Meet the YW Staff: LeadBoston
YW Boston’s LeadBoston program equips mid-to-senior level professionals with the knowledge, skills, and network to propel their leadership, and their organization’s success, forward. Our LeadBoston team works together, and with the LeadBoston community, to make this inclusive change-making possible.
The work behind the scenes begins with recruiting new LeadBoston applicants through personal and organizational outreach and then coordinating their admissions experience. Come January of each new year, staff create the curriculum for the once-monthly class meetings and foster a culture of trust and openness within the class. After graduation, the team keeps in touch with each LeadBoston alumni to assist them with their Community Action Projects and support a strong alumni community. Throughout their LeadBoston journey, applicants, participants, and alumni work with a dedicated and collaborative staff. Learn more about these individuals and their roles on the team.
Meet the LeadBoston Staff:
Sheera Bornstein, Senior Manager of Partnerships
Sheera builds connections between YW Boston and potential partner organizations; her areas of focus include recruitment and helping organizations build strategies around diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Q: Tell us something about yourself that we couldn’t learn from your LinkedIn.
A: I am in the process of cooking the national dish from each country – and some additional geographies – around the world. Through it, I’ve discovered hidden (to me) gems of corner markets, expanded my taste buds, and realized that sometimes it is important to closely follow recipes.
Q: What are you most excited about for LeadBoston in 2020?
A: We have such an outstanding group of applicants. We also have a number of organizations taking part in both our InclusionBoston and LeadBoston programs. I am excited to see the multiplied impact of both programs for organizations.
Q: What’s your go-to karaoke song?
A: No way… (not the name of a song, it’s my reaction at an invitation to sing karaoke).
Contact Sheera with questions about bringing LeadBoston to your organization at sbornstein@ywboston.org.
Dominique Calixte, Associate Director of Annual Giving and Special Events
Dominique keeps alumni engaged while helping to sustain our growing community through the class agent program and various other development initiatives.
Q: Tell us something about yourself that we couldn’t learn from your LinkedIn.
A: I’m a big foodie. I’m always looking up new restaurants to try and making suggestions to my friends and family. I find it to be the most interesting way to explore Boston as a Boston native.
Q: What are you most excited about for LeadBoston in 2020?
A: I am excited for the chance to see program and the topics cover. I joined YW at the tail end of this last class, so I only saw the last day of programming.
Q: What’s your go-to karaoke song?
A: These days it’s Waterfalls by TLC
Contact Dominique with questions about alumni giving at dcalixte@ywboston.org.
Rachael Conway, LeadBoston Manager
Rachael manages all LeadBoston program processes, ranging from recruitment to acceptance, from program days to follow-up.
Q: Tell us something about yourself that we couldn’t learn from your LinkedIn.
A: I am a Northerner and Southerner mix. I really hate the cold, but I choose to live in Boston still!
Q: What are you most excited about for LeadBoston in 2020?
A: I am excited to be leading the program and incorporating new elements like our online learning, a focus on building inclusive communication skills, and leadership commitments that will impact change within participants’ organizations.
Q: What’s your go-to karaoke song?
A: I’ve never done karaoke, but if I did it would ’90s R&B — probably Monica’s Don’t Take it Personal!
Reach out to Rachael about getting involved, or any general LeadBoston questions, at rconway@ywboston.org.
Kathryn Henderson, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships
Kathryn connects alumni with each other and the broader YW Boston community, and strengthens YW’s relationships with new and existing audiences.
Q: Tell us something about yourself that we couldn’t learn from your LinkedIn.
A: I’m a big Boston sports fan.
Q: What are you most excited about for LeadBoston in 2020?
A: I’m excited to see how the roll out of new online learning modules support participants in advancing inclusion.
Q: What’s your go-to karaoke song?
A: Penny Lover by Lionel Ritchie
Contact Kathryn Henderson about alumni connections at khenderson@ywboston.org.
Thank you to the LeadBoston staff for their work to equip leaders with the skills and resources they need to make change in their communities!
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About LeadBoston
Become a part of YW Boston’s LeadBoston program and join a network of over 1,000 inclusive leaders in Boston. During this 10-month program, participants explore and learn how to address barriers to inclusion through facilitated dialogue, expert speakers, and peer learning. Through experiential activities, participants delve into the socioeconomic realities of Boston and explore innovative solutions to inequity.