An update from our CEO, Heather Barnabe
Hi Fora Community,
In June of 2017, I came into the CEO role alongside a few dedicated staff and interns, with a vision of where I hoped to take this organization. Six years later, I am surrounded by a full complement of incredible staff members, and so pleased to reflect on what we’ve accomplished.
After much reflection, I’ve made the decision to transition out of my role as CEO of Fora. I will be returning from parental leave in mid-August to support the board and staff team with the transition and leaving the organization in the fall.
While this decision wasn’t an easy one, the timing feels right. This role has been an incredible experience for me, and undoubtedly a career highlight.
Some personal highlights include:
Overseeing Rise on Boards as it grew from an idea to a force of a program that has placed 170 young leaders in boardrooms for the first time (with a scaling program currently underway).
We also reimagined the Global Summit, making it truly global by opening applications up to every country around the world, and finding new spaces of power to disrupt.
As Fora navigated a global pandemic, we continued to find ways to show up for our community by creating the Next Level program and developed online spaces to maintain deep global connections among young changemakers.
One of the biggest changes came in the form of rebranding and reimagining the organization itself, moving away from our G20 roots and, upon feedback from our community, updating our name, our messaging, our policies, and our program design to work towards better reflecting our community.
Throughout this time, the board and staff team have grown exponentially, and are some of the most remarkable people I’ve had the pleasure to work with.
All of this was possible because of the community of young leaders we serve. Over the years, I’ve met hundreds of program participants from across the globe. Their uncompromising morals and leadership have truly shaped me in ways I cannot articulate. They proved, over and over again, that when we give young people opportunities to lead, we’re all better for it.
Now, it feels time to hand the reigns over to someone with their own fresh take on where this organization can go next and the vision and experience to move it forward.
That said, this isn’t goodbye quite yet! You can be sure I’ll be sending out a final note in the fall to acknowledge the many people who have made this all possible, and I will be back in my role by mid-August to support the team and Board as they move forward with recruiting a new CEO. I look forward to supporting Fora’s Board of Directors in the coming weeks, as they launch the process of looking for a new, dynamic leader to lead Fora into its next phase of impact and growth.
Thank you for your continued support and investment in Fora over these past years. We couldn't do this work without you.
With gratitude,
Heather Barnabe
CEO, Fora