Ms. Martha Lee

(KNFP-15; KFLA Staff)
Denver, Colorado
United States

Focus Areas

Leadership
Philanthropy
Social Justice
Gender Issues
Religion / Faith / Spirituality

Biography

Martha Lee has been intrinsically involved in leadership development throughout her 35-year career supporting emerging and seasoned leaders in finding and following their passions. For the past 12 years, Martha has been the founding executive director of the Kellogg Fellows Leadership Alliance (KFLA), a diverse network of 1700 leaders from 53 countries selected by the W. K. Kellogg Foundation over the span of 30 years because they all had a passion to make a difference. This network of Kellogg Fellows are committed to positive change and giving back to their communities. KFLA works to provide opportunities to the Fellows to join resources with others to take action on issues of growing importance that make a lasting difference in communities. It also serves as a gathering place for incubation and innovation of ideas, providing a space to renew Fellows’ capacity to be present, strengthen their ability to be fearless, gain greater clarity, and bring them together to discover their combined capacity for service, a service that ripples outward through collaborative partnerships. Since 2002, KFLA has held numerous forums and conferences, produced leadership publications, and seeded leadership efforts across the globe resulting in an internationally recognized network known for its keen ability of connecting Fellows’ leadership and technical expertise with others in an effort to expand their capacity to serve those in need. During her Kellogg fellowship, Martha founded and held the position of president/CEO of the Asian Pacific American Leadership Institute (APAWLI). She founded APAWLI because of the belief that Asian American and Pacific Islander women should be at leadership tables; enhancing and enriching their skills and their understanding of leading in a culturally centered way, owning their power as AAPI women. During her 10-year tenure with the organization, she worked with the Gallup Organization to publish a study with data collected by Gallup on the strengths and talents of AAPI women leaders. Opportunities to serve as program officer and manager for the Denver Community Foundation, program director for the National Hispana Leadership Institute, project manager for the Mile High United Way, and executive director of the Asian American Foundation of Colorado prepared her path to serve as a change agent.