ALUMNI PROFILES
Thank you to our amazing alumni who offered to share their leadership journey with GLF. More alumni profiles will be posted soon.
Medard Ngueita
Executive Director of World Relief of Western Washington, a board member of Global Leadership Forum, and was part of GLF cohort 18 in 2022. Medard's first experience with World Relief was as a program participant when he and his family from Chad were granted asylum in the U.S. He worked for World Relief for 11 years before becoming the Executive Director in 2021. Medard is also a board member of Seattle Pacific University.
Why did you join GLF? To grow my leadership skills and expand my network with other leaders.
What do you remember about your “Hot Seat”? My hot seat was to get the support for the cohort to help me plan a sabbatical leave. I needed an approach to take while I was out so that I did not have to worry about the organization's function. The group helped me to implement a co-leadership model where my directors led the organization as one body during my absence.
How did GLF make a difference for your professional development and/or the organization you worked for? Before joining GLF, I had a firm conviction of the importance of DEI but I was uncomfortable to confidently talk about it. After attending GLF and having to discuss topics related to DEI, I left embolden to a point of developing a DEI plan for our organization.
Looking back at the person you were when you did GLF compared to now, what advice would you give to your past self? Never think that you are alone in any leadership challenge or situations you are dealing with.
Let’s get to know you more in our “This or That” fun questions. Which do you prefer?
Executive Director of World Relief of Western Washington, a board member of Global Leadership Forum, and was part of GLF cohort 18 in 2022. Medard's first experience with World Relief was as a program participant when he and his family from Chad were granted asylum in the U.S. He worked for World Relief for 11 years before becoming the Executive Director in 2021. Medard is also a board member of Seattle Pacific University.
Why did you join GLF? To grow my leadership skills and expand my network with other leaders.
What do you remember about your “Hot Seat”? My hot seat was to get the support for the cohort to help me plan a sabbatical leave. I needed an approach to take while I was out so that I did not have to worry about the organization's function. The group helped me to implement a co-leadership model where my directors led the organization as one body during my absence.
How did GLF make a difference for your professional development and/or the organization you worked for? Before joining GLF, I had a firm conviction of the importance of DEI but I was uncomfortable to confidently talk about it. After attending GLF and having to discuss topics related to DEI, I left embolden to a point of developing a DEI plan for our organization.
Looking back at the person you were when you did GLF compared to now, what advice would you give to your past self? Never think that you are alone in any leadership challenge or situations you are dealing with.
Let’s get to know you more in our “This or That” fun questions. Which do you prefer?
- Chocolate or Hard Candy: Chocolate
- Snow or Rain: Rain
- Sweet or Savory: Savory
- Amsterdam Schiphol Airport or Dubai Airport: Dubai Airport
- Exercise or Reading a Book: Exercise
- Cat or Dog: Dog
- Zoom or Teams: Teams
Justine Miley
Executive Director, A Child’s Notebook. Previously, Justine worked at EarthCorps, PATH, Facing the Future, CARE, and has been an interim Executive Director at a number of non-profit organizations. Justine was in the GLF IX cohort in 2018.
Why did you join GLF? I wanted to grow my leadership skills and strengthen my professional support system.
What do you remember about your “Hot Seat”? I remember really enjoying the process of having to dig deeper to understand the root issue of the problem and having the support of my cohort in helping me find a resolution.
How did GLF make a difference for your professional development and/or the organization you worked for? I gained significant clarity into my values, which has made me a better leader and has helped guide my decision making. It enhanced my organization because becoming clear on my values allowed me to share those with my team so they understood where I was coming from and why I made certain decisions. I also asked them to clarify their values and share with the team so we all had a deeper understanding of each other and our needs/motivations.
Looking back at the person you were when you did GLF compared to now, what advice would you give to your past self? Slow down, be more curious, believe in yourself, and stop settling.
Let’s get to know you more in our “This or That” fun questions. Which do you prefer?
Executive Director, A Child’s Notebook. Previously, Justine worked at EarthCorps, PATH, Facing the Future, CARE, and has been an interim Executive Director at a number of non-profit organizations. Justine was in the GLF IX cohort in 2018.
Why did you join GLF? I wanted to grow my leadership skills and strengthen my professional support system.
What do you remember about your “Hot Seat”? I remember really enjoying the process of having to dig deeper to understand the root issue of the problem and having the support of my cohort in helping me find a resolution.
How did GLF make a difference for your professional development and/or the organization you worked for? I gained significant clarity into my values, which has made me a better leader and has helped guide my decision making. It enhanced my organization because becoming clear on my values allowed me to share those with my team so they understood where I was coming from and why I made certain decisions. I also asked them to clarify their values and share with the team so we all had a deeper understanding of each other and our needs/motivations.
Looking back at the person you were when you did GLF compared to now, what advice would you give to your past self? Slow down, be more curious, believe in yourself, and stop settling.
Let’s get to know you more in our “This or That” fun questions. Which do you prefer?
- Chocolate or Hard Candy: Chocolate
- Snow or Rain: Rain
- Sweet or Savory: Sweet
- Amsterdam Schiphol Airport or Dubai Airport: Dubai Airport
- Exercise or Reading a Book: Reading a Book
- Cat or Dog: Cat
- Zoom or Teams: Zoom
Gul Siddiqi
Development Manager, International Rescue Committee, Commissioner DSHS WA State Refugee Advisory Committee, and Commissioner, City of Seattle Office of Immigrant and Refugee Association. 15+ years advocating for refugees and immigrants within Civic, City, State, and non-profit sectors. Gul was part of GLF cohort 16 in 2022.
Why did you join GLF? I was going through a brief challenging and reflective period in my life, when I moved to Seattle, feeling undervalued and & underappreciated despite dedicating several years of my life to a previous non-profit I worked with. I needed to remind myself that my passion and leadership qualities were intrinsic to me, not tied to any organization and never will be. GLF became the medium through which I rediscovered and wholly trusted my own leadership capabilities.
What do you remember about your “Hot Seat”? The process was uniquely creative, forming a problem-solving circle to view the organizational challenge through the Leader's eyes. Each member shared a unique challenge, and then the other members shared their insights. The Leader then had to accept the suggestions either or return them with reasons. This experience made me vulnerable, genuinely listening to all voices, yet empowered me to be a decisive leader in that moment. It allowed me to remember to view a problem that I'm faced with through multiple lenses. We may feel stuck sometimes, but through collaborative conversations, you are able to find solutions that you may not have thought of.
How did GLF make a difference for your professional development and/or the organization you worked for? GLF was a transformative experience! It's impressive how it helped me and my cohort members appreciate and support each other's leadership qualities. This experience profoundly shaped my leadership approach. By learning to appreciate and acknowledge each other's leadership qualities, I've become more open to diverse perspectives and more collaborative in my decision-making. It has taught me the importance of vulnerability in leadership, allowing me to truly listen to and value every voice in the room. The experience has strengthened my inherent ability to lead and foster a more inclusive and supportive environment for my teams.
Looking back at the person you were when you did GLF compared to now, what advice would you give to your past self? I would advise myself not to rush the process but to slow my pace, be in the moment, and appreciate the unique contributions and life journeys of others, which can truly make a difference. It was important to embrace every minute of each meeting, interaction, and opportunity to connect. That time was unique and rare. I met an incredible array of highly motivated individuals from whom I learned. Learning from incredible minds enhanced my leadership abilities and provided valuable perspectives. Trusting in the timing of events, the process, and yourself, as well as having faith, will always be incredibly grounding and empowering.
Let’s get to know you more in our “This or That” fun questions. Which do you prefer?
Development Manager, International Rescue Committee, Commissioner DSHS WA State Refugee Advisory Committee, and Commissioner, City of Seattle Office of Immigrant and Refugee Association. 15+ years advocating for refugees and immigrants within Civic, City, State, and non-profit sectors. Gul was part of GLF cohort 16 in 2022.
Why did you join GLF? I was going through a brief challenging and reflective period in my life, when I moved to Seattle, feeling undervalued and & underappreciated despite dedicating several years of my life to a previous non-profit I worked with. I needed to remind myself that my passion and leadership qualities were intrinsic to me, not tied to any organization and never will be. GLF became the medium through which I rediscovered and wholly trusted my own leadership capabilities.
What do you remember about your “Hot Seat”? The process was uniquely creative, forming a problem-solving circle to view the organizational challenge through the Leader's eyes. Each member shared a unique challenge, and then the other members shared their insights. The Leader then had to accept the suggestions either or return them with reasons. This experience made me vulnerable, genuinely listening to all voices, yet empowered me to be a decisive leader in that moment. It allowed me to remember to view a problem that I'm faced with through multiple lenses. We may feel stuck sometimes, but through collaborative conversations, you are able to find solutions that you may not have thought of.
How did GLF make a difference for your professional development and/or the organization you worked for? GLF was a transformative experience! It's impressive how it helped me and my cohort members appreciate and support each other's leadership qualities. This experience profoundly shaped my leadership approach. By learning to appreciate and acknowledge each other's leadership qualities, I've become more open to diverse perspectives and more collaborative in my decision-making. It has taught me the importance of vulnerability in leadership, allowing me to truly listen to and value every voice in the room. The experience has strengthened my inherent ability to lead and foster a more inclusive and supportive environment for my teams.
Looking back at the person you were when you did GLF compared to now, what advice would you give to your past self? I would advise myself not to rush the process but to slow my pace, be in the moment, and appreciate the unique contributions and life journeys of others, which can truly make a difference. It was important to embrace every minute of each meeting, interaction, and opportunity to connect. That time was unique and rare. I met an incredible array of highly motivated individuals from whom I learned. Learning from incredible minds enhanced my leadership abilities and provided valuable perspectives. Trusting in the timing of events, the process, and yourself, as well as having faith, will always be incredibly grounding and empowering.
Let’s get to know you more in our “This or That” fun questions. Which do you prefer?
- Chocolate or Hard Candy: Chocolate. (Always milk or white)
- Snow or Rain: Rain (Seattle suits me)
- Sweet or Savory: Savory
- Amsterdam Schiphol Airport or Dubai Airport: Dubai Airport
- Exercise or Reading a Book: Exercise
- Cat or Dog: Cat
- Zoom or Teams: Teams
We will be rolling out our alumni profiles over the next few weeks. Stay tuned!
