaborative, humble, and one that focuses on the human aspect of the work. It鈥檚 easy to become overly mission driven and lose sight of the individual. It鈥檚 important to remember that the people you work with owe you things, but you also owe them for their effort. As a leader, you also have to be vigilant of those who are not living up to their responsibilities so people who are doing a good day鈥檚 work aren鈥檛 hindered.

Was there an educator in your life who inspired you?

There are three educators I can point to. In grade school, my seventh grade science teacher. Kathleen Cochran was the first teacher who really took any kind of individual interest in me as a person, not just as a student, but as someone who was growing. Then in college, I took a graduate level course as an undergraduate. It was challenging and my professor, Dr. Gitta Honegger, saw both my struggle and my commitment to the work. The best advice I got from her was that I had to trust myself more, that I was too eager to find validation in someone with a PhD behind their name as opposed to trusting in my own experience and accumulated knowledge. Also in my undergraduate experience, I had a professor who is still a friend to this day, Caroline McGee. She always encouraged me to never live on a timeline. You don’t know what 5 years in the future holds for you. It鈥檚 important to have a goal you are working towards and to track it chronologically, but to not let time dominate or diminish your achievements and progress.

What鈥檚 one thing about your role at The Fund that might surprise people?

How expansive my role is. I鈥檓 responsible for many things, from washing dirty dishes to developing a strategy for how to purchase new computers and recruit talent for the Fund鈥檚 future. It鈥檚 been a real positive experience working here. It has stretched me in ways that I didn鈥檛 expect, and it has helped me gain more perspective for my own career trajectory.聽