Inspiring leaders. And making a difference.
In 2024, we celebrate 50 years of inspiring people and championing positive change in our communities. Here we highlight a few personal stories of how our mission and our programs have made a meaningful difference in people’s lives. As well as our commitment to the next generation of leadership in our beloved city.
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Celebrating 50 Years of Impact. Paving the Way for 50 More.
Laurie Stein Marsh, former Executive Director of Leadership Columbus, with newly appointed Executive Director, Kate Bauer
For 30 years, Laurie Stein Marsh served as Executive Director of Leadership Columbus, spearheading three decades of change and evolution for the organization. A pivotal part of that evolution was shifting the organization’s teaching approach from traditional classroom learning to a more immersive, hands-on experience. This new approach involved visiting communities, eating in soup kitchens, allowing aspiring leaders to not only learn about their communities, but to feel their struggles and pain points in a very personal way. Laurie passionately explains, “It’s more than cognitively understanding the issues in the community. It’s about feeling them.” This approach ushered in a new, profound level of empathy and commitment to change from program participants.
One of those participants was Kate Bauer, a 2017 graduate of the organization’s renowned Signature Program, who now takes the helm as the new Executive Director of Leadership Columbus. Kate’s expertise in leadership development and community engagement strategy, along with her love for the organization, make her a perfect fit. “For me, it wasn’t ‘I could do this job’, it was ‘I would love to do this job’,” she says enthusiastically. Her goal is to build on the organization’s legacy of engaged, real-world leadership development, emphasizing the vital role of nonprofits in the community, and nurturing the next generation of passionate leaders who truly understand, as she says, “A city is not its buildings or its jobs. A city is its people.”
Why the Leader of Dress for Success is Inspired to Change a lot More Than Wardrobes.
Habiba Bankston, Executive Director of Dress for Success Columbus and Signature Program Class of 2020 graduate.
Habiba Bankston cares deeply about her community and its people. It’s a level of care that was amplified through her participation in Leadership Columbus’ renowned Signature Program. As a Class of 2020 participant, she learned a lot about overcoming adversity, as she, her classmates, and the rest of the world were learning how to live, work, learn, and connect amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “Those circumstances really brought everything we were learning in the program full circle. It’s all about people coming together to connect, collaborate, and take on challenges. And that year, there were many,”
she says.
Through her Signature Program experience, Habiba built a deep understanding of her community’s needs and challenges and a desire to drive meaningful change. She also built strong relationships with people who became mentors and guides, encouraging her to follow her heart and recognize opportunities for increased civic engagement and personal growth. This led Habiba to her role at Dress for Success Columbus. “At the time, I loved the work I was doing supporting corporate community relations and volunteer efforts, but what I learned through the program, along with a new level of appreciation for the critical role of non-profits, inspired me to find a way to make an even greater impact.” Habiba now makes that meaningful impact every day, empowering women with a network of support, professional attire, and the development tools and guidance they need to achieve economic independence and thrive in work and life.
Community Impact Project: Painting a Brighter Future with ROY G BIV Gallery.
ROY G BIV Gallery Community Impact Project team (left to right): Josh Kliner, Kylie Whitman, Amy Schuessler (Gallery Director, ROY G BIV Gallery), Nala Kovach, Shey Jin, Olivia Karp. Not Pictured: Eda Erkal, Monica Jones, Christopher Staton
Each year, participants in Leadership Columbus’ renowned Signature Program engage in a Community Impact Project, applying their leadership, management, and team-building expertise to support a local nonprofit in a meaningful way. In 2022, one group focused their efforts on ROY G BIV Gallery, a Franklinton-based gallery dedicated to championing emerging artists. The gallery is known for hosting thought-provoking exhibitions that not only highlight the artists’ work but also enrich the cultural diversity of Central Ohio.
The group assisted ROY G BIV in developing and launching an artist residency program specifically for emerging BIPOC artists. Their efforts established a sustainable framework with long-term impact, creating opportunities for both up-and-coming BIPOC artists and Columbus youth. In doing so, they paved a small but significant path for individuals from historically marginalized communities to thrive in the arts.
The Community Impact Project not only made a difference for ROY G BIV and the community, it also left a lasting impression on participants Kylie Whitman and Shey Jin. Both now serve on the board of ROY G BIV, actively advancing the organization’s mission and shaping the future of its ever-evolving artist residency program. “The entire experience opened our eyes and inspired us to make a more meaningful, lasting impact,” says Shey. Kylie adds, “We’re helping to break down barriers for artists and creating a welcoming space to appreciate their work. It’s incredibly fulfilling.”
Creating Connections and Learning to Lead: Raghava’s COLA Story.
Raghava Deivanaathan, Dublin Jerome High School junior and 2023 graduate of the Central Ohio Leadership Academy (COLA).
Raghava Deivanaathan is a junior at Dublin Jerome High School. His school activities and societies include Speech and Debate, Model UN, Investment Club, and FBLA. He is also an AAU Volleyball National Champion. Raghava is highly motivated, competitive, and he’s always looking for new growth opportunities. This desire for growth, along with a little nudge from his mom, led him to participate in Leadership Columbus’ Central Ohio Leadership Academy (COLA), a tuition-free, high-impact weeklong leadership development experience designed for rising high school juniors and seniors throughout Central Ohio.
With a curriculum centered on collaboration, personal growth, and purpose-driven leadership, the program offered even more than Raghava anticipated. “It was way more hands-on than I expected,” he shares. “The collaborative activities really bring the lessons to life in a way that sticks with you. And I connected very quickly with my cohort.” Those new connections and the valuable lessons he learned about taking initiative and learning to speak up paid off quickly, securing a valuable job shadowing opportunity at the Ohio Chamber of Commerce. “I would definitely recommend the COLA experience,” he says. “It changes the way you approach problem-solving. The development of soft skills, time management skills, making connections…it’s all so beneficial.”