Jodi Lewis
Jodi Lewis is a respected nonprofit executive, community leader, and advocate for leadership development who currently serves as President and CEO of Leadership Oklahoma. In her role, she works closely with more than 1,900 accomplished members across the state who are driving meaningful impact within their communities, industries, and public service sectors. Since stepping into the position in 2024, Jodi has led initiatives focused on leadership education, civic engagement, public policy awareness, and statewide collaboration, helping strengthen Oklahoma’s next generation of influential leaders. Known for her ability to connect people and ideas, she believes leadership is rooted in communication, service, and surrounding yourself with talented subject matter experts who elevate collective success.
With more than 20 years of experience spanning the nonprofit, government affairs, and community development sectors, Jodi has built a dynamic career centered on advocacy and strategic leadership. Her professional background includes serving as a lobbyist for Motorola Solutions, Director of Legislative Affairs for the Oklahoma Municipal League, Interim Executive Director of Parent Promise/Prevent Child Abuse Oklahoma, and Executive Director of the Francis Tuttle Foundation. A graduate of Oklahoma State University with a degree in agribusiness, Jodi also served as a state FFA officer, an experience that gave her extensive exposure to communities across Oklahoma and shaped her passion for public service and rural engagement.
Jodi’s leadership journey also reflects her commitment to family, resilience, and lifelong growth. She made the intentional decision to step away from the traditional workforce for seven years to focus on raising her children, while remaining actively involved in nonprofit board service, business management, and entrepreneurship. During that time, she managed rental properties, coordinated her husband’s speaking engagements and book sales, and operated a successful lawn care franchise that continues to thrive in the Oklahoma City metro area today. In addition, Jodi made history as the youngest person ever elected to the Piedmont City Council. She is widely respected for her authenticity, servant leadership approach, and unwavering commitment to strengthening Oklahoma communities through collaboration, mentorship, and civic engagement.
• Standards for Excellence Certification
• Oklahoma State University - B.S. in Agribusiness
• Youngest person ever elected to Piedmont City Council
• State FFA Officer
• Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my ability to surround myself with subject matter experts rather than needing to be an expert in every area. I don't have to be great at everything, but I do have to be a connector. I have to be vulnerable and say I'm not perfect at this, I'm not great at this, I'm not the subject matter expert, but I know who are. Whether it's bringing in attorneys to help me understand policy and laws, or financial professionals and CPAs to help with budgets and endowments, I've gotten very good at surrounding myself with people who have the expertise I need. Then I can communicate that on to an executive committee or full board of directors as the spokesperson. My background also helped - growing up in rural Oklahoma as the daughter of an ag teacher, serving as a state FFA officer, and having that agribusiness degree from Oklahoma State gave me instant credibility when working in rural cities and towns. Being from Bristow, from Creek County, meant I was seen as rural people too, as one of them, not just someone from the city trying to help. That credibility and those connections, combined with my intentional decision to stay plugged into the nonprofit sector through board service even during my 7 years as a stay-at-home mother, allowed me to re-enter the workforce at the executive level.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
There is great reward in the nonprofit sector because you actually get to see, oftentimes, the change that's happening. It's very relational, and I think there's a place in the nonprofit sector for everyone, whether you're a people person and very extroverted, or if not and you're very introverted. There's work to be done behind the scenes, there's work to be done out in the community. The nonprofit sector uniquely has a place for everyone based on how you operate and what your subject matter expertise is, whether it's community relations or art or accounting or legal or medical. We all need those professionals. But I want to be honest - it is sacrificial financially. You're less likely to make in the nonprofit sector what you would make in the private sector, or in some places, the public sector, depending on the gig. So you are paid in the feeling of purpose. I've talked to people that make a whole lot of money in the private sector, but they don't necessarily feel like they're making a difference, or have a purpose, or really changing the world. Good feelings about doing good things in the world is sometimes the trade-off for less on your W-2. I also do micro-mentoring with young women, and I tell them it's okay to do you. Motherhood's not for everyone, it may be for everyone. It's okay to leave the workforce, it's okay to not want to go back, it's okay to stay working, it's okay to not be a mom, it's okay to not be married. Maybe your mother's path or your sister's path or everyone around you's path - it's okay if that's not your path.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Authenticity and meaningful relationships are at the core of everything I do. When it comes to mentorship, I believe it has to be authentic and it has to be two-sided - you both have to agree this is what we're doing, we're sticking together. I'm very intentional about not being seen as a self-promoter, because at the end of the day, this isn't about me, it's about my organization, my members, and my mission. I'm always recruiting for Leadership Oklahoma because I want to shine the light on the important work we're doing and grow our network of diverse, qualified applicants. I'm also deeply committed to being a connector - I lovingly tease that I'm on a one-woman mission to be the state's connector-in-chief in Oklahoma. I have 1,900 influential leaders, and I don't want to keep them all to myself. I want to share them with whatever the need is in our state. In my personal life, my world is my family - my husband David, who uniquely understands the demands of my role because he's also a Leadership Oklahoma graduate, and our two sons. Even with a very demanding job and a lot of travel, I try to carve out time for myself through Pilates twice a week and reading 25 books a year, because I don't want to get so busy that I'm not able to do something that I love.