The Leaders’ Table

Dr. Penny Lee Schwinn is currently a Senior Advisor at Emerson Collective, an organization that invests in entrepreneurs and innovators tackling complex challenges in education, immigration, the environment, and beyond. Previously she served as Tennessee’s Commissioner of Education from 2019-2023 where she led the restructuring of the state’s $9 billion school funding system. Prior to this live ta...

Amanda Renteria leads Code for America as CEO, guided by a deep belief in public institutions and the promise of opportunity. She has led the organization in modernizing safety-net systems across states, launched innovative resources to combat child poverty, and streamlined services that impact millions of Americans.  Raised in California’s Central Valley by her parents — including her father, who...

Carmita Semaan, the founder and CEO of Surge Institute , an organization that develops and elevates leaders of color, began her career as a chemical engineer before earning her MBA and stepping into corporate leadership. Across her career, she has kept social impact front and center — organizing colleagues, investing in local communities, and challenging systems to do better.   In this episode, Ca...

Andy Rotherham, Co-Founder and Senior Partner at Bellwether , has built a career in public service driven by a deep belief in expanding opportunity for those too often left behind. Growing up in Reston, Virginia, he saw how even communities that appear integrated can mask significant inequities — particularly in education, where disparities compound and shape outcomes over the course of a lifetime...

Michele Jawando, CEO of Omidyar Network , leads with both head and heart — grounded in analytical rigor, driven by collaboration, and deeply committed to people. A lawyer, former Hill staffer, and lifelong sci-fi fan, she brings curiosity and optimism into every space she leads — whether she’s thinking about the transformative power of technology or investing in the people and culture around her....

Darryl serves as President of the Charter School Growth Fund , where he leads investments supporting a national community of over 100 high-performing charter school networks. As the founder of the Emerging CMO Fund, he also supports and invests in charter school leaders of color.   In this episode, Darryl reflects on what failure taught him while leading a charter school in Chicago — and why growt...

Recorded live at the inaugural Courageous Leadership Conference, this special episode of The Leaders’ Table features a candid conversation with Texas State Board of Education member Staci Childs. Interviewed by Brittany Packnett Cunningham, Staci reflects on her journey into public leadership and the real decisions she faces while serving students and communities across Texas. She shares how value...

What does it look like to lead with both courage and clarity? In this episode, Brittany Packnett Cunningham shares how her upbringing and lived experience shaped her commitment to truth-telling, community building, and purposeful leadership. She unpacks the role of cultural identity, integrity, and bravery in building movements that last. Through personal stories and hard-earned insights, Brittany...

Rebecca Noecker was the first woman elected to represent Ward Two in Saint Paul. From a young age, she knew she wanted to lead and challenge the status quo. In this episode, she talks about how relationships, values, and deep listening help her navigate complex topics, including issuing a public response to the Israel and Hamas conflict. Rebecca shares why community engagement matters and how thou...

Journalist and activist Isabel Gonzalez Whitaker brings a deep sense of purpose to everything she does. As a first-generation Cuban American, her mother’s immigrant journey shaped her belief in the power of community and the potential of underrepresented voices. Now serving as Associate Vice President at Moms Clean Air Force and Director of EcoMadres, Isabel shares how resilience, advocacy, and cu...

Jean Desravines knows the power of leadership because it changed his life. As CEO of New Leaders, he reflects on how education and mentorship shaped his path and continue to drive his commitment to service. In this episode, Jean shares lessons from his father and high school principal, and why he believes strong leaders exist in everyday public service. He speaks to the role of empathy, the import...

Jonah Edelman spent years resisting the legacy of his family before learning to embrace it on his own terms. In this episode, the co-founder of Stand for Children shares how his path was shaped by personal experience, public service, and the influence of his mother, Marian Wright Edelman. He reflects on nearly three decades of leading Stand for Children, how his mindset shifted over time, and what...