#WomenCrushingWednesday w/ Leanna Clark

Name: Leanna Clark

Organization: Girl Scouts of Colorado 

Title: CEO

Community work (board service, volunteering, mentoring, etc.) I currently serve on the Board of Directors and as Board Chair of Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce.  I am also on the board of the Colorado Music Hall of Fame and the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation.  Over the years, I’ve serve on many boards including Mile High Red Cross, Denver Public Schools Foundation, Public Education & Business Coalition, Colorado Public Radio, and the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation. 

CWCC Involvement (CWCC member for x amount of years, Engagement within CWCC: serve on our board, support our members and team, etc.) I’ve served on the CWCC board since 2018 and am inspired daily by CWCC’s leadership in advancing women in business. CWCC’s staff and members are holistically supportive of the women in our community – from helping them develop the skill set to be successful leaders to providing a network of others to lean on. Especially in this past year, when women have been leaving the workforce due to the pandemic, CWCC is more relevant and important than ever. 

The Why: Why do you do what you do/ why are you passionate about your work in our community?  I have long believed that talent is widely distributed but opportunity is not.  I am driven to aim for equity for those who aren’t able to realize their potential because of where they were born, lack of access to education, or whatever other reason. That’s why organizations like Girl Scouts are so important as they level the playing field, providing opportunity to match talent.  

What is one of your biggest challenges that you have overcame, and how did you overcome it? Starting a job as CEO of a statewide organization with 120 employees and 20,000 members/volunteers in a completely virtual realm during a global pandemic has definitely been a challenge! I am still working through how to overcome this with the help of an amazing team at Girl Scouts as well as our incredible volunteers.  

What is your personal motto? One of our girls in Girl Scouts told me this, and I love it.  It has become my mantra: “If you can’t get out of something, get into it.”  I translate this to mean rather than complain about the hand you’ve been dealt, dig in and make the most of it.  This especially resonates with me during these COVID times.  

Advice for others in business based on what you have learned on your journey: As a friend once told me, “Sometimes you have to leave base camp to find the trail.”  It’s a great Colorado hiking metaphor that has guided me for years.  We often don’t know what we can do til we go for it – just wade in and trust that you have what it takes.  And sometimes you have to leave your comfort zone to discover what the future holds.

What are you most proud of from the last year? I am incredibly proud of the way our staff at Girl Scouts of Colorado re-envisioned our programming for the virtual environment to keep our girls connected and supported during this challenging time.  We have continued to be a vital resource for our girls, which is so important as they are the leaders of tomorrow.  

Thank you to our #WCW Partner: