LEADing San Diego connects you with the leaders, changemakers, and businesses shaping the San Diego region. Real conversations. Local insight. Cross-sector connections powering our region’s future.
Ep 10 | Valerie Attisha, Rodger Dougherty and Cathy Lloyd | 20 Years of Friendship, Leadership, and Showing Up
Twenty years after first meeting in LEAD Impact 2005, three friends and colleagues reflect on the relationships, careers, and civic leadership journeys that have continued to grow long after the program ended. In this special Season 1 finale, they share how LEAD created a foundation of trust, connection, and perspective, giving them a network of like-minded professionals who show up for each other and for the community.
Together, they explore why LEAD graduates can be found across San Diego serving on boards, leading organizations, and helping move the region forward. They also reflect on the power of having trusted peers outside their own industries; people who can be sounding boards, offer fresh perspective, and remind them why staying connected matters. This episode is a celebration of lifelong friendship, cross-sector leadership, and what it means to keep showing up for San Diego, 20 years later.
11 Aug 2026
Ep. 9 | Mike Lee | From Observer to Community Leader
Mike Lee, Public Affairs Director at the San Diego County Water Authority and a recent LEAD Impact 2025 graduate, shares how LEAD transformed the way he sees San Diego and his role within it. After a first career as a reporter, Mike was used to observing systems from the outside. Through Impact, he began thinking more deeply about the region’s civic structure, what it means to invest in it, and how to take ownership in the community around him. In this episode, Mike reflects on his “second mountain” of leadership: moving beyond career-building toward supporting others, creating a virtuous circle, and reaching back to bring others forward. He shares how the Tijuana seminar opened his eyes to the cross-border region, why a visit to the Copley-Price YMCA became a defining moment of belonging and service, and how LEAD helped San Diego become home in a more profound and tangible way. He also shares why water and water security are foundational to San Diego’s economy, quality of life, and long-term resilience.
28 Jul 2026
Ep. 8 | Justin Lipford | Building Belonging, One Ride at a Time
YMCA Director of Mission Advancement Justin Lipford shares his South Bay roots, what shaped his commitment to under-resourced communities, and how LEAD Impact helped strengthen the relationships and confidence that continue to guide his leadership today. In this episode, Justin reflects on the many ways to be a good leader, from staying grounded and prioritizing mental health and well-being, to leading with curiosity, humility, and authenticity. He shares how the nuances that make him who he is have become part of his leadership strength and how he is creating space for himself and others to feel comfortable, connected, and seen. We also talk about his community-wide work on homelessness and mental health, and why his weekly community bike rides are one of his most powerful tools for building belonging.
7 Jul 2026
Ep. 7 | Theresa Cunningham | Leading with Purpose in America’s Finest City
Theresa Cunningham, Vice President of People, Culture & Purpose at the San Diego Tourism Authority and a LEAD Advance 2023 graduate, shares how connection, resilience, and purpose have shaped her leadership journey. In this episode, Theresa reflects on what it means to lead as a mom, show up with openness, and move through hard seasons with the belief that sometimes “there’s no way but through.” She shares how LEAD broadened her network, introduced her to women leaders whose lived experiences made her feel seen, and accelerated her ability to collaborate across San Diego. We also talk about her work advancing San Diego as an inclusive destination and why tourism is vital to the region’s economy.
23 Jun 2026
EP. 6 | Jordan Harrison & J.Cole | Teamwork, Community, and Going Farther Together
Jordan Harrison and J.Cole trace a shared leadership through-line from student government to civic engagement in San Diego. Jordan, an Impact 2020 graduate and LEAD board member, shares his mission to build environments where people can thrive, from classrooms to boardrooms, and how LEAD helped him go farther by finding community, connection, and togetherness. J.Cole, a Public Leadership Institute 2019 and Young Leaders 2021 alum, reflects on his path through tech, media, and e-commerce, and why digital media can be an accessible career gateway. Together, they explore why leadership is a team sport: whether you’re building companies, organizations, or community, it’s easy to get caught up in your own world or title, but the work always comes back to the team.
Executive leadership coach Amanda Flisher and two-time LEAD alum Lucy Romero explore why so many women struggle to see their own strengths and what changes when women stop competing for “one seat” and start extending the table. Lucy shares how Advance was the first space where she felt safe to be vulnerable and truly supported by other women and describes the lightbulb moment that shifted everything: stop fixating on weaknesses and start leading from strengths. Amanda brings the coaching lens, her mission is to help women become the best versions of themselves, own what they bring, and step into the rooms where decisions are being made. Together, they offer practical ways to name your strengths, advocate for yourself, and uplift other women along the way.
26 May 2026
Ep. 4 | Jay Henslee | Authentic Leadership, Work-Life Alignment, and Building Community
Jay Henslee reflects on moving from a small Northern California town to San Diego and finding his voice professionally and personally. A LEAD Impact 2017 alum, Jay shares how the program expanded his understanding of the region and connected him to a lifelong civic network. In this conversation, Jay goes deeper on what leadership means to him: creating environments where people can perform their best, having one-on-one conversations that draw out what others bring to the table, and helping people pursue goals that feel genuinely rewarding. He also shares how early involvement in church shaped his sense of being part of something bigger and why giving back, arts advocacy, and advancing equality remain central to how he leads across San Diego.
12 May 2026
Ep. 3 | Kristen Diggs | Mentorship, Connections, and the Courage to Go For It
Kristen Diggs shares how moving to San Diego and joining LEAD Advance helped her find community, deepen her leadership, and build a network rooted in real support. She tells the story of taking a leap early in her career, going for an HR role at an organization that had never had HR before, and becoming the first HR hire in its history, and why she now passes that lesson on to the people she mentors. We explore the full-circle power of mentorship: what Kristen gained from her mentor as a new San Diegan, how those relationships shaped her career, and how she returned to Advance to mentor others, proving that the strongest networks are built on belonging, reciprocity, and showing up for each other.
28 Apr 2026
Ep. 2 | Jamie Moraga | The CEO Mindset: Curiosity, Growth, and Getting Uncomfortable
Author and CEO Jamie Moraga shares how growing up in a Navy family shaped her resilience and drive and how LEAD San Diego was a goal she chased for years. In this episode, Jamie reflects on the perspective shift of Impact 2011, building and scaling companies in the defense space, and leading a fast-paced acquisition. She also opens up about the mindset work behind her success: becoming more reflective, giving herself more credit, quieting her inner critic, and staying intentionally uncomfortable to keep growing. Now, through her book REVERED: The Power of Female Leadership (https://www.amazon.com/Revered-Female-Leadership-Jamie-Moraga-ebook/dp/B0FVQV6RPF), she’s championing women-owned, founded, and led businesses, and sharing the lessons learned.
13 Apr 2026
Ep. 1 | Tana Lorah | From Policy to Hospitality: Leading with Curiosity, Service, and Influence
Tana Lorah, Chief Operating Officer for Snake Oil Cocktail Company, reflects on a leadership path shaped by service, curiosity, and bold career pivots. A three-time LEAD San Diego alum (EMBARK, Impact, Influence), Tana shares why LEAD feels like family, what cross-sector executive leadership looks like in San Diego, and how she brings service leadership into every room she enters.
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