View From The LT'23 Cohort: Ciera Young, LT'23, Bertschi School

How has your idea of leadership changed this past year?

Leadership Tomorrow helped me expand my thoughts on what leadership can look like and how I fit within leadership. Before starting LT, I did not believe I could lead. In previous spaces and opportunities that I engaged in, I was told that I would not grow into a leader because of how I showed up in the world. Depending on the setting, several attributes that make me who I am are considered deficits. I could be “too quiet,” “too inquisitive,” “too oppositional,” “too progressive,” or simply just “too much.” I used to assume that leadership was only for others, and that my role was to support them in any way I could

I started the program carrying several questions: what is my leadership voice? What do I want in this new chapter of my life? Am I enough? Although I entered LT feeling disempowered, I will leave the program feeling more confident in my presence and skills. My experiences in LT helped me realize that in the right spaces, I am enough, and my contributions matter.

What’s one thing you’ve learned about the region?

I moved to Seattle in July 2020 with two suitcases and a few boxes of my favorite books. I was wearing a hazmat suit, and it seemed like I had landed on a different planet. (It sounds ridiculous now, but I’m immunocompromised and there were many unknowns about Covid transmissions.) The city was closed. Now that the city has reemerged, I am excited to live in a constantly evolving region. LT has exposed me to multiple changemakers and their diverse strategies to cultivate community and solve regional challenges. I learned that while multiple adaptive challenges face the region, there is an abundance of possibilities. In situations with no clear answer, there are opportunities to build innovative solutions.

What has been a highlight of your LT experience?

Joining the Leadership Tomorrow community has been an invaluable experience. The community within my cohort and the LT alumni network have offered personal and professional guidance, ranging from resume editing and graduate school essay revisions, to advice on balancing work and caregiving duties. I have never questioned the sincerity of people I have met, and their genuine support was inspiring. I am most grateful for the opportunity to build community with my lab team, caucus, and quad. It feels liberating to have moments during which I can be vulnerable during difficult experiences, authentic when I’m frustrated, and genuinely affirmed when I experience a win. Despite my worries about the notorious “Seattle Freeze,” I am thankful for establishing instant and lifelong connections with several peers.