Bob Ness, LT'96

Decades of Impact: Bob Ness’s Story in Our 40-Year History

Engaged leadership is the foundation of thriving communities.

For 40 years, Leadership Tomorrow has worked at the forefront of civic engagement to cultivate a network of inclusive, courageous, and curious leaders across Puget Sound. As we celebrate this special milestone, we are proud to highlight stories from LT alumni who continue to shape our region into a vibrant, vital community where all can thrive. Explore moments from their leadership journeys, past and present, as we consider collectively what challenges and opportunities lay ahead in the next 40 years—and beyond.

Since LT is turning 40, that means I’ve been involved for more than half of its history.

I’ve often said that I had a 20-year career as a volunteer with LT: first as a participant, then by serving on nearly every committee that LT had available. I served on the strategic planning committee, and I was the first project coach, from which the coaches program evolved. I served on the evaluation committee several times, including as chair, and I chaired the curriculum committee for two terms; I also served on the board of directors for several terms, also as chair.

The LT-related activities (and their unexpected-but-related activities!) that I’ve been involved with are collaborative enterprises. I appreciate these opportunities to work with my LT colleagues to share knowledge and skills and to improve our region—and the world.

My volunteer work with LT, particularly with nonprofit boards, has served me (and, I hope, LT) well. It’s given me useful, forward-thinking models to use in my consulting practice, the organizations I’ve founded, and the other nonprofits on whose boards I sat. LT’s thought leadership in values of accountability, antiracism, social justice, belonging, collective leadership, community leadership, community stewardship, curiosity, and humility have evolved as a living language of inclusive leadership.

Wherever LT alumni go, they can tap into the trusting and trusted relationships and LT’s common values to move important actions forward. LT’s inclusivity in all aspects of our regional community, from recruitment to selected participants, has created a broad network of people whose influence is felt not only within LT, but in the organizations, actions, and interactions of thousands of entities in Washington state and beyond.

In my nearly retired phase of life, I consider engaging in the following activities—improbable and unexpected as some are—as profound delights from my time with LT:

Serving on the board of the National Community Leadership Association.
Working with executive teams in many of the region’s most important and successful corporations.
Co-consulting with an LT colleague to establish the National Arts Organization of Mongolia.
Creating diverse, multi-ethnic Russian-American teams that focused on inclusion and diversity through training and conferences in both Vladivostok and Seattle, which resulted in a Leadership Vladivostok program.
Serving as trustee or board officer on philanthropic and nonprofit boards.
Co-creating the Global Leadership Forum, which focuses on leadership development for social purpose organizations—now commencing its 21st cohort!
My dear and close friendships that were developed through Leadership Tomorrow. I count on this trusted network of community leaders throughout our region and beyond for input and assistance.