In her 2009 TED Talk, “The Danger of a Single Story,” Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie argues that one-sided narratives create incomplete—and often harmful—understandings of people and places. She reminds us that power shapes which stories are told, and that relying on a single perspective can lead to deep cultural misunderstandings.
At Pressley Ridge, we believe that same principle applies to leadership. While women hold key leadership roles in our organization—including our CEO and COO—we are careful not to define leadership through any single lens. True leadership is strengthened by a diversity of perspectives: across gender and identity, certainly, but also across race, lived experience, discipline and ways of thinking. And that diversity is not confined to the C-suite. It is expressed—and expected—throughout the organization every day. From those just beginning their work here to those who have dedicated decades to it, a multitude of perspectives is something we actively invite, foster and value.
Leadership, however, is not without cost. It asks something of you. At its core, it requires the setting aside of self-interest—the willingness to make decisions based on what is best for staff, for clients and for the broader community.
The work itself can be demanding. We often intersect with children and families during some of the most difficult moments in their lives. In those moments, leadership is not defined by title or identity. It is defined by presence. By helping people feel they belong.
By demonstrating the ability to listen. By a willingness to step forward and help—even, and perhaps especially, when you are physically and mentally exhausted.
The individuals featured on this page all embody these qualities. They represent a cross-section of disciplines and expertise, and they have distinguished themselves not through volume or overt confidence, but by being wildly competent. They show up. They ask the hard questions—and are willing to answer them.
They are also representative of something larger. Across our organization, more than 1,100 employees each contribute their own perspectives to how our collective leadership is practiced and experienced.
Together, they form a holistic effort—one grounded not in a single story, but in many—working every day to do whatever it takes to create hope and success for the children and families we serve. In that shared work, each voice and experience adds depth and direction, strengthening our ability to respond with care, clarity and purpose. It is through this collective commitment that lasting change becomes sustainable.
Pressley Ridge is a national organization providing programs and services for children and families across the country. Learn more about our organization now.