about
Exceptionally Good exists to build capacity — and provide tools, hope, inspiration and connection for leaders who lead for a different bottom line — for social good.
We meet our mission through services for social do-gooders as well as podcasts and resources on our website.
We strive to live up to our purpose by providing in-depth interviews with exceptional leaders from across a spectrum of social good — leaders from health care, academics, philanthropy, non-profits, education and rescue services who are doing exceptional work for the good of the world. Exploring their origin stories, their leadership journey and the lessons they learned along the way — sometimes the hard way — we bring you close to understand how exceptional leaders tick.
We mine those interviews for the actionable and concise wisdom to share through our website.
We offer this content free of charge and with no limits to access.
We also offer pro bono consulting sessions for leaders across the social good sector.
We take action to cover our costs — not to seek a profit.
Money is money.
Reputation is gold.
Impact is everything.
values
Love & Service
We exist to support leaders who are striving to do good in the world. We must walk our talk and strive to do good for the world through our work. We can’t make anything better with out love.
Adventure
We try new things — even when we don’t know if they will work and embrace a mindset of iteration and continuous improvement. Set intention, set the base of a plan, start, and iterate through quick pauses for reflection and revision. Then continue. We take on a spirit of adventure because our people are worth our striving to do what we believe must be done — especially when we don’t know how… yet.
Learner’s Mind
You can’t learn something you think you know. When you think you know the answers, you definitely don’t know the answers. Show up curious, humble, eager and ready to put in the hours.
Democracy and Justice for All
Grounded in the founding ideals of America’s founding documents, we work to live up to them and center what it takes to make democracy work through love and justice. We prioritize those most at risk of the harm of injustice.
We prioritize compassion, service and action over profit.
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Founder, Host, leader
Exceptionally Good is an endeavor for social good and a passion project of Ryan Maxwell and the e.g. team.
The e.g. team are collaborators who hold a shared and unshakeable belief that the problems of the world are not there for us to describe but for us to take action to improve.
Ryan has been working for social good since his first job in the US as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin and Harvard Graduate School of Education, Ryan has worked in the education field as teacher in Oakland, a school leader in Oakland and is now a senior leader at a leading national education non-profit organization.
A classic Midwesterner, Ryan will both talk to you on a plane (if you want) and stop to help you change a tire on the side of the highway. You are welcome at our house for dinner anytime.
There are few things he enjoys more than speaking Spanish while dancing to salsa antigua (classic old-school salsa), hand-writing letters by candlelight, playing music with friends who are even mildly musical, and making tonkatsu ramen.
Those few things are his amazing wife, Robin, his two sibling kids, and his two sibling cats.
Grounded. Authentic. Connected. Proximate. Strategic.
Ryan has a wonderful way of galvanizing people for a common purpose and goal in service of others -- especially educators and students.
His district and school level strategy work in partnership with our leadership team at EL was instrumental in amplifying our impact on the ground with thousands of students and teachers. And his experience and passion for working with underserved communities was key to developing and nurturing relationships with customers.
Kemi Akinsanya-Rose
Chief Operating Officer, Cambium Learning Group
