The Leadership Cosmos: 25 Years of Expanding Possibilities was a 3-part virtual series where the Leadership Learning Community (LLC) created space to explore and practice the core tenets of liberatory leadership, connection, equity, joy, love, and collective freedom.
We’re deeply grateful to everyone who joined us, showed up with open hearts, and helped co-create a space of reflection, learning, and possibility. Whether you came for one session or all three, your presence made this series powerful.
Special thanks to our incredible guest speakers—Shiree Teng, Trish Adobea Tchume, and Beth Kanter—who helped guide us through conversations that deepened our commitment to leading with care and courage.
Missed a session or want to revisit the conversations? Recordings and resources are now available:
Here are some of our learnings and reflections:
- Love as a Choice and a Form of Resistance: Shiree Teng reminded us that radical love is not just a feeling—it’s a deliberate and courageous choice. She described it as a conscious act of resistance against capitalism, oppression, and structural racism. Radical love creates space for us to live as free people, even in the midst of harm and hardship. It begins within us, calling us to reclaim our power and choose how we show up in leadership—with love, not fear. We were deeply moved by Shiree’s presence and energy. Watch this short clip of Shiree sharing on radical love.
- Disrupting Isolation as a Liberatory Practice: Oppressive systems thrive on isolation—separating us from one another and eroding our capacity for joy, love, and connection. One of the key reminders from this series was that we don’t need to give 100% of ourselves all the time, but we do need to stay in relationship. Disrupting isolation begins with small, consistent acts of connection: greeting a neighbor, checking in on a friend, sharing a smile, or offering time to a local effort. These everyday practices help us weave stronger, more resilient communities. If we truly hold community and solidarity as core values, our actions—no matter how small—must reflect them. In a world that pushes us toward disconnection, choosing to stay in community is a radical and necessary act.
- Identify Constellations as a Practice: Practicing community begins with knowing who and what we’re connected to. In this series, we explored the importance of identifying our constellations—the people, practices, and resources that help us lead with intention and care. Who are your supporters? Who do you offer support to? What practices ground you in your purpose? When we name our strengths, acknowledge our networks of care, and lean into tools that center liberation, we root ourselves in leadership that is relational, not transactional. Leadership grounded in connection, care, and reciprocity becomes the foundation for building resilient and liberatory communities—where no one has to move through the work alone.
- Approaching AI with a Human-Centered Lens: In a world rapidly embracing artificial intelligence, our challenge is not to move faster or do more, but to protect what makes us human. Beth Kanter reminded us that the goal is not to automate everything, but to preserve the uniquely human elements of leadership: relationships, creativity, strategic thinking, rest, and reflection. Her advice was clear and grounded: “Move intentionally, go slowly, be educated, and remain human-centered. Always preserve the human element. Keep people in our communities safe while leveraging the benefits of AI.” As we explore new tools and technologies, we’re called to do so with care and curiosity, ensuring that AI supports our values, not replaces them. Leading with people at the center, always.
If you participated in any of the sessions, the kindest thing you can do is share your reflections with us. Your feedback helps us grow, learn, and continue creating meaningful spaces rooted in liberatory leadership.
