October 4, 2024
Dear LEAD San Diego Community,
I am still riding the high from the Visionary Awards! I’ve heard such incredible feedback about the venue, the weather and the atmosphere created by all who attended. It was a pleasure to meet so many of you for the first time and share both my story and the vision for LEAD. It was truly an inspirational night, reminding me how grateful I am to be a San Diegan and to work in this community.
During my speech, I shared a video highlighting the innovation and collaboration that LEAD fosters. I’ve heard so many impactful stories about relationships, ideas, and programs that have been created from connections through LEAD, and I wanted to share one of them. Lydia Bartell (22), Vice President of Bartell Hotels and Cristina Alfaro, Ph.D. (22), Associate Vice President of International Affairs and Professor of Multilingual and Global Education at San Diego State University, met during their Influence program. Their connection led to the creation of an English as a Second Language Course with an Emphasis on Hospitality. Lydia and Cristina shared their story in this video, and we also get to hear from Ivan Castro, a student of the program.
What inspires me and excites me most about the opportunities with LEAD isn’t just the professional growth that occurs within the programs, it’s the connections formed and the ideas that spring from them. LEAD is the biggest connecting mechanism in town; it breaks us out of our industry silos and taps into the creativity that happens when two minds collaborate to create lasting impacts in our community.
When I talk to people about why LEAD is so important, and what sets it apart from other professional development programs, I emphasize that LEAD is a shared experience for participants, fostering community and civic engagement. As one of our Impact speakers said at the last seminar, “creative collisions and conversations can lead to incredible innovations”.
As we look ahead to the coming year and welcoming a new class of graduates, I encourage you to make the most of the connections you’ve established through LEAD.
Warm regards,
Veronica Perondi
Executive Director, LEAD San Diego