Ruchika Tulshyan, LT'16
Milestones and Memories: Ruchika Tulshyan Celebrates Our 40th Anniversary
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.
It would not be an overstatement to say that Leadership Tomorrow completely changed my approach to leadership. The core values of equity, justice, inclusion, and civic engagement became central to my work and sense of self during and after my time at LT. It meant a lot to see that leadership can come in any form and in any title (or lack thereof)—and that someone who looks like me can absolutely lead.
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Ruchika speaking at her cohort’s graduation in 2016.
As a new Seattleite (two years into my move) when I embarked on my LT journey, LT became a necessary guide to understanding the region's challenges and opportunities, particularly from an equity- and justice-focused lens that I haven't quite seen anywhere else.
We've experienced tremendous growth in the region over the past decade that I've lived here. Being a part of LT has ensured that I've centered equity and justice in decisions I've made and in the growth I've experienced in my career and life. I’ve tapped into the influence and network that I built within the program with the intention of making positive change in the region—and the world.
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This year is pivotal for LT and the region, given the various challenges and opportunities we're facing. When we are grounded in equity, justice, service, and cross-sector collaboration, as LT teaches us, we can make a significant difference in our communities.
Conversely, the absence of these values has created much turmoil in the world. I’m hopeful that, as more people experience the magic of LT’s teachings and put them in action, in 40 years we will see a much more equitable region and world than the one we have now.
LT has taught me that, even if a peer seems different from me because of their background, their job title, their life experiences, or various other differences, we all have so many more commonalities than meets the eye. Bridging those differences, finding common ground, and creating trust leads to the cross-sector collaborations that can bring about real change.
Ruchika with her LT’16 classmates at the LT’23 Graduation and Alumni Reunion
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Collective leadership—particularly, the importance of cross-sector collaboration—is a value, skill, and approach that I learned from LT, which I hadn't seen modeled in the academic and corporate worlds I've been and continue to be a part of. Leveraging collective leadership to solve the problems I'm working on now—the challenges of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) as an opportunity for cross-sector partnership, learning, and accountability—has been deeply impactful to my own leadership journey.
