On this episode of the Think Small Podcast, we sit down with Heather Lee, Vice President and COO of the Effective Leadership Academy in Cleveland, Ohio, to explore how her organization is transforming leadership development for students and professionals alike. Heather shares how the Academy helps individuals develop their most valuable asset—themselves—through soft skills, communication, collaboration, and workforce readiness programs that span from middle school to corporate teams.

She dives into the unique challenges of the digital age and post-COVID world, emphasizing the importance of human connection and face-to-face interaction in an AI-driven environment. Heather also discusses how ELA has scaled its impact beyond Cleveland, leveraging hybrid learning, teacher collaboration, and tailored programs for organizations like the Cleveland ...