Dr. Chandra Chela Chomicki, PhD, MPA

I firmly believe that necessity is the mother of innovation. Growing up in a working-class household with a single mother in an underserved community, I was hungry — not just physically, but in every sense of the word. That hunger became my drive. What truly shifted my perspective was participating in a school integration program called Chapter 220 in the 1980s, which bused students like me to a predominantly white, middle-class suburban school an hour away. Being in that environment opened my eyes to an entirely different world — one where students were discussing stock investments instead of the latest sneakers. It awakened a deep curiosity in me and a desire to not just read about the world, but to experience it firsthand. Seeing that another life was possible gave me the vision and motivation to pursue it. My humble beginnings keep me grounded, and that drive has never left me.

An executive once told me to always recognize your season and never let it pass you by. That wisdom has stayed with me throughout my entire career. I make it a point to be deeply intentional about where I am — in my business and in my life — and to maximize whatever season I find myself in. Not every season is a season of harvest. Sometimes you are in a season of planting, and if you don't recognize that, you can become frustrated and discouraged wondering why you aren't yet reaping results. Understanding which season you're in allows you to act accordingly, extend grace to yourself and others, and face each phase of your journey with less resistance and more purpose.

My first piece of advice is to know your why. There will be hard seasons — lonely stretches, rejection, and countless no's. But your why is the anchor that keeps you moving forward even when the results aren't yet visible. If your purpose is genuine and rooted in something greater than personal ambition, the effort you invest will ultimately yield a return. Beyond that, I want women to understand the importance of asking for more. We tend to hold back out of fear — afraid to seem demanding or worried something will be taken from us. But I've learned that we don't have because we don't ask. Whether it's in contracts, relationships, or opportunities, let them tell you no. Stop assuming the answer before you've even made the ask. Be bold enough to ask for what you deserve.

One of the most pressing challenges I'm witnessing right now is the severe funding crisis facing nonprofits that serve disenfranchised communities. Many of my clients who work with vulnerable populations have seen their budgets slashed by a third — or even two-thirds. What used to be making a dollar out of fifteen cents has now become making a dollar out of five cents. These organizations are grappling with the same volume of community need, if not greater, but with drastically fewer resources to meet it. Federal funding cuts and the current political climate have left many programs without the support they need to operate. I've met the people they serve. I know what's at stake. It is deeply disheartening to witness, and our conversations have shifted from growth and impact to survival strategies. This is a critical moment that demands creative, resourceful solutions and advocacy at every level.

The two values that guide everything I do are empathy and justice. Empathy, to me, means truly understanding the lived experience of another person — not projecting what I think they need, but asking, listening, and responding with genuine care. I model this actively for my daughter as we travel the world together. At every destination, we volunteer — not because it is required, but because I want her to understand that access and privilege carry responsibility. If you have more, it is your obligation to share it without judgment. Justice, for me, is deeply tied to empathy — it means treating others not simply as I would want to be treated, but as they themselves would want to be treated. It requires reading the room, honoring individual needs, and advocating for fairness in every space I occupy. Together, these values shape how I lead, how I serve, and how I move through the world.