episode 3 - Gia Truong
Gia Truong, a leader I know well and one who has had a deep impact on my leadership trajectory.
Gia was a remarkable high school teacher in San Francisco where 100% of her students passed the high school exit exam… at at time when almost half of the students in the city did not pass. Throughout the time I’ve known her, Gia has continually held high standards, an unshakeable belief in what students are capable of and then has time after time shown others that is possible.
Gia is the current the Managing Partner of Equity & Proximity for New Profit — a national venture philanthropy organization working for social good. During her career, she has been a high school social studies teacher, an instructional coach, a middle school principal — my principal — at Urban Promise Academy, a senior leader at Oakland Unified, and the CEO of Envision Education a major charter school group in the Bay Area.
As the CEO of Envision, under Gia’s leadership, Envision’s 4-year college acceptance rate went from about 60% to over 90% and in that time Envision also achieved a 99% 2- or 4-year college acceptance and 85% college persistence for its students who are largely students of color and facing economic injustice.
She was selected a New Leaders resident principal, as a Pahara Education Fellow and a Leading for Equity Fellow with the National Equity Project. She is also a member of Education Leaders of Color, an organization dedicated to elevating the leadership, voices, and influence of people of color in education.
Most importantly, Gia is an exceptionally good leader in how she has taken her many, many talents and skills and focused them on solving social problems particularly for students facing racial and economic injustices. She is a good human and I am absolutely delighted to have her has my guest. This conversation is full of gems and learning for all those on their own path in leadership for social good. And with that, dive in!
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0lZmvKo9a2RsiBnlP4V4Xf?si=0585c24ecdb94649