Transformative Leadership in Philanthropy

A leadership development series designed for AANHPI professionals in philanthropy

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October – November 2025 | Virtual

You know the feeling. You’re navigating philanthropy with frameworks that weren’t built with you in mind. The leadership models you’re expected to follow feel disconnected from your values and your community’s needs.

What if leadership development actually centered your experience as an AANHPI professional?

In partnership with The Kahakulei Institute, AAPIP’s Transformative Leadership in Philanthropy series offers something different: leadership frameworks rooted in Native Hawaiian and East Asian principles, designed specifically for philanthropic professionals ready to lead from their authentic selves.

Effective advocates of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities must engage in the critical and complex work of building bridges between community and institutional philanthropy. However, traditional leadership models and structures perpetuate a major power imbalance between them. Community Care as the heart of AAPIP’s advocacy work centers the critical connections necessary for transformative change across the philanthropic sector. We believe that movement work reaches its maximum potential when we’re able to come together, transforming typical power dynamics, to dream, build, and organize in service of a more equitable future.

This program is for you if:

• You’re a philanthropic professional seeking leadership approaches that align with your values
• You want practical tools to navigate organizational change while staying connected to community
• You’re ready to move beyond traditional hierarchy-based leadership models
• You value learning in community with other AANHPI professionals who share similar experiences

Philanthropic professionals at all leadership levels are encouraged to participate in this training series designed to introduce a new paradigm of leadership comprised of Native Hawaiian and East Asian principles and frameworks to transform traditional leadership models that aren’t working for our communities. 

Outcomes:

• Self-awareness through The Five Elements framework – Assess your leadership capacities and receive personalized recommendations for growth
• Relationship-centered leadership skills – Learn to navigate organizational dynamics through connection and belonging rather than control
• Actionable integration strategies – Create concrete plans to bring transformative leadership practices into your current role
• Ongoing support and community – Connect with a cohort of peers plus individual coaching sessions with facilitators

The curriculum:

• Session 1: Assessing Transformative Leadership Capacities
  Friday, October 10 | 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM PT / 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM PT
• Session 2: The Role of Interpersonal Relationships in Transformative Leadership
  Friday, October 24 | 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM PT / 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM PT
• Session 3: From Community to Organizations: Integrating Transformative Leadership
  Friday, November 14 | 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM PT / 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM PT
• Optional Session 4: Training Reflections and Follow-Up
  January/February 2026 – Exact date TBD

Plus: Complimentary individual coaching sessions with facilitators between sessions. Program facilitators recommend individual reflection exercises between sessions to further participants’ learning and understanding of these new leadership principles.

Your facilitators:

Kevin Kahakula’akea John Fong (he/they/’o ia) is an internationally recognized cultural translator, facilitator, and speaker in transformative justice, leadership development, and building beloved communities. Kevin is the Founder of the Kahakulei Institute, whose mission is to weave people and possibilities to cultivate communities of belonging.

Simran Noor (she/her) is an interdependent consultant and coach specializing in strategy, organizational development, and movement building. Her work centers on achieving values alignment, particularly around racial and social justice. Simran has over fifteen years of experience working directly with impacted communities, leading organizational change, developing policy and strategy, and working within the philanthropic sector. As a survivor, Simran comes to the work with a deep commitment to healing and transformation informed by her study and practice of embodied leadership.

Program details:

• For AAPIP members – strengthens our community of practice
• Limited to 50 participants – ensures meaningful connection and personalized attention
• Full participation required – commit to all three core sessions for maximum impact
• Registration deadline: September 30, 2025

Ready to join? Register now.

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Questions about the program? Contact us

Not an AAPIP member yet? Learn more about membership here