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104. Faith and Leadership with Yordanos Eyoel, Founder and CEO, Keseb

Women of Color Rise

Release Date: 06/19/2025

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More Episodes

In this episode of Women of Color Rise, I speak with Yordanos Eyoel, Founder and CEO of Keseb, a nonpartisan organization advancing inclusive and resilient democracies through transnational civil society. An Ethiopian-American democracy entrepreneur, Yordanos is an Ashoka and Aspen Institute Fellow and has received awards from the Elevate Prize Foundation and Unorthodox Philanthropy. Previously, she was a Managing Partner at New Profit, where she rose from Portfolio Analyst—the first to do so in the organization's history. Her work has been featured in TED, NPR, and Harvard Business Review.

 

Yordanos shares how her faith has shaped her leadership:

  • Faith provides grounding in uncertainty.
    As a leader, Yordanos acknowledges that she doesn’t always have the answers. Her faith offers a steady anchor—something to return to when decisions are complex and the path forward isn’t clear.

  • Faith strengthens resilience as a woman of color.
    Navigating leadership as a woman of color comes with unique challenges. Yordanos credits her faith with helping her stay centered amid external pressures, giving her the courage to lead authentically.

  • Her leadership is deeply values-driven.
    Yordanos’ sense of purpose, integrity, and commitment to service are all rooted in her faith. It’s not just a personal belief—it’s a leadership compass that guides how she shows up for others and makes decisions.

Thank you, Yordanos, for your insightful advice!

 

Get full show notes and more information here:https://analizawolf.com/episode-104-faith-and-leadership-with-yordanos-eyoel-founder-and-ceo-keseb