Leaders have a significant influence on their organizations, communities, and even broader society. When leaders demonstrate their commitment to equity and inclusivity, they set an example for others to follow. They inspire and motivate others to embrace these values, creating a ripple effect that can lead to positive change at various levels. 

Heather Jenkins, the Chief Executive Officer at The Literacy Lab, is a dedicated leader with a strong mission to promote equity and inclusivity. She combines her unique passion and extensive knowledge with data analytics to shape strategies and decision making. Heather collaborates closely with senior leadership to establish and nurture inclusive practices within the organization. She excels at building enduring internal relationships and forging external partnerships. Her core competencies lie in organizational, nonprofit, and educational leadership that center equity and anti-racism. Additionally, she possesses expertise in strategy development, talent management, fundraising, and research and writing. 

A Mother’s Inspiration 

Heather became a mother to Victoria and Gabriella when she was in her early twenties. Today, they are both 26 and 25 years old, respectively, and hold a special place in her heart. Heather decided to stay at home with her daughters until they were old enough to attend preschool, as it was a more cost-effective option than daycare.  

While spending time with her daughters, Heather discovered a passion for teaching and learning. She found it exhilarating to watch her daughters try new things and acquire new skills over time. At the same time, Heather began exploring the ways in which race, class, and gender impact access and opportunities in the United States. As a woman of color responsible for raising two young women of color, Heather realized the need to examine her own identity and experiences and be intentional about the opportunities she provided for her daughters. 

Heather’s exploration led her to gain clarity on many of the thoughts, feelings, and experiences she had growing up but could not name. By her late twenties, Heather had committed herself to using her education and privileges to create greater access and success for individuals who have been historically marginalized in our education systems. She recognized the opportunity not only to support her own daughters but also to work in collaboration with other parents of color who wanted the same opportunities for their children but lacked the same access and opportunities as Heather.  This commitment has been an enduring feature of Heather’s career in education, including her tenure as CEO of The Literacy Lab. 

Nurturing Inclusive Cultures 

Heather’s academic background, combined with her personal identities and lived experiences, shaped her early career and led her to embrace three fundamental pillars that form the foundation of her leadership philosophy. These pillars are integral to creating and fostering strong, inclusive organizational cultures. They are as follows: 

People-first: Having started her career as a teacher, Heather’s leadership has always been rooted in a people-first approach, guided by an ethic of care. Recognizing the importance of building authentic relationships, she understands that valuing individuals for who they are is essential for cultivating effective teaching and learning environments. As she transitioned to working with adults, Heather found this approach to be highly transferable, as it resonates universally – everyone desires to be seen and valued. 

Let the data tell the story: With a background in qualitative research, Heather internalized the significance of following the data. She recalls the guidance from professors and books, emphasizing the need to ask questions, draw conclusions, and take action based on the insights derived from the data. Heather also learned early on that data takes various forms, including feedback, which demands dedicated attention and deep listening. This data-driven mindset continues to shape her work today. While she holds her own thoughts and perspectives, she remains committed to following the data, whether it confirms or challenges her initial assumptions. 

Center equity: While Heather will delve into this topic in greater detail later, she firmly believes that equity must lie at the core of everything we do – how we do it, and why we do it. For Heather, it is non-negotiable. Ensuring equitable access and justice is paramount in all aspects of her leadership approach. She recognizes that true equity requires intentional and purposeful action, and she is dedicated to making it a central focus of her work and organizational culture. 

These pillars serve as guiding principles for Heather, forming the basis of her leadership philosophy aimed at creating and maintaining strong, equitable, and inclusive organizational cultures. 

Breaking Barriers, Embracing Strength 

Heather has encountered her greatest obstacles in the form of her own fears and lack of confidence in her leadership abilities, stemming from the presence of systemic racism and sexism within organizational cultures that lack equity and inclusivity. As a woman of color who didn’t follow a straightforward path to becoming a CEO, her career has been marked by instances where she didn’t fully trust her own strength and capabilities. This can be attributed to years of being told that leaders don’t resemble her in terms of appearance, communication style, or behavior.  

However, as she has grown older and gained more experience, she has embraced her knowledge, expertise, and lived experiences, enabling her to lead with conviction. Additionally, she has purposefully surrounded herself with other resilient women of color, prioritizing mutual support and relying on trusted allies in her journey.  

Although she still experiences occasional fears and uncertainties, they no longer linger or dictate her path. Heather now stands firmly in her leadership role like never before, experiencing a newfound sense of liberation. At The Literacy Lab, we recently launched a women of color in leadership initiative with the intention of challenging damaging narratives about belonging, particularly the oppressive imposter syndrome narratives that burden many women of color. 

Emphasizing Inclusivity, Equity, and People-Centered Principles 

In the education and non-profit sectors, Heather recognizes that inclusivity, equity, and a focus on people are not mere optional extras, but rather essential skills and qualities for effective leadership. These principles should form the foundation of our leadership approach, regardless of our position or the organization we belong to. Heather personally views these qualities as complementary pairs that work together harmoniously, and this perspective has proven beneficial to her over the course of her career. Here are the pairs she emphasizes: 

• Empathy & Equity: Showing authentic, consistent value for people, and building equitable structures and habits, leads to healthy, enduring organizations.  
• Growth Mindset & Humility: Embracing a mindset of continuous learning and development while maintaining a humble attitude that recognizes there is always more to learn. 
• Adaptivity & Accountability: Being flexible and responsive to change while taking responsibility for one’s actions and their impact on others. 
• Stability & Security: Establishing a sense of stability and providing a secure environment for individuals to thrive and succeed. 
• Courage & Creativity: Displaying bravery in the face of challenges and thinking innovatively to find new solutions. 

By embodying these qualities, leaders can foster an inclusive and equitable environment that prioritizes the needs and well-being of the people they serve. 

Path of Lifelong Learning 

Heather’s friends, family, and colleagues are well aware of her deep love for audiobooks, which she listens to every day. Whether she’s getting ready in the morning, doing laundry, or going for a walk, she finds joy in immersing herself in the world of audiobooks. Additionally, Heather actively subscribes to various online resources that provide her with valuable content. She receives daily emails containing important articles, which she quickly scans to determine which ones warrant a closer examination. Whenever her schedule permits, she also takes part in webinars to expand her knowledge. Heather considers herself a lifelong learner, fully aware that she will continue to learn something new every day for the rest of her life. 

Resilient Leadership 

In addition to Heather’s earlier insights, she shares three additional principles that have guided her throughout her 20+ years of experience in navigating the ever-changing landscape of education and equity: 

• Embrace a both/and mindset: Heather believes in the importance of balancing seemingly contrasting elements. She understands the need to demonstrate care for people, remain humble, and be open and proximate, while also setting clear expectations and holding herself and her team accountable. She recognizes the significance of focusing on driving impact and investing in programming, as well as building infrastructure and systems that support the work. Heather no longer sees these aspects as mutually exclusive; instead, she acknowledges their complementary and interconnected nature. 
• Embrace change and uncertainty: The past few years have taught Heather the valuable lesson that predicting what lies ahead in the next 12 or even six months is challenging. While having plans in place is essential, she emphasizes the importance of adaptability and flexibility. Being prepared to adjust strategies and approaches in response to change and uncertainty is crucial for success in a rapidly evolving world. 
• Never waiver on your values: Heather recognizes that in times of uncertainty, turmoil, crises, pressure, backlash, pushback, and challenges, it is all too easy to lose sight of one’s values. However, she firmly believes that these are the moments when it is most important to hold onto one’s values even tighter. Upholding core values serves as a guiding light, providing clarity and direction amidst adversity. 

By embracing a both/and mindset, being adaptable in the face of change, and unwaveringly holding onto one’s values, Heather has found a resilient and principled approach to navigate the evolving landscape of education and create meaningful impact.  

Vision for The Literacy Lab’s Lasting Legacy 

Heather aims for her current role at The Literacy Lab to be her last before semi-retirement. Her big dreams for the organization include achieving transformative, positive, and systemic change in partnership with the communities they serve. To leave a lasting legacy, she seeks to demonstrate caring, compassionate, courageous, and connected leadership. Heather wants to be known for genuinely knowing and being known by the people involved with the organization. She embraces pilot projects, approaches challenges with courage and humility, and strives to live her personal and organizational values. Heather believes that if she can accomplish these goals, her tenure at The Literacy Lab and her career will be considered successful, reflecting pride in leading alongside the team. 

Website: https://theliteracylab.org/