Kelly Ross was announced that she is among 205 leaders selected to join the Obama Foundation Leaders program. The program trains participants around the world in leadership development and civic engagement to help build their skills and scale their work across public, private and nonprofit sectors. Ross will be one of just 100 Leaders participating in the Leaders United States program.
Kelly Ross, a Lincoln, Nebraska native, graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a degree in Spanish and has spent her career supporting refugees and immigrants as a caseworker, paralegal and educator. Her passion for helping New Americans navigate complex barriers inspired her to found ECHO Collective (echocollectivene.org) in 2020, a nonprofit empowering women entrepreneurs through business education and mentorship. Under her leadership, ECHO has helped over 50 women successfully start or grow their businesses, fostering economic independence and community impact. In 2023, Ross’s work earned her the prestigious Inspire Founders Award, recognizing her visionary leadership and dedication to serving underserved communities.
As part of the six-month program, these dedicated changemakers will convene virtually each week for interactive sessions designed to help them drive change by honing their leadership skills, building deep relationships with their peers, and engaging with thought leaders and members of the Obama Foundation community. They will also have an opportunity to participate in various virtual experiences and special events, including one-on-one conversations with experienced mentors in the Foundation’s global network.
The Obama Foundation Leaders USA Program, now in its second year, was inspired by the leadership values and approach of President and Mrs. Obama. The program draws on the Foundation’s ‘Hope to Action’ curriculum to support Leaders in engaging diverse perspectives, building collective power and making tangible, sustainable progress towards a better world. The Leaders USA Program has a particular focus on strengthening democratic culture.
The Obama Foundation Leaders program is designed to further inspire, empower and connect emerging leaders from Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe and the United States to change their respective communities and the world. To learn more, visit obama.org/leaders.