episode 1 - Kemi Akinsanya-Rose
a leader I know well and one who has had a deep impact on my life and leadership personally.
Kemi is the current Chief Operating Officer at Cambium Learning Group and has been the COO of EL Education, an organization we both know well. During her career, she has had high level leadership positions for many years in operations, strategy, marketing, diversity and equity — including roles as a leadership coach, strategic consultant, as the owner of her own organizational development endeavor she calls Puravida (shout out to all the Ticos in the audience), as well as a role as the Chief Information Officer at the biggest school district in the nation, the New York City Department of Education.
Kemi has a bachelor’s in econ from Northwestern University, an MBA from the Wharton School of Business, and a Masters in education leadership from the Broad Center at the Yale School of Management.
She is also a graduate of the Milwaukee School of The Arts in my hometown (also where my brother attended).
Most importantly, Kemi is an exceptionally good leader in how she has taken the many many talents and skills she has gained and focused them on solving social problems particularly for our community facing economic and racial injustice. She is a good human and I am absolutely delighted to have her has my guest today. This conversation is undoubtedly full of gems and learning for all those on their own path in leadership for social good. And with that, dive in!