Our Vision
We envision a world where mission-driven organizations transform leadership and strategy into social progress, building a more just, joyful, and democratic society for generations to come.
Our Mission
Our mission is to equip mission-driven organizations and their leaders with the tools, strategies, and leadership capacity to create systemic change. Grounded in care, justice, and the power of diverse perspectives, we dismantle oppressive systems and create pathways to a more just, sustainable, and thriving society.
Our Founder and Principal
Phillipe M. Cunningham
Phillipe Cunningham (fil-LEAP, he/him) has dedicated his career to driving systemic change through civic leadership and cultivating values-driven changemakers. He has designed transformative programs including the Obama Foundation Leaders USA program and made history as the first transmasculine person of color elected to U.S. public office. His values-based leadership education work serves over 1,400 diverse changemakers around the world annually.
As Principal of the Excellence in Changemaking Institute (ECI), Phillipe provides both strategic leadership and hands-on expertise in designing and delivering justice-driven organizational learning, strategy, and programs. He partners with mission-driven organizations to bridge the gaps between vision, strategy, and progress through customized leadership development experiences and strategic planning and delivery.
Phillipe leads a pro-democracy initiative as the Senior Director of Pluralism in Democracy at Urban Rural Action, facilitating opportunities for Americans to come together across differences to solve complex problems. He also proudly serves as Board Vice Chair of the Transgender Law Center, the country's largest trans-led organization championing the right of all transgender and gender-nonconforming people to make their own choices and live freely, safely, and authentically.
Phillipe is an experienced public speaker and facilitator, offering keynotes and workshops on values-based leadership, justice-centered strategy, and organizational transformation. His presentations equip leaders with practical tools to achieve their vision for change.
Connect with Phillipe through our contact page.
*At ECI, we use the term 'diverse' to broadly and inclusively encompass underrepresented and often overlooked groups. This includes, but is not limited to, women, people of color, Indigenous peoples, people with disabilities, individuals from rural areas, first-generation college graduates or those without college experience, LGBTQ+ individuals, veterans, immigrants and refugees, survivors of violence, people from low-income backgrounds, religious minorities, the formerly incarcerated, and others whose lived experiences and identities enrich our collective understanding.
Our programs and services are transformative for all, intentionally centering those at the margins and challenging dominant leadership paradigms and traditional approaches to leadership development.