The Politics of Doing Good
Doing good sounds simple—until values clash, interests compete, and doing the right thing isn’t always the easiest or most popular choice. My understanding of leadership began long before I had the language to explain it. It started at home. My parents involved me in children’s and youth organizations early on. My dad was an organizer and leader in our village, church, and other organizations. Growing up, I saw how people could come together to turn ideas into action. I didn’t realize it then, but I was learning to lead long before I had a title. Years later, community development, social entrepreneurship, and leadership fellowships taught me that leadership also means navigating institutions, bridging competing interests, and influencing the systems that shape people’s lives. Working with local governments, businesses, development organizations, and communities showed me that each has its own priorities and realities. Sometimes they align. Other times, they collide. The challenge is f...