Vivian Phillips, LT'93
40th Year Spotlight: Vivian Phillips’ Remarkable Achievements
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.
Vivian Phillips and Trevor Noah at the November 2023 Urban League breakfast.
How did LT influence your leadership approach and understanding of our region’s challenges and opportunities?
Leadership Tomorrow is where I learned the various forms of leadership and how one leads, regardless of whether or not they are designated a LEADER. The form of leadership that has best served me since the LT experience has been transformative leadership.
Each Challenge Day illuminated the issues we faced in the region and how those same issues existed across the country. The experience broadened my understanding of how local issues tend to have regional and national implications.
I went into LT with a desire to better understand how to effect change. I came out of that experience with an empowered level of confidence that I had not anticipated. One of the most important qualities I gained was collaboration. It is the measure of collaboration that I’ve employed throughout my professional career: it showed me how empowering others is an enormous gift in developing as a leader.
Marcie Sillman (left) with Vivian Phillips (right) at the 3rd Act Magazine related to their podcast DoubleXposure. Photo credit: Ernie Sapiro.
Which LT connection has influenced your own leadership?
I met Eric Pettigrew in my LT class, and he has remained someone who I adore, admire, and look up to. Watching Eric move through the city, creating new opportunities and applying innovative solutions to problems, has been a source of continued inspiration for me. His time as a state legislator was transformative for my district. He is a solid leader! Eric is now director of the Washington State Lottery Commission. His work is always exemplary of his values and his desire to be of service for the greater good. I have learned so much from him over the course of the past 30 years! Eric is the poster image for leadership today—and tomorrow.
How have LT’s values informed your own leadership values?
Throughout my career and volunteer commitments, I am keenly aware of my own convictions toward accountability, anti-racism, belonging, collective leadership, and community stewardship, in particular. These values serve as a kind of gut check where I ask myself if I am being true to who I say I am. I also feel a level of continued connection to LT and the desire to live and conduct myself in a way that exemplifies the kind of real-life learning gained through that experience.
