Obama Leaders Alumni pay it forward, guiding a new generation
These Obama Leaders alumni are giving back, mentoring new cohorts, and proving that leadership doesn’t end—it evolves.
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Meet three Obama Leaders alumni who are paying it forward by mentoring and supporting the next generation of changemakers. As community group facilitators, they are strengthening the Obama Leaders Program, ensuring emerging leaders have the guidance, connections, and inspiration they need. Beyond that, they are active members of the global Obama Leadership Network, forging connections, collaborating across regions, and helping fellow alumni support each other’s work. Here’s why they chose to give back—and how the program continues to shape their own leadership journeys.
Sameera Chukkapalli Holmes
For Sameera, a 2022 Obama Europe Leader, the Obama Leaders program provided clarity on her purpose. Growing up in Karnataka, India, she witnessed corruption firsthand. Her father’s decades-long fight against land encroachment and environmental destruction exposed systemic failures in governance.
“He was up against one of the largest companies in India and the ministers, fighting court cases for 35 years without institutional support,” she recalls. “Watching him stand alone made me realize something was fundamentally broken.”
Through the program, Sameera found a community of changemakers. “For the first time, I didn’t feel alone,” she shared. “That’s why this program is so important to me and why I come back to support new leaders.”
“ Leadership can be overwhelming, but knowing you have a supportive community behind you makes you unstoppable”
–Sameera Chukkapalli Holmes
She facilitates a community group for the current Leaders Europe cohort, helping them deepen their connections. She also co-leads the Obama Leadership Network’s Social Entrepreneurship and Tech Community of Practice, hosting monthly sessions where fellow alumni leaders share insights and challenges. She connected group members with faculty at the Pratt Institute for free design support and brought some onto a Harvard Social Enterprise Conference stage together. Her goal: “To create spaces where leaders feel supported and heard.”
Sameera believes that deep, value-driven relationships are key to building resilience. “Leadership can be overwhelming, but knowing you have a supportive community behind you makes you unstoppable,” she said. Her advice to current leaders? “This is a lifelong journey. Take in the environment, build confidence, and invest in relationships that will support you.”
Paul Ekuru
Paul, a 2018 Obama Africa Leader, describes his selection as an Obama Leader as a pivotal moment in his journey.
“The program challenged me to reflect on my leadership style, refine my personal mission, and deepen my understanding of values-based leadership," he shared. One of his key major takeaways? “Leadership is a relay, not a solo sprint. It’s about collective impact.”
As an Alumni Facilitator, Paul leads monthly small-group sessions for the current Leaders Africa cohort, using a case study focused on an African leader or regional issue to foster reflection, peer learning and connection. His role includes facilitating discussions, group mentoring, and amplifying leaders’ work.
“A recent session focused on a leader struggling to mobilize their community for social justice. Through peer coaching, we developed strategies around narrative framing and coalition-building,” he shared.
“ There’s nothing like seeing that ‘aha’ moment when someone gains clarity or overcomes a challenge with community support.”
–Paul Ekuru
For Paul, the most rewarding part of giving back is witnessing leaders’ breakthroughs. “There’s nothing like seeing that ‘aha’ moment when someone gains clarity or overcomes a challenge with community support,” Paul said. He emphasizes that leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about asking the right questions and building strong, collaborative networks.
Viria Vichit-Vadakan
Viria, a 2019 Obama Asia-Pacific Leader, says her leadership journey has been shaped by her commitment to education and policy reform in Thailand. “The program reaffirmed my belief that sustainable change comes from collective action,” she says. “It also gave me a support system I never knew I needed.”
She says returning as a facilitator was a natural choice.
“I wanted to give back in the same way I had received,” she explains. She leads discussions within the current Asia-Pacific cohort, helping leaders navigate their personal and professional challenges, she explained. “A leader once shared their fear of stepping back from an initiative they had built. We held a session on transitioning leadership, and the insights shared were transformative.”
For Viria, the strength of the Obama Leadership Network alumni community lies in its shared commitment to continuous learning.
For Sameera, Paul, and Viria, leadership is not a destination—it’s an evolving journey. Their commitment to supporting the next generation is a testament to the power of community and shared purpose. As they continue to mentor and facilitate, both new cohorts and groups with their fellow alumni, they ensure the impact of the Obama Leaders program extends far beyond their own time in the program, creating a ripple effect of change that will last for years to come.
Learn more about the current Obama Leaders programs and the 20 cohorts of program alumni, and counting.
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