The Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation program alumni cast their votes and selected Stephanie Donner, chief legal and people officer with Galvanize, as the 2017 9NEWS Leader of the Year.
Donner is an advocate of empowering women and creating collaborative, innovative and connected communities. Within her first year at Galvanize, Donner started Galvanize Gives, an initiative dedicated to providing access to technology. One of her many community commitments, Donner is an active board member with Girls Inc. of Metro Denver, helping the organization access resources and plan events to empower young girls. Donner’s passion for creating connected communities by bringing together diverse individuals has reaped positive rewards for the causes she supports and the communities she calls home.
“I am humbled by this recognition and honored to be included with other incredible leaders who are making enormous contributions in Colorado. I am grateful to the city of Denver, state of Colorado and to Galvanize for continuing to foster communities inclusive of all types of people,” Donner said after being recognized at the Leadership Foundation’s annual luncheon, Leading Colorado.
“This award is for all the young girls and women who are willing to give back and aiming to make a difference in their communities and lives of others.”
The 9NEWS Leader of the Year award celebrates outstanding and inspirational leadership in Colorado. In addition to Donner, this year’s other two finalists were:
- Greg Greenwood, co-founder and CEO of Colorado Thought Leaders Forum and executive director of the Blackstone Entrepreneurs Network of Colorado
- James Iacino, president and CEO of Seattle Fish Co.
Selected from a group of impressive nominees, the three finalists each exemplify what it means to be a leader and possess a strong passion for positive community change. Alumni of the Leadership Foundation’s many programs chose the winner through an online voting process.
Nadeen Ibrahim Named Student Leader of the Year
A self-proclaimed “small-town girl” from Wiggins, Colorado, who will be University of Oxford bound upon graduating from the University of Colorado Denver, Nadeen Ibrahim was recognized as Student Leader of the Year at Leading Colorado.
The award is given by the Leadership Foundation’s Colorado Leadership Alliance – a collective of collegiate leadership programs from across Colorado – and the Boettcher Foundation.
With her involvement in the Denver Immigrant and Refugee Commission, and as the youngest member appointed to the Colorado Department of Health and Environment State Board of Health, Ibrahim has channeled passion directly to her community.
As she prepares to embark on a new leadership journey, she offered advice to others: “I grew up in a community of less than a thousand people and now I have the opportunity to be a part of a larger community and hold a leadership position. I use my differences to drive me forward rather than hinder my potential. Let your passion drive you where you want to go and help it cultivate the confidence to take that initiative.”
Sara Crocker, communications manager for the Denver Metro Chamber and Cori Streetman, principal of Barefoot Public Relations.
This was originally published in the winter/spring issues of Business Altitude. To view the full issue, click here.